Steelers News: Steelers and Cowboys Hall of Fame game hasn’t changed, as of now

The Pittsburgh Steelers 2019 season is officially over. After finishing the year 8-8, the Steelers, and their vast fan base, has another long offseason awaiting them. Just because the games are done doesn’t mean we stop providing you with features, commentary and opinions to tide you over throughout the offseason!

Today in the black-and-gold links article we take a look at how, despite COVID-19, the NFL has not changed the date of the first preseason game.

Let’s get to the news:

• The schedule might eventually change, but as of right now the Steelers and Cowboys Hall of Fame game has remained in tact.

Steelers-Cowboys Hall of Fame Game still set to go on as scheduled

By: Chris Adamski, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Keep those plans for that early-August two-hour drive northwest, Pittsburgh.

For now.

The preseason-opening Hall of Fame Game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys is still on, a spokesperson for the Pro Football Hall of Fame said Thursday in an email to the Tribune-Review. As it has been every year in recent decades, the Aug. 6 game at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio, is the first football game of the 2020 season.

“As of today, the Hall is proceeding with the game going forward as scheduled,” Hall of Fame vice president of communications and public relations Rich Desrosiers wrote.

The NFL remains the only North American major sports league – and perhaps the only major sports league in the world – to have thus far avoided a game or match postponement during the coronavirus pandemic. The NHL, NBA, MLS and Major League Baseball all have postponed games – many of which are believed to be canceled.

The NFL has the benefit of time – its regular season does not begin until September. It proceeded through free agency as normal, and its draft is being held on its scheduled dates (April 23-25), albeit remotely via video and not with any people gathered in one spot.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• Will the Steelers 2020 NFL Draft be more defensive minded than everyone is predicting?

Tim Benz: Steelers draft might be more defensively oriented than predicted

By: Tim Benz, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

When I think of how the Steelers will approach this month’s NFL Draft, I want to stand by one of my usual credos.

Don’t out-think the obvious.

In 2019, the Steelers defense was good. The offense was bad.

Hence, help the offense as much as you can, as soon as you can.

Especially since the Steelers don’t have a pick until the 49th spot on the board. And that’s the only one they have in the top 100.

But there’s a moment I can’t shake in my head from one of head coach Mike Tomlin’s press conferences back in November.

The Steelers were sitting at 4-4. They had just beaten the Indianapolis Colts. However, it was their sixth straight game in which the offense failed to score more than one touchdown in the red zone.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• A closer look at the odds for the AFC North in 2020.

Breaking down 2020 AFC North odds to make playoffs

By: Chet Gresham, DraftKings

DraftKings Sportsbook has gone ahead and released the odds for each team to earn a playoff berth at the end of the 2020 season. The most significant part of NFL free agency is wrapped up, and while there are still some big names left to sign, much of the NFL is focusing on the upcoming NFL Draft. With that in mind, we’ll take a look at each team’s odds to make the 2021 NFL playoffs — breaking it down by division. Today, we look at the AFC North.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Yes (-115), No (-106)

The Steelers had a lost season in 2019 and still managed to come close to making the playoffs with an 8-8 record. The loss of Ben Roethlisberger in Week 2 completely killed the Steelers offense but their defense remained stout and kept them in games. This offseason, they lost DT Javon Hargrave, which hurts the defense, but getting Roethlisberger back is huge and instantly makes them contenders again. Otherwise, the Steelers do what they usually do in the offseason, and didn’t make many moves.

Despite a poor offensive showing due to bad quarterback play and a constantly injured James Conner, the receiving depth of James Washington and Diontae Johnson proved useful and should be an asset along with JuJu Smith-Schuster and newly acquired Eric Ebron. Pittsburgh will likely draft a running back in the second round who should see plenty of work early on, giving the Steelers a well-rounded offense and a good shot for the playoffs.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• BTSC articles you may have missed...

The Steelers All-Decade team, the offense

T.J. Watt and J.J. Watt have the same odds to win the Defensive Player of the Year award

A case for another Michigan linebacker to be the Steelers’ top pick

How James Conner better hope the offense uses Derek Watt in 2020

What Ben Roethlisberger said about his wide receivers in a recent interview

• Social Media Madness