Week 7 of the NFL season opens with a heated AFC North battle as the Cincinnati Bengals host the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paycor Stadium. The two rivals are heading in opposite directions. The Steelers (4-1) are flying high atop the division after a 23-9 win over the Cleveland Browns last week, while the Bengals (1-5) are still searching for stability following a brutal run of injuries.
It's a scene not unlike thousands unfolding across Western Pennsylvania, though there are differences. He won't be wearing a black and gold jersey or twirling a Terrible Towel. Those aren't allowed here. That's because this man is watching from his cell at State Correctional Institute-Fayette, a maximum security prison that currently houses 1,991 incarcerated men from across the commonwealth.
"Today felt like I'm home now, I'm here," said the receiver, who hit a max speed of 21.2 mph on the score, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. "Nothing happens without the O-line blocking and defense playing the way that they did. Really popped a couple of those for me. Running on the backside of things, taking two, three defenders out of there and giving me space to really work. So shout-out to everybody that was involved in this win."
After being introduced, the Maiden singer got a warm response from the crowd, and then began singing "The Star-Spangled Banner." Get Bruce Dickinson Tickets Here Dickinson started out a little rough on the opening lines, but then quickly recovered to belt the heck out of the song, with a powerful delivery of "And the rocket's red glare" and going full Maiden on "O'er the land of the free," holding the note on "free" for a good six seconds.
After Seattle took a 17-14 lead early in the quarter on a 54-yard Jason Myers field goal, Pittsburgh's Kaleb Johnson allowed Myers' kickoff to bounce over his head and into the end zone. As Johnson ran toward the Steelers sideline, apparently believing the play would be called dead, Seattle continued to cover the kick, and backup George Holani fell on the ball before it rolled out of the back of the end zone for a touchdown and 24-14 Seattle lead.