Welcome to our new Steelers Live Wire, a round-the-clock feature that offers news that's fast, friendly to use and fun. The previous week's entry is right here.
As they say, here we go ...
GAME DAY!
2 a.m. Sunday: If you're new here, Live Wire takes a back seat on game days. Head on over to the live game file. Dale Lolley, Tom Reed and I will all be at Heinz Field, with our coverage beginning in earnest with the announcement of inactives at 6:45 p.m. Kickoff's at 8:15. -- DK
SPILLANE, FEILER
ACTIVATED FROM IR
3:45 p.m. Saturday: The Steelers on Saturday activated guard Matt Feiler and inside linebacker Robert Spillane from injured reserve. The team also elevated tight end Kevin Rader from the practice squad and waived inside linebacker Tegray Scales.
Feiler, the team's starter at left guard for the first 13 games of this season was dealing with a pectoral muscle injury.
Spillane, who took over at inside linebacker for Devin Bush in Week 6, had missed the past four games with a sprained knee.
The Steelers were 6-1 when both were in the starting lineup this season. -- Lolley
BROWNS ACTIVATE PLAYERS
FROM COVID-19 LIST
12 p.m. Saturday: The Browns activated a number of players from the Reserve/COVID-19 List Saturday. But cornerback Denzel Ward was not among them. Ward will not play Sunday against the Steelers.
The Browns will get rookie tight end Harrison Bryant, linebacker Malcolm Smith and safety Ronnie Harrison back. Bryant and Smith had been on the COVID-19 List since last week, while Harrison tested positive earlier this week, but had tested negative since.
So, here's a rundown of the coaches and players they will be without: -- Lolley
A rundown of who the Browns will be without on Sunday night:
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) January 9, 2021
* Head coach Kevin Stefanski
* All Pro G Joel Bitonio
* CBs Denzel Ward and Kevin Johnson
* WR Kha'Darel Hodge
* OL Coach Bill Callahan, Asst. OL Coach Scott Peters, TE Coach Drew Petzing, DB Coach Jeff Howard
BROWNS FLYING TO PITTSBURGH
10 a.m. Saturday: The Browns, like the Steelers, typically take a bus for the 2 1/2-hour drive to Pittsburgh. Later today, they'll fly to Pittsburgh for their playoff game Sunday night against the Steelers.
The team and NFL feel it will be better for the team to be together for a shorter period of time for the half-hour flight to Pittsburgh rather than being on buses as the Browns continue to deal with COVID-19 issues.
On that front, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports that the players who tested positive on Thursday tested negative in subsequent tests and could be permitted to play against the Steelers Sunday if that continues to be the case. That would include safeties Ronnie Harrison and Javonte Moffat. -- Lolley
STEELERS LIST NO PLAYERS
ON INJURY LIST
4 p.m. Friday: Chris Boswell was the only player listed for the Steelers who did not participate in a full practice on Friday, but he was limited with his groin injury and is expected to play on Sunday against the Browns.
In fact, the Steelers listed no players with any designation on their injury report. That's the first time all season the Steelers haven't had at least one player on their injury report.
Meanwhile, the Browns placed another player on the Reserve/COVID-19 List Friday, as safety Javonte Moffatt tested positive.
The Browns held their first practice of the week on Friday.
Wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones (concussion) practiced Friday, but has not yet been cleared through concussion protocols. He is listed as questionable to play against the Steelers.
Right tackle Jack Conklin (knee/illness) did not practice but also is listed as questionable. Also questionable are DE Myles Garrett (shoulder), CB Terrance Mitchell (not injury related), DT Sheldon Richardson (neck), CB M.J. Stewart (calf) and G Wyatt Teller (ankle).
With Moffatt going on the COVID-19 List, the Browns now have eight players with that designation. It is not known if any will be activated before Sunday's game. In addition to Moffatt, they are G Joel Bitonio, TE Harrison Bryant, S Ronnie Harrison Jr., WR KhaDarel Hodge, CB Kevin Johnson, LB Malcolm Smith and CB Denzel Ward. -- Lolley
WATT NOT THE NOTE TAKER
THAT FITZPATRICK IS
1:25 p.m. Friday: Minkah Fitzpatrick said Thursday because of the familiarity the Steelers have with the Browns, he's found himself with more notes than usual when it comes to facing Cleveland for a third time this season in the opening round of the playoffs.
"It’s definitely an advantage I’ve got 20 pages of notes on them," Fitzpatrick said. "That’s pretty uncommon. They’re probably going to change things up, probably. But you can narrow down your vision."
I asked T.J. Watt Friday if he's in a similar situation.
"I don’t write down every single thing Mike T says like Minkah does, so I probably don’t have quite as many notes," Watt said with a laugh. "But I have a lot of information." -- Lolley
Watt, Fitzpatrick, Heyward named
to All-Pro team
12 p.m. Friday: T.J. Watt and Minkah Fitzpatrick were both named first-team All-Pro on Friday, while Cam Heyward earned second-team honors in voting from the Associated Press.
Watt and Fitzpatrick were named to the first-team for the second consecutive year. This is Heyward's third-time on the All-Pro team. He was named first-team in 2017 and 2019.
Watt led the NFL with 15 sacks, 23 tackles for a loss and 41 quarterback hits. He is just the third player in the past 15 years to record at least 15 sacks, 23 tackles for a loss and 40 quarterback hits in a season. Watt did not play in the team's regular season finale, being held out in a coach's decision.
"It’s a great honor. There’s a lot of hard work that goes into it for myself, Minkah and Cam," Watt said. "All of that stuff is team award."
Fitzpatrick led the Steelers with four interceptions and 74 tackles. He also had 11 pass defenses.
Heyward had 54 tackles, four sacks, 18 quarterback hits and seven tackles for a loss in 2020. -- Lolley
TUITT IS JUST LOOKING
AT THIS GAME
10:30 a.m. Friday: NFL rosters change every year. That's why the Steelers have just 27 players on their roster with playoff experience, despite having been to the postseason in 2017. Those other 26 players turned over, which isn't unusual.
Which is why when Stephon Tuitt was asked Friday if he is concerned this is the last chance for this group to make a playoff run, he wasn't concerned about that, even though the Steelers have a number of high-profile potential free agents.
"I do not care. This is an opportunity of a lifetime for us," Tuitt said. "Everyone focuses on the destination where we want to go, and that is the Super Bowl. And Cleveland is in our way."
• Tuitt was named the Ed Block Courage Award winner for the Steelers last week. The award is given each year to a player from each team who exemplify commitments to the principles of sportsmanship and courage.
Tuitt finished with a career-high 11 sacks, 25 quarterback hits and 10 tackles for a loss, playing in all 16 games.
"It means a lot. This game you could be up and then you can be down," he said. "Last year, I was up and then I went down quicker than I wanted to. I just used that opportunity to prepare to get my body back where I wanted to be able to play this season. I have and I showcased that. Now, I’m turning it up a notch to increase our intensity for the playoffs." -- Lolley
FRIDAY FINALE
The Steelers will hold their final full practice of the week at 11 a.m. They'll also have a number of players talking to the media today, starting with Stephon Tuitt at 10:30 a.m. Dale Lolley will have the coverage. And my Friday podcast is just below. -- DK
BOSWELL, WILLIAMS, ALUALU
BACK AT PRACTICE
3:30 p.m. Thursday: The Steelers got Chris Boswell, Tyson Alualu and Vince Williams back at practice Thursday, as well as cornerback Steven Nelson as they continued to prep for the Browns on Sunday. JuJu Smith-Schuster (knee) took the day off from practice, but that's not unusual, as he has taken a day off all season long during the week with that issue. Isaiah Buggs didn't practice because of an illness.
But hey, at least the Steelers are practicing. The Browns have not done so yet this week and might not be afforded that opportunity if they continue to have positive COVID-19 tests. -- Lolley
TWO MORE BROWNS
TO COVID-19 LIST
3 p.m. Thursday: The Browns placed two more players on the Reserve/COVID-19 List Thursday, safety Ronnie Harrison and practice squad linebacker Montrel Meander.
That news comes as the team continues to hold meetings virtually in preparation for their playoff game Sunday night against the Steelers.
Dr. Alan Sills, the chief medical officer of the NFL, told the NFL Network Thursday that these two cases are a little different in that Harrison and Meander are believed to have become infected at the team's practice facility.
"There was some spread from one individual to another," Sills said.
The Browns now have seven players and two practice squad players on the COVID-19 List, while head coach Kevin Stefanski also tested positive earlier this week. Those previous cases, however, were determined to have been "community spread" according to Sills.
The Browns currently are awaiting word whether the league will allow them to practice today. Baker Mayfield told the media Thursday in a Zoom call that he had yet to throw a football this week.
The league remains steadfast at this point that the game will be played on Sunday. But this latest news could make that problematic if the Browns now start having players test positive the remainder of this week after not having any players go on the list Wednesday. -- Lolley
STEELERS ACTIVATE EBRON,
MARSH FROM COVID-19 LIST
12:15 p.m. Thursday: The Steelers on Thursday activated tight end Eric Ebron and linebacker Cassius Marsh from the Reserve/COVID-19 List.
The two had been close contacts of cornerback Joe Haden, who was placed on the list last Friday after testing positive.
Both Ebron and Marsh missed last Sunday's game against the Browns. -- Lolley
STEELERS ALLOWED JUST
2,500 FOR PLAYOFF GAME
12 p.m. Thursday: The state has finally given the Steelers the OK to have fans at Heinz Field for this weekend's game against the Browns. But it is setting that limit even lower than the 5,500 they were permitted in Oct. and Nov. before things were shut down again in Dec.
According to the Steelers, they will only be permitted to have 2,500 people in attendance at their playoff game. That includes every person in the building. So the Steelers, as they did for the final month of the season, will limit those in attendance to friends and family of players.
"We are disappointed we will not be able to host our season ticket holders and other fans at Heinz Field on Sunday night against the Cleveland Browns in our AFC Wild Card Game," said Steelers Spokesman Burt Lauten in a statement released on Thursday. "We were hoping to receive approval to host fans for the playoffs at a capacity similar to our games in October and November, but unfortunately the state's orders will only permit 2,500 total people in the building, including players, coaches and staff. This will limit fans in the seating bowl to family and friends of players and the team." -- Lolley
COORDINATORS SPEAK AS IF
FEILER, SPILLANE WILL PLAY
10:45 a.m. Thursday: Robert Spillane and Matt Feiler began practicing this week as they try to come back off of injured reserve in time for the Steelers playoff game Sunday against the Browns.
And listening to offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner and defensive coordinator Keith Butler Thursday, it sounds like both are on track to play.
Spillane could move back into the starting lineup at inside linebacker.
"You watch Derrick Henry running all year long and you watch Spillane jack him up. I didn’t see a whole lot of people doing that," Butler said of Spillane, who was first tasked to fill in for Devin Bush. "He's done a good job of stepping up when we asked him to step up in place of Devin."
As for Feiler, Fichtner said the Steelers haven't given any thought to putting Feiler at right tackle in place of Chuks Okorafor and leaving Kevin Dotson at left guard.
"I've been happy with how Chuks has played," Fichtner said. "I don’t know that moving two bodies would be good at this time. It might not be fair to Matt because he doesn’t get a lot of work out there. But he does get a little work out there during the course of the week."
Fichtner said he would be comfortable moving Feiler to right tackle in an emergency situation, but not making a change like that in the days before a playoff game. -- Lolley
BOSWELL LIMITED, EDMUNDS BACK
AT PRACTICE FOR STEELERS
3:25 p.m. Wednesday: Placekicker Chris Boswell, who has missed two of the past three games with hip and groin issues, was limited in practice today for the Steelers as they began preparations to play the Browns Sunday in an AFC Wild Card game.
Safety Terrell Edmunds, who sat out last Sunday's game against the Browns with a shoulder injury, was back as a full participant today.
Cornerback Steven Nelson (knee) was limited today, while defensive tackle Tyson Alualu (ankle) and linebacker Vince Williams (quad) were both held out.
All of those players are expected to be available for the Steelers Sunday.
Ben Roethlisberger was not listed as a partial participant. He went through a full practice.
The Browns, by the way, once again couldn't practice today because of COVID-19 concerns and had to meet remotely. So, their injury report was somewhat meaningless since none of them practiced. -- Lolley
SMITH-SCHUSTER PROVIDES
BULLETIN BOARD MATERIAL?
2:15 p.m. Wednesday: You can bet this will be blown out of proportion in Cleveland, but JuJu Smith-Schuster echoed a favorite Mike Tomlinism when talking about playing the Browns for the third time this season when he was asked if they are different from other Browns teams.
"They’re still the same Browns team we play every year," Smith-Schuster said. "They’re nameless gray faces. The Browns are the Browns. They’re a good team. I’m just happy we’re playing them again this Sunday."
Some will take that as a disrespectful shot at Cleveland. But that's not what Smith-Schuster meant. He was repeating a favorite go-to phrase of Tomlin's in regard to opponents. Tomlin likes to say that the Steelers don't worry about the opponent, they only worry about themselves. The opponents are "nameless gray faces."
But that won't stop the fans in Cleveland from running with that statement. -- Lolley
DECASTRO CONFIRMS FEILER
BACK IN THE LINEUP
2 p.m. Wednesday: Mike Tomlin said Matt Feiler and Robert Spillane would resume practicing this week as they try to come back off injured reserve.
David DeCastro confirmed Feiler was back in the starting lineup at left guard today as the Steelers began preparation for their first playoff game Sunday against the Browns.
"It’s great to have Matt back. It’s good to have that depth back," DeCastro said.
Rookie Kevin Dotson has started in Feiler's place and performed well. But he could be headed to the bench if Feiler is activated for Sunday's game.
"I haven’t seen a rookie lineman play that well since I’ve been here. Kevin did a great job," DeCastro said. "He’s going to have a heck of a career."
ROETHLISBERGER RESTED,
READY FOR PLAYOFFS
12 p.m. Wednesday: Ben Roethlisberger said the week off from practice and playing did his body a world of good. Roethlisberger didn't play in the Steelers' 24-22 loss last Sunday to the Browns to give his 38-year-old body some much-needed rest for the postseason.
Now, he says he's ready to go. The Steelers face the Browns again this Sunday at Heinz Field.
"In terms of the time off and rest, my knees feel a lot better. My body feels a lot better," Roethlisberger said. "Today, I’m going to do more than half a practice to get back into it. I’ve enjoyed the rest, especially this time of year, to get my body back."
Roethlisberger typically does not practice on Wednesdays, but will get some work in today as the Steelers prep to play the Browns for a third time. Roethlisberger wishes he would have known prior to Sunday's game that the Browns would be the Steelers' first-round opponent.
"I enjoyed watching the game. I watched it with my family. I felt like my son asked me a question after every play," Roethlisberger said. "(I was) watching them with the knowledge that we could play them again. It would have been nice to know that we would play them again. But I definitely watched it closely."
And he felt both Mason Rudolph and Josh Dobbs, who both took snaps at quarterback, acquitted themselves well.
In fact, Roethlisberger said Rudolph, who threw for 315 yards and two touchdowns, only proved to the world something Roethlisberger already knew -- that Rudolph is a starting quarterback at some point in the future.
"I do. I’ve felt that even before that game," Roethlisberger said. "It didn’t take that game for me to feel that way. He’s just showing the rest of the world what we’ve already seen here."
As for Dobbs, the Steelers used him in some specialty packages, taking advantage of some of his running skills. Roethlisberger said he would be open to that if the Steelers choose to do it in the postseason.
"I thought Josh did a great job too with his handful of plays. He even sacrificed his body on some of those," Roethlisberger said. "I’ll do whatever it takes to help this team win." -- Lolley
STEELERS EXTEND AGREEMENT
ON HEINZ FIELD
10 a.m. Wednesday: The Steelers' agreement with Kraft on the naming rights to Heinz Field were set to run out at the end of season. But the two sides came to an agreement Wednesday to extend that deal another year while negotiations continue on a long-term deal.
The two signed a 20-year agreement in 2001 to call the Steelers' new stadium Heinz Field. It has been that for every one of its games since it was christened. -- Lolley
BACK TO WORK!
4:15 a.m. Wednesday: The Steelers open their week of practicing for their playoff opener today, 12:15 p.m., on the South Side. Before the session, we'll hear from David DeCastro and Ben Roethlisberger. Afterward, we'll hear from Cam Heyward and JuJu Smith-Schuster. Dale Lolley will cover.
Ramon Foster's got a terrific new column up for you this morning, Dale's got an analysis up, and all I did was this podcast below. (Hey, I covered the Penguins yesterday, OK?) -- DK
FANECA MAKES
HOF FINALIST LIST
6 p.m. Tuesday: The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced its 15 finalists for 2021 and Hines Ward didn't make the cut, though Alan Faneca did.
That Ward didn't make it was not a surprise. Though he's been eligible for several years, he has only made it to the final 15 a couple of times and hasn't advanced to the final 10.
Faneca has been a finalist in each of past five years, making the final 10 in each of those years.
Former Steelers scout Bill Nunn also is a finalist as a recommendation from the Senior Committee as in the contributor category. He is expected to be rubber stamped for induction.
The complete list of finalists is here. -- Lolley
WILL STEELERS USE
DOBBS IN A PACKAGE?
1 p.m. Tuesday: Could the Steelers perhaps come up with a short-yardage package for third-string quarterback Josh Dobbs? Perhaps.
But it would be tricky. After all, Dobbs has not been active all season for a reason. He's the third quarterback and is clearly behind Mason Rudolph. So, to have him active to run what might be a play or two per game would mean somebody else needs to be inactive.
Teams get 47 players active on game days, 48 if one of those players activated is an offensive lineman. Each team has three specialists, while the Steelers typically have three offensive and defensive linemen active, as well. That brings you down to 38 active players on game day who can cover kicks.
To keep Dobbs active, the Steelers would lose a position player elsewhere. The Saints do that with Taysom Hill by having Hill cover kicks and punts. But that's not in Dobbs' repertoire.
Again, it's possible, but we'll see.
"We’re going to have that discussion as an offensive staff," Mike Tomlin said Tuesday. "Both (Rudolph and Dobbs) helped their cause. Neither guy hurt their cause.
"We’ll ponder those possibilities. All things are on the table as we work to put ourselves in position to win this game."
One other issue with using Dobbs in that fashion is that you take Ben Roethlisberger off the field. It's one thing to do that with Rudolph. It's another to do it with your Hall of Fame quarterback.
Just the fact that the Steelers did it in a game against the Browns last week means Cleveland will likely have to spend some additional time this week prepping for it.
"They had wrinkles yesterday with Dobbs coming in there to run it," Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said. "They absolutely could do that again this week or not. That is part of the preparation. There is the game theory in trying to understand what they are doing and how it informs your decisions and game planning.” -- Lolley
FEILER, SPILLANE
BACK AT PRACTICE
12:15 p.m. Tuesday: Mike Tomlin announced in his Tuesday press conference that Matt Feiler and Robert Spillane are set to practice this week. Both have been on injured reserve for weeks and would boost thin areas on the Steelers' depth chart.
The two questions that remain unanswered are whether either player will be well enough to play Sunday, and just how much either will get used. The Steelers have grown accustomed to Kevin Dotson starting at left guard, while Avery Williamson and Vince Williams have been the starters at inside linebacker in Spillane's absence.
I've been told that if Spillane is healthy enough to be activated, he will return to the starting lineup. And the Steelers expect that to happen. Feiler, however, is more of a wait-and-see prospect.
Tomlin also said that Terrell Edmunds (shoulder) and Chris Boswell (groin) have a chance to return this week after sitting out Sunday against the Browns.
• In regards to the news that Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski, two other members of his coaching staff and two additional players -- Pro Bowl guard Joel Bitonio and wide receiver Kha'Darel Hodge -- tested positive for COVID-19 Tuesday, Tomlin was asked if this news drives the point of safety home any further for the Steelers.
Tomlin said his team, which has been living in the COVID-19 restrictions placed on it since late July doesn't need any such reminders.
"Every morning at 6 a.m. I am looking at my phone looking for verification of yesterday’s test results," Tomlin replied. -- Lolley
STEFANSKI TESTS POSITIVE
FOR COVID-19, FACILITY CLOSED
11:30 a.m. Tuesday: The Browns announced that head coach Kevan Stefanski hast tested positive for COVID-19. Along with Stefanski, two other Browns coaches and two players have COVID-19 issues. The Browns are closing their facility. Any player or coach who is confirmed to test positive for COVID-19 this week would not be able to play or coach against the Steelers Sunday night. Former Pitt quarterback and Browns offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt will call the plays Sunday.
The two players who tested positive are guard Joel Bitonio and receiver KhaDarel Hodge. Bitonio being out is a big deal as he's their starting guard and one of their key offensive linemen. Hodge is the team's current fourth receiver on the depth chart, but with Donovan Peoples-Jones questionable, he could've been the team's third option at receiver. -- Carter
TOMLIN TUESDAY
Mike Tomlin will address the media Tuesday at noon for his weekly press conference in preparation for the Steelers' playoff game Sunday night against the Browns. Tomlin will give us an update on injuries, including, perhaps, some clarity on Robert Spillane, who seems to be high on everyone's list of wanting information regarding. Dale Lolley will have the coverage. -- DK
OGUNJOBI: GARRETT'S HANDSHAKE
WITH RUDOLPH 'SQUASHED' SITUATION
11 p.m. Monday: Browns defensive end Myles Garrett and Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph shared a quick word and handshake following Sunday's 24-22 win by the Browns in Cleveland. This after Garrett bludgeoned Rudolph over the head with his own helmet there last season, then accused the Steelers' quarterback of using a racial slur against him as the reason for doing so.
Rudolph has consistently denied he used a slur and the Steelers have consistently backed him on that, while Garrett doubled down on his initial accusation last Spring in a sit-down interview with ESPN following his reinstatement from an indefinite suspension by the NFL.
Now, apparently, Garrett is somehow the bigger man. At least according to the Browns.
Defensive lineman Larry Ogunjobi, who drew a suspension himself from that incident for taking a run at Rudolph from behind and knocking him to the ground during the melee that followed the helmet-swinging incident, said the fact that Garrett shook Rudolph's hand afterward showed what kind of person Garrett really is.
"It is big. It speaks to his maturity and his character as a person," Ogunjobi said. "Never one time throughout the whole situation did I doubt the person Myles was. For him to kind of extend that arm out and kind of just squash it was big for everybody.”
Poor choice of words? Purposeful? You decide. -- Lolley
VERNON OUT WITH TORN
ACHILLES' TENDON
1:20 p.m. Monday: When Olivier Vernon went down with an injury in the second half of the Browns' 24-22 win Sunday over the Steelers, many in the stands appeared to think there was some kind of cheap shot involved. Chants of "Pittsburgh sucks" began as Vernon lay on the field.
Turns out, Vernon suffered a torn Achilles' tendon. The star edge rusher had nine sacks for Cleveland this season -- all coming in the second half of the year. That's a big blow for the Browns heading into their rematch with the Steelers at Heinz Field this Sunday. -- Lolley
CLAYPOOL'S CONFIDENCE
IN PLACE
12 p.m. Monday: Chase Claypool was targeted 11 times on Sunday against the Browns, catching five passes for 101 yards and a touchdown. It was his most catches since Week 11 and his first touchdown in six weeks.
Mike Tomlin said following the game the team wanted to incorporate Claypool into the game plan more to help the rookie's confidence. Mission accomplished.
"It was nice to get those targets right before the playoffs, especially playing those goes again next week to see what works, what doesn’t work," said Claypool, saying that it did help his confidence.
Claypool finished the season with 62 catches for 873 yards and nine receiving touchdowns, while also rushing for a couple of scores.
The second-round draft pick knew he would have an impact on this season. But that early impact slowed a bit in recent weeks as teams began defending him differently.
"I thought I would have a pretty big impact," Claypool said of his rookie year. "I wasn’t sure when it would begin. But I thought I could have a pretty big impact."
• Claypool also dropped one interesting nugget of information.
The NFL is now mandating the testing friends and family members of players if they have any contact with the players.
"The new thing is testing family and friends when they come it," Claypool said.
So, while the league isn't using a bubble for the playoffs, it is being more diligent in regard to who has contact with players and whether they are positive or not. -- Lolley
ALL 2021 OPPONENTS SET
11:20 p.m. Sunday: After Sunday's results, the Steelers now know who all their opponents will be for the 2021 NFL season. The home opponents will include the Ravens, Browns, Bengals, Bears, Broncos, Lions, Raiders and Titans.
The away opponents will include the Ravens, Bengals Browns, Bills, Packers, Chiefs, Chargers and Vikings.
The Steelers also will get a 17th opponent -- matching a divisional placewinner from the NFC -- when the league approves that in the spring.
That means the Steelers will play 10 games next season against teams who made the playoffs this year. -- Carter