A Steelers Depot daily segment. A quick hit of some Pittsburgh Steelers and Steelers-related stories that may not require a complete and dedicated article but nuggets worth mentioning and passing on to you guys. The same as our recent Depot Daily, but now late at night to better capture the news of the day.
Your Depot After Dark for Dec. 2.
Vance McDonald Back At Practice
To watch, not play. Former Pittsburgh Steelers TE Vance McDonald took in the team’s Friday practice at the UPMC Sports Rooney Complex, as tweeted out by the Post-Gazette’s Brian Batko.
Traded over from the San Francisco 49ers, McDonald played for the Steelers from 2017 to 2020. He best season came in 2018, finishing third on the team in receiving yards (610) and touchdowns (four). He retired after the 2020 season. Part of what makes Pittsburgh unique is the number of former players who come back to visit. Many have compared the franchise to a college-town feel with alumni always popping in to say hello.
Steelers Playoff Odds
It’s not just the holiday season. It’s the NFL’s stretch run for the postseason. According to Sportsline, the Steelers have a 79.2 percent chance to make the playoffs entering Week 13. It’s the fifth-highest figure in the AFC and the highest of all the virtual non-locks (Ravens, Chiefs, Jaguars, Dolphins) to advance to the postseason.
The Cleveland Browns sit right behind the Steelers at over 76 percent. With the Steelers knocking off the Bengals last week, their playoff odds tumble to below two percent, a worse figure than the Raiders. Pittsburgh’s next AFC opponent, the New England Patriots, have the worst playoff odds at zero percent, though they haven’t technically been mathematically eliminated. Yet.
Funny TNF Graphic
From a few days ago but still worth sharing. During Thursday night’s thriller between the Dallas Cowboys and Seattle Seahawks, the Amazon broadcast took a moment to preview next TNF’s game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots.
As is common, the graphic features two notable players from each side. For the Steelers, it was T.J. Watt. Makes sense. For the Patriots, it was…head coach Bill Belichick.
When you’re 2-9, there aren’t a lot of players to highlight. Not exactly going to highlight Kendrick Bourne up on your screen.
