Vikings hold on to win thriller vs. Steelers
The AFC vs. NFC primetime showdown lived up to the billing in a crazy finish.
The cardiac kids are well and truly alive in the NFC. Despite trying everything they could to throw yet another game away, Minnesota hung on to defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers in dramatic fashion.
After a horrific outing for the majority of Thursday night, Pittsburgh somehow had an opportunity to tie the game in the final seconds — permitting a successful two-point conversion.
Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s throw to tight end Pat Freiermuth hit him in the hands, but Vikings defenders Anthony Barr and Harrison Smith smashed into the rookie at the perfect, dislodging the ball to give the Vikings a crucial victory.
Despite another W in the win column, Minnesota almost gave up the insurmountable, after leading 29-0 late in the third. All bar one of Minnesota’s games have been decided by eight points or less. This includes four losses by less than three points.
“Never say ‘over’ with this team,” said Vikings’ head coach Mike Zimmer. Meanwhile, the Steelers cost themselves dearly. Their spirited comeback means very little in the context of their season, which hangs on a knife edge at 6-6-1, currently third in the AFC North.
“We’re running out of time,” Roethlisberger said. “I don’t look at moral victories.”
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin was apathetic about his team’s comeback, eviscerating their second poor performance in as many games. “We were JV again tonight, and I’m talking up front on both sides,” Tomlin said.
Pittsburgh’s next chance to redeem themselves arrives on Dec. 19 at home to Tennessee, while Minnesota will look to extend their winning run at Chicago on Monday Night Football, Dec 20.
Why Dak Prescott doesn’t want to throw 6,000 yards this season
After having secured a big bag from Dallas in the offseason, Prescott has his eyes transfixed on success, even if it’s at the expense of his personal statistics.
Returning Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is opting for an unselfish approach to the upcoming season.
After having secured a big bag from Dallas in the offseason, Prescott has his eyes transfixed on success, even if it’s at the expense of his personal statistics.
“I don’t want to throw for 6,000 yards, to be honest with you,” Prescott told local media today. “That means we’re not running the ball. That means we’re not probably doing the things we need to do to be a balanced, winning team.
“Sure, it would be great to have those numbers and to break that or to have that record or whatever it is. But it’s not something that I put in my head.”
Putting his personal targets aside, Prescott wants to take his side of the ball to the NFL’s mountaintop.
“As I said, I want to be the best offense in the NFL, and I think the best way we can do that is if I’m not throwing that many yards, and our run game is working, and we’re playing complementary football, and we’re winning a lot of games.
“And I think if that’s the case, then hopefully I’m not playing as many fourth quarters trying to come back and do the two-minute drills we were doing in the first five games that got me a lot of those numbers.”
Prescott has statistically been a revelation since his rookie season. Last season, before his season-ending injury against the Giants in Week 5, Dak was on pace to pass for 6,310 yards.
It’s likely the Cowboys offense will fire on all cylinders with Prescott back and Zeke looking fitter than ever, the biggest question remains their defense. Over to you Dan Quinn.
Dak, Amari & DeMarcus Lawrence among 16 Cowboys out for Steelers HOF game
It will be Dallas vs. Pittsburgh, but it won’t be Dak vs. Big Ben, with the ‘Boys prized quarterback staying back in Texas as he recovers from a right shoulder (throwing arm) strain suffered in camp last week.
The annual curtain-raiser to the 2021 NFL season begins in Canton where two of the NFL’s most traditional powers will face off.
It will be Dallas vs. Pittsburgh, but it won’t be Dak vs. Big Ben, with the ‘Boys prized quarterback staying back in Texas as he recovers from a right shoulder (throwing arm) strain suffered in camp last week.
Prescott won’t be the Jerry Jones’ only leading light left back in Dallas; star wideout Amari Cooper, defensive end Chauncey Golston, defensive tackle Trysten Hill, and kicker Greg Zuerlein are all on the PUP (physically unable to perform) list.
Veteran o-line pair Tyron Smith and Zack Martin are also confirmed outs alongside T Josh Ball, LB Francis Bernard, CB C.J. Goodwin, S Malik Hooker, TE Blake Jarwin, and CB Jourdan Lewis.
The Cowboys and Steelers face off on Thursday 8PM ET on Fox, or NFL Game Pass for international fans.
NFL announces Preseason TV schedule
An enormous 23 games will be shown on the league’s broadcast channel…this includes to quadruple-headers in Weeks 1 and 2 before two doses of triple-headers in Week 3.
The NFL announced this week there will be a record number of preseason games will be shown on NFL Network.
Let’s hope we’ll see more of this!
Importantly, all preseason games will be shown on NFL GamePass, which is fantastic news for international and American fans alike.
An enormous 23 games will be shown on the league’s broadcast channel will show eight games through Weeks 1-2 before a final seven during the third and final week of preseason.
This includes to quadruple-headers in Weeks 1 and 2 before two doses of triple-headers in Week 3.
The Football Team kick off NFL Network’s coverage on August 12 at New England, where we should get our first official look at Mac Jones in a Patriots uniform.
Trevor Lawrence is likely to hit your screens on August 14 as Urban Meyer and the Jags host AFC rivals, Cleveland.
Media and fans alike will be hoping to get a glimpse of Jordan Love too, which may come as early as Week 2 (August 21) at home to Zac Wilson and Gang Green.
Below is a full list of the games to air on NFL Network across the preseason:
Week 1
Thursday, August 12
7:30 PM ET – Washington Football Team vs. New England Patriots
Friday, August 13
7:00 PM ET – Buffalo Bills vs. Detroit Lions
10:00 PM ET – Dallas Cowboys vs. Arizona Cardinals
Saturday, August 14
1:00 PM ET – Miami Dolphins vs. Chicago Bears
4:00 PM ET – Denver Broncos vs. Minnesota Vikings
7:00 PM ET – Cleveland Browns vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
10:00 PM ET – Los Angeles Chargers vs. Los Angeles Rams
Sunday, August 15
1:00 PM ET – Carolina Panthers vs. Indianapolis Colts
Week 2
Thursday, August 19
7:30 PM ET – New England Patriots vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Friday, August 20
8:00 PM ET – Cincinnati Bengals vs. Washington Football Team
Saturday, August 21
1:00 PM ET – Buffalo Bills vs. Chicago Bears
4:25 PM ET – New York Jets vs. Green Bay Packers
7:30 PM ET – Detroit Lions vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
10:00 PM ET – Las Vegas Raiders vs. Los Angeles Rams
Sunday, August 22
1:00 PM ET – New York Giants vs. Cleveland Browns
7:30 PM ET – San Francisco 49ers vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Week 3
Friday, August 27
8:00 PM ET – Minnesota Vikings vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Saturday, August 28
1:00 PM ET – Green Bay Packers vs. Buffalo Bills
7:00 PM ET – Chicago Bears vs. Tennessee Titans
10:00 PM ET – Los Angeles Chargers vs. Seattle Seahawks
Sunday, August 29
1:00 PM ET – Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Dallas Cowboys
4:00 PM ET – Las Vegas Raiders vs. San Francisco 49ers
6:00 PM ET – New England Patriots vs. New York Giants
For American fans — NFL Network will blackout live games shown concurrently in local markets.
NFL announces joint practices - Who your team is playing and why
After practicing against your own same players throughout OTAs and training camp, it is a great opportunity to move through different plays, schemes against foreign opponents.
Not all 32 teams are participating in joint practices though. Only 21 teams are will involve themselves with another organization.
Joint practices aren’t a new phenomenon in the NFL. They essentially act as an opportunity for teams and players to go through scrimmages against different personnel.
After practicing against your own same players throughout OTAs and training camp, it is a great opportunity to move through different plays, schemes against foreign opponents.
Not all 32 teams are participating in joint practices though. Only 21 teams are will involve themselves with another organization.
New Orleans and Jacksonville were set to meet in Louisiana on August 20, but since the release of the schedule both teams have confirmed otherwise.
Teams NOT involved in joint practices this offseason:
Arizona Cardinals
Buffalo Bills
Cincinnati Bengals
Detroit Lions
Houston Texans
Jacksonville Jaguars
Kansas City Chiefs
New Orleans Saints
Pittsburgh Steelers
Seattle Seahawks
Washington Football Team
Some teams will engage in two bouts of joint practices; the Los Angeles Rams, New England Patriots, Miami Dolphins, Carolina Panthers, Philadelphia Eagles, and both the New York clubs (Jets and Giants).
Arguably, the most famous joint practice moment of recent memory involved then-Houston’s DeAndre Hopkins and Washington’s DeAngelo Hall getting into it. Things got interesting, real quick…
Thankfully for DB’s everywhere their ankles won’t be tested by D-Hop until preseason at the earliest.
Full list of this year’s joint practices:
Courtesy of NFL Communications