TEAM TALK
- Patriots-Steelers Wednesday Injury Report.
- Patriots Transactions: The Patriots have signed WR Kenny Britt and re-signed DL Ricky Jean Francois, released LB Jonathan Freeny and WR Bernard Reedy and also placed OL Marcus Cannon on IR.
- Erik Scalavino shares the practice news and locker-room buzz from Wednesday at Gillette: Gronk returns, Cannon exits.
- Press Conference Transcripts: Bill Belichick and Devin McCourty.
- Angelique Fiske suggests some last minute gift ideas for your resident Patriots fan.
LOCAL LINKS
- Tom E. Curran helps us get to know the Pittsburgh Steelers: Steelers can score - and be scored on. Plus, there's that whole Patriots-are-in-their-heads thing.
- Karen Guregian warns that the Steelers have proven especially resilient this season.
- Mike Petraglia (CLNS Media) Comparing Bill Belichick and Mike Tomlin and why the Patriots and Steelers are ‘perfect dance partners’.
- Sam Hollister (PatsPropaganda) Scouting Report: Pittsburgh Steelers.
- Ian Logue (PatsFans) Steelers Tomlin fired up for Patriots showdown.
- Mike Reiss brings up how Malcolm Butler can erase some of the doubts of this season with a big game against Antonio Brown.
- Jeff Howe proposes it may be time to test Stephon Gilmore against Antonio Brown.
- Ian Logue (PatsFans) Butler will likely be looking to make brown 'pout' again this weekend.
- Zack Cox states the obvious: There’s no stopping Antonio Brown, but the Patriots will try to at least slow him down.
- Phil Perry looks at whether the Steelers being 7-1 in games decided by a touchdown or less this season is the result of resilience or luck.
- Mike Reiss notes the Patriots have had some of their most memorable moments at Heinz Field.
- Stephen Sheehan (FanRagSports) Why getting home-field advantage not important for Patriots.
- Chris Morgan (FullPressCoverage) James White re-emerges in loss.
- Ryan Hannable tries to make sense of Tom Brady's below average play the last few weeks.
- Zack Cox gives us his practice report: Tom Brady makes his first Wednesday appearance in four weeks.
- Ryan Hannable points out Brandin Cooks and David Harris as new additions to the injury report.
- Phil Perry notes Malcolm Butler says he's not sure how his account retweeted Pro Football Focus the other day. For him, it's "a big misunderstanding."
- Johnny O (NEPatriotsLife) The future of the O-line: A think piece.
- Jeff Howe Patriots Notebook: Malcolm Butler pushes delete on retweet; Alan Branch (knee) only player missing from practice; More.
- The Herald looks at the numbers of the AFC playoff leaders and teams in the hunt to see how they all stack up.
- Alex Reimer peruses Kenny Britt's lengthy police record.
- Russ Goldman (PatsFans) Patriots Fourth and Two Podcast: We are on to Pittsburgh. (72 min.)
NATIONAL NEWS
- Jeremy Fowler (ESPN) Brady vs. Big Ben by the numbers: A study in dominance; shot at redemption.
- Photo Essays (NFL.com) Mind-boggling stats: Patriots vs. Steelers.
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Tomlin denies that the Steelers were looking ahead to the Patriots.
- Terence Moore (Sports on Earth) Belichick is the best in NFL history.
- Albert Breer (SI) Game Plan: Jerry Jones is playing the long game; What the Steelers are taking away from last year's AFC title game; More.
- Hank Gargiulo and Seth Walder (ESPN) FPI projects best, most important games of NFL Week 15.
- Matt Lombardi (NJ.com) NFL QB power rankings. No. 1 Tom Brady. 2017 Stats: 324-of-481 passing for 3,865 yards with 27 touchdowns, 6 interceptions, sacked 29 times.
- Joel Corry (CBS Sports) Agent's Take: Stafford, Luck lead list of NFL's 15 highest-paid players in 2017.
- Frank Schwab (Yahoo! Sports) NFL MVP, ROY and awards rankings: Carson Wentz's injury opens up the MVP race.
- Cameron Filipe (Football Zebras) Week 15 referee assignments. Patriots-Steelers: Tony Corrente.
- Jason La Canfora (CBS Sports) Tom Savage debacle needs to lead to concussion protocol fix, more notes.
- Staff (VinePair) Mapped & ranked: The NFL's drunkest fans this season.
- Josh Alper (ProFootballTalk) Roger Goodell: No determination that this will be my last contract.
VIEW FROM PITTSBURGH
- Chris Adamski (TribLive) League leaders clash as Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger faces Patriots' Tom Brady.
- Jerry DiPaola (TribLIve) Steelers' Javon Hargrave: Everybody 'geeked up' for Patriots matchup.
- Ron Cook (Post-Gazette) You can expect Tom Brady's best against the Steelers.
- Joe Starkey (Post-Gazette) Make no mistake, Ben Roethlisberger is the ticket to ring No. 7.
- Ed Bouchette (Post-Gazette) Ben Roethlisberger has a chance to stamp his legacy.
- Ray Fittipaldo (Post-Gazette) Fresh off suspension, JuJu Smith-Schuster vows to keep playing physical.
- Ray Fittipaldo (Post-Gazette) Injured Joe Haden wants to play against the Patriots: 'I’m just trying to push it.'
- Kevin Gorman (TribLive) Patriots coach Bill Belichick: Steelers a 'huge challenge for us'.
- Jerry Dipaola (TribLive) Patriots' Dion Lewis ready for return to Heinz Field.
- Joe Rutter (TribLive) With Ryan Shazier out, Mike Tomlin will turn to committee of linebackers to pick up slack.
- Kevin Gorman (TribLive) Steelers' Antonio Brown deserves to be NFL's MVP.
- Gerry Dulac (Post-Gazette) 2017 NFL Week 15 picks. Steelers 27-24.
EXTRACURRICULAR
- Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) Roger Goodell says league takes NFL Network harassment suit “very seriously”.
- Alex Putterman (Awful Announcing) ESPN cautions on-air employees about political comments on social media at summit in Bristol.
- Thelesterlee (DeadSeriousness) If ESPN didn't exist anymore, would it even matter?