Didn’t the Pittsburgh Steelers know it’s nitty-gritty time in fantasy leagues and so-called suicide pools?
Only Saturday afternoon did the club say who will start at quarterback Sunday at Carolina.
It’s Mitchell Trubisky.
Rookie Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh’s No. 1 QB since October, is recovering from his second concussion since mid-season. He was officially listed Friday as doubtful. In nearly every such case, the player does not play two days later, and indeed that looks to be the case here.
Poolies wanted to know who would start in his stead, Trubisky or Mason Rudolph — Pickett’s two rostered backups? Trubisky it is.
He started Pittsburgh’s first four games, winning only once, in overtime at Cincinnati in the opener, mainly because the defence sacked Joe Burrow 6,006 times.
“I’m ready,” Trubisky said this week. “I’m looking forward to the opportunity. We’ll take care of the football, we’ll move it.”
Look, not to be too unkind, but it’s not as though there are enormous gaps between any of the three Steelers passers. To quote those Brit soccer announces’ favourite word, surely (i.e., “shorely”) the Carolina Panthers have concluded likewise.
It’s the poolies who were much more desperate to know.
FIVE BIG QUESTIONS
- Can the Titans stop freefalling by beating the Chargers? They’ve lost three straight. If they can’t run it up on this L.A. defence, hooboy.
- Will the Patriots do the anti-Miami thing out west? That is, rather than lose both games in ugly fashion on their two-game western swing earlier this month, as the Dolphins did, actually win both, and impressively. New England pounded Arizona on Monday night and now face the Raiders in Las Vegas.
- Can rookie QB Desmond Ridder play any better than Marcus Mariota? Falcons coaches finally soured on pass-poor Mariota. Ridder’s turn to show his stuff.
- Has Zach Wilson finally figured out the stuff? He was doubly demoted a month ago now, to third string, but catapults back into the starting lineup against the red-hot Lions, with new Jets QB starter Mike White (ribs) unable to play.
- Is Tampa Bay fading from relevancy? Here’s another great chance for the Bucs to show they can maybe still belong with the best teams in the NFL, by knocking off a rolling Bengals team.
THE BIG NUMBER
13
Number of touchdowns scored by Los Angeles Chargers running back Austin Ekeler, most in the league except for Detroit running back Jamaal Williams (14, all rushing). Ekeler, though, is the only player in the league with at least five TDs receiving and five TDs rushing; he has five and eight, respectively.
FUNKY FACTOID
Joe Burrow’s elitism often is directly proportional to the quality of his pass-protection. To wit: In Cincinnati’s first eight games he was sacked 19 times, a whopping 3.6 times per game, as the Bengals opened 4-4. Since then? Burrow has been sacked only six times in five games (1.2 time per outing) and the Bengals are 5-0.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“The next thing I know it’s a sh– storm.”
— Micah Parsons, Cowboys pass rusher, after telling Von Miller on his podcast that the real MVP of arch-rival Philadelphia is its defence, not QB Jalen Hurts.
STRAIGHT-UP PICKS
The last full weekend before Christmas is here, and NFL-wise you know what that means.
Tripleheader Saturday!
First, there was Colts at Vikings. Second, Ravens at Browns. Third, Dolphins at Bills in a winter wonderland. It’s a fine recent NFL scheduling tradition the league ought to set in concrete.
Speaking of concrete, I somehow swapped back in my cement brain before making last week’s picks, after three outstanding weeks of picking NFL winners straight up, not against the spread. I went 7-6 (.538) in Week 14, to dip to 125-81-2 (.606) overall on the season. Still above 60%, at least.
No more numbskullery. To Week 15:
San Francisco at Seattle, Thursday
(TSN; via Prime Video)
KRYK PICK: San Francisco
The Niners clinched the NFC West title with a decisive 12-13 win. Seahawks scrambling big-time now to snag a wild card.
Indianapolis at Minnesota, Saturday
(TSN; via NFL Network)
KRYK PICK: Minnesota
Since Halloween the Vikings have been thumped twice (by Dallas, Detroit), needed a miracle to win in OT at Buffalo, and barely beat the Commanders, Pats and Jets.
Baltimore at Cleveland, Saturday
(TSN; via NFL Network)
KRYK PICK: Cleveland
Defence has been winning the Ravens games. No reason it shouldn’t have bottled up Deshaun Watson, in his first national game since return. But QB-strapped Ravens are inept aerially.
Miami at Buffalo, Saturday
(TSN; via NFL Network)
KRYK PICK: Buffalo
Think of Vince Guaraldi Trio’s wondrous Snowflakes song from A Charlie Brown Christmas. It started snowing Friday and won’t stop til Monday. White-out. Bills weather.
Atlanta at New Orleans, Sunday, 1 p.m. EST
KRYK PICK: New Orleans
When it wants to, the Saints defence can make any QB look bad. Well, Desmond Ridder makes his first pro start at the Superdome for the Falcons. It could get ugly.
Pittsburgh at Carolina, Sunday, 1 p.m. EST
KRYK PICK: Carolina
Yes, the Panthers still have a shot at making the playoffs, by winning the awful NFC South. Never overlook the Steelers when playing late-season spoiler, but Carolina can really run it.
Philadelphia at Chicago, Sunday, 1 p.m. EST
(TSN; via FOX)
KRYK PICK: Philadelphia
Jalen Hurts and the Eagles are soaring. The Bears are coming off their bye, and what few people seem to be talking about is just how bad their defence often is. Just can’t see an upset.
Kansas City at Houston, Sunday, 1 p.m. EST
(CTV2 BC, Alberta; via CBS)
KRYK PICK: Kansas City
Chiefs were mighty fortunate not to have blown it at Denver. Mahomes threw three picks. Can’t expect to win playing like that against the less-talented but far pluckier Texans.
Dallas at Jacksonville, Sunday, 1 p.m. EST
(CTV west of Ontario; CTV2 Ontario eastward; via FOX)
KRYK PICK: Dallas
Who can be sure what kind of game the dizzingly up-and-down Cowboys will play against the rollercoaster Jaguars? Flip a coin, throw a blind dart, consult your dog … and guess.
Detroit at N.Y. Jets, Sunday, 1 p.m. EST
(CTV Ontario eastward; via CBS)
KRYK PICK: Detroit
The Jets this week were like a 1950s TV game show. Will Mike White QB the Jets? Nope, ribs. Joe Flacco? Nope, but he’ll back up Zach Wilson, who’ll start. Yeah, take Detroit.
Arizona at Denver, Sunday, 4:05 p.m. EST
KRYK PICK: Denver
Looks like it’ll be QB Colt McCoy vs. QB Brett Rypien in this meaningless late-season matchup of two teams that probably will be coached by different men next year. Home-team pick.
New England at Las Vegas, Sunday, 4:05 p.m. EST
(TSN; via FOX)
KRYK PICK: Las Vegas
Vegas totally blew it late, defensively, at L.A. last Thursday. No matter, not even this Raiders team will gift up an easy road win to the same visitor the awful Cards did on Monday.
Tennessee at L.A. Chargers, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. EST
(CTV Winnipeg, Saskatchewan; via CBS)
KRYK PICK: Tennessee
Titans have lost three straight. Their once vaunted run game has mostly dried up since early November. Herbert’s hot, but Chargers defence is more vulnerable to the run than anyone’s.
Cincinnati at Tampa Bay, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. EST
(CTV nationally except Saskatchewan, Winnipeg, Atlantic; CTV2 Atlantic; RDS2; via CBS)
KRYK PICK: Cincinnati
Bucs offence is a mess. Any team with such an offence has little chance to defeat this Bengals team right now, which might be playing its best all-around football in many years.
N.Y. Giants at Washington, Sunday, Sunday, 8:20 p.m. EST
(TSN; CTV2; RDS; via NBC)
KRYK PICK: New York
Analytical head says take the Commanders. “Due for a win” part of me says take the Giants. So that’s what I’m doing. As poorly as Giants have played lately, they win this big one.
L.A. Rams at Green Bay, Monday, 8:15 p.m. EST
(TSN; CTV2; RDS2; via ESPN)
(TSN via ESPN; TSN 3 MNF w/ Peyton & Eli via ESPN 2)
KRYK PICK: Green Bay
Looks like Baker Mayfield will make his first start for the Rams, who have more key people unavailable than the federal government at question period following its latest scandal.
SEASON RECORD: 125-81-2 (.606), through Week 14.
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