New England has won the last five meetings against Pittsburgh and six of seven, and it’s riding a 13-4 cover streak against the Steelers since 1997.
Football
The future of the Las Vegas Bowl remains uncertain as conferences throughout the country negotiate various postseason contracts. Arizona State plays No. 19 Fresno State in the bowl at 12:30 p.m. Saturday at Sam Boyd Stadium.
Raiders defensive coordinator Paul Guenther will make his return to Cincinnati on Sunday for the first time since being the team’s coach in previous years.
Two opponents have scored more than 21 points on Fresno State this season: Toledo (in a 49-27 Fresno win) and Boise State (in a 24-17 Fresno loss).
The Gold Sheet handicapper Bruce Marshall provides the Review-Journal with NFL tech notes and trends.
Handicapper Doug Fitz (Systemplays.com) won last year’s bowl contest with a 14-6 ATS record.
The NFL suspended Raiders wide receiver Martavis Bryant indefinitely on Friday following the conclusion of a monthslong appeal process.
Eagles coach Doug Pederson said Friday that Wentz does not require surgery for a stress fracture in his back and the injury could take up to three months to heal. The quarterback is listed as “questionable” for Sunday night’s game against the Rams in Los Angeles and is scheduled to travel with the team.
A position-by-position breakdown of the Las Vegas Bowl between No. 19 Fresno State and Arizona State at 12:30 p.m. Saturday at Sam Boyd Stadium.
Philip Rivers and the Chargers finally beat the Kansas City Chiefs. All it took was feverish fourth-quarter comeback, a questionable pass-interference call, a tense video review of the final touchdown and the gutsy decision to try a 2-point conversion.
Raiders coach Jon Gruden usually doesn’t single out a player’s toughness in team meetings. He made an exception Wednesday.
The Raiders have seen less of cornerback Daryl Worley lately. By playing at all, he’s shown plenty.
Oklahoma State football coach Mike Gundy recently reimbursed an Oklahoma City radio host who bet the Cowboys (6-6) would win eight games this season.
Vic Viramontes, a three-star junior college linebacker who had some notable scholarship offers, tweeted Thursday he had committed to UNLV.
