PITTSBURGH (AP) — At least one portion of Ryan Shazier’s daily routine hasn’t changed much from the previous time the Pittsburgh Steelers were preparing to face Cincinnati, even if the rest of the injured linebacker’s life is hardly the same.Shazier still makes his way to the club’s practice facility around 7 a.m. most days. Any […]

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — Calvin Ridley is going through quite an adjustment.During his college days at Alabama, he hardly knew what it was like to lose.”It was three games, right?” Ridley said Wednesday, pausing briefly to ponder whether his memory was correct. “Three games,” he repeated, shaking his head. “That’s crazy.”The receiver already has […]

CINCINNATI (AP) — Six straight losses, starting with a pregame scuffle and an epic playoff meltdown.Blown lead after blown lead.Losing their cool and games, too.There’s a common thread to the Bengals’ most intense rivalry, one that’s been one-sided the past three seasons.No matter what happened, the Steelers always won.The Bengals (4-1) lead the AFC North […]

Give the Manning brothers this: They’ve always had impeccable comedic timing. Peyton deadpanned that Drew Brees had ended the happiest stint of his life by breaking his career passing yards record Monday night, and Eli had his own crack when asked about Odell Beckham Jr.’s scathing interview in which he criticized his quarterback, his city, […]

CINCINNATI (AP) — Ryan Tannehill tried to give his receiver a little more time to get open, but Geno Atkins was having none of it.The Bengals tackle closed quickly and smacked into the Dolphins quarterback as he released an incomplete pass to Kenny Stills.Just the start of a long day for Miami’s overmatched blockers.Atkins had […]

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Joe Haden understands how it looks. Spend an afternoon keeping the NFL’s leading wide receiver in check and you’re bound to get all the credit.Yet the veteran Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback understands he didn’t exactly shut down Atlanta’s Julio Jones during a dominant 41-17 win on Sunday all by himself.The Steelers sometimes had […]

CINCINNATI (AP) — Since blowing a late lead to the Steelers during their first-round playoff loss in the 2015 season, the Bengals have been known for coming up short at the end of close games.A young defense with a knack for turnovers is changing Cincinnati’s style.Defensive linemen scored on an interception and a fumble return […]

PITTSBURGH (AP) — James Conner isn’t much on talking. Not about the cancer battle that threatened to sidetrack his promising career before he even reached the NFL. Not about his ongoing audition as the new featured running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers while Le’Veon Bell continues his extended sabbatical.Not even about his new role as […]

SCOREBOARDMonday, Oct. 8Washington at New Orleans, 8:15 p.m. Saints QB Drew Brees has 71,740 yards passing, and needs 201 yards to move ahead of Peyton Manning for the most all-time. Brees has completed 75.8 percent of his passes for 323.8 yards per game this season. He’s passed for eight TDs, no INTs and also has […]

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Ben Roethlisberger let the ball go before Antonio Brown broke out of his route and turned toward the pylon. It was throw that required anticipation and trust, the kind the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback and All-Pro wide receiver have connected on countless times during their near-decade together.But not all years, or throws, are […]

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons kept stressing there was no need to panic during their sluggish start. That the small mistakes that kept costing them games would get cleaned up. That their banged-up roster would get healthy. That the team that began the season with Super Bowl expectations would eventually show up.Time is running […]

PITTSBURGH (AP) — If Le’Veon Bell is returning to the Pittsburgh Steelers later this month, he hasn’t let his teammates and coaches know.Coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday he hasn’t heard from the All-Pro running back, who told ESPN on Monday that he will end his standoff with the team around Pittsburgh’s bye week, which begins […]