Rhodes, Barr and Griffen strong in Vikings’ loss to Steelers

“I think Chick became a better pass rusher, whether it’s just working on his craft”, said Heyward. “I honestly don’t know how long he’ll be out”. “I don’t think it has anything to do with the surgeries”.

In the first quarter, the Steelers lined up with a third tackle (Chris Hubbard as a tight end) and “let them know off the run we’re coming with the big guys and we’re about to run”, Bell said. Now, depending on the severity of Bradford’s knee injury, Sloter may have a chance to dress for a regular season National Football League game.

“We need to bring back that home field, Heinz Field kind of mystique”, Roethlisberger said.

The Steelers did a better job mixing up the play calling, with nearly a 50/50 run-pass balance this Sunday compared to last week when the play calling was more than 2-to-1 in favor of a pass play. “I wish I did; I’d call some games better”.

Rhodes was listed as questionable with a left hip injury that flared up on him late in the game. So far, it hasn’t been an issue, though Pittsburgh is well aware sterner tests await after facing Cleveland rookie DeShone Kizer and Keenum – a journeyman who got the nod when Sam Bradford’s swollen left knee prevented him from playing – in the first two weeks. Bradford came out of the game after tweaking the knee.

After Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Bradford lit up the New Orleans Saints defense for 346 yards and three touchdowns, the Vikings fanbase exploded with optimism. Bradford is ruled out against the Steelers with a knee injury and backup Case Keenum will start in his place. The team now belongs to Keenum, a journeyman who lost his first eight career starts, and lost his job previous year to Rams rookie Jared Goff.

“It’ll come”, Bell said, via the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

“We’re aggressive corners, we’re aggressive D, so it was either they catch the ball or we get penalized”, Vikings cornerback Xavier Rhodes said. I like this team and I like the way they compete and go out and prepare. “We don’t take anything lightly”. “At the same time, right now we’re going to be frustrated and tomorrow we’re going to get back to work”. Cook got the majority of the carries over veteran Latavius Murray, who fumbled on his first touch and ended up with three yards on two carries. “We’re going to fight”.

No other players were listed on Minnesota’s injury report.

Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier isn’t surprised by how well Anthony Chickillo has played this season, but he is impressed. Expect Bell to receive a full workload against the Vikings defense, which held the Saints to 60 net rushing yards on Monday.

But even after a 17-point loss, Zimmer returned to Minnesota with a genial outlook that provided a stark contrast to his comments one day earlier.

“It means a lot, and that’s why we’re here”, Watt said of the sacks. I really, really want them to win and I thought that we had a great shot this season. So…