Pittsburg, PA
Winners and losers from the Pittsburgh Steelers' loss to the Philadelphia Eagles
PHILADELPHIA — The Pittsburgh Steelers fell to the Philadelphia Eagles in tough fashion Sunday. While they did clinch a playoff berth with losses from the Miami Dolphins and Indianapolis Colts, between injuries and some key parts that fell flat in their play, they have questions to answer.
So, here are the winners and losers from Sunday’s game:
Winner: Pat Freiermuth
Pat Freiermuth is the first tight end since Heath Miller to score three touchdowns in three straight games. What a dazzling last few weeks he has put together, and all of the praise should go to him because Freiermuth has found his groove. The Steelers have started working with him more on the vertical plane, and it has unlocked another level to Freiermuth’s game.
Is he perfect? No. But it is becoming clear that Freiermuth is an excellent seam buster who can take all the different routes on the vertical plane, including on his touchdown. Add in a leap in his blocking, and Freiermuth is on an upward trend despite most players going downward.
Loser: Najee Harris
Tough day at the office for Najee Harris, who had the huge fumble on the toss play that hit him right in the hands. Harris had to catch that ball, and even on his six runs, he did not maximize the runs often. The run game struggles are often schematic, but Harris had as poor of a game as he has had since he entered the NFL.
Right now, Jaylen Warren looks more dynamic and is in the groove. He is fully healthy and ready to go, so the Steelers should give him even more of a workload.
Winner: T.J. Watt
The ankle injury aside, Watt gave Lane Johnson all kinds of trouble, which speaks to the type of player Watt is and has become. You want to know why no one leaves Watt on an island? Just look at what he did to Johnson in this game.
Johnson often looks great and has no worries each week, but Watt won consistently in this one, getting a forced fumble and two sacks. Watt got the better of Johnson far more than Johnson would have liked, and it led to one of the worst games of Johnson’s career, but all of that is drawn to Watt and his play.
Loser: Missed tackles
This can encompass a lot of different players. Patrick Queen missed more than a few tackles. Donte Jackson whiffed on Kenneth Gainwell on a third down that should have been a stop. Joey Porter Jr. had one of the worst tackling games of his career and turned the clock back to last year after it felt like he had taken the step forward needed in that area. The Steelers’ tackling was a huge part of giving the Eagles first downs by breaking tackles in the open field and that needs to be nipped in the bud now.
- BETTING: Check out our guide to the best PA sportsbooks, where our team of sports betting experts has reviewed the experience, payout speed, parlay options and quality of odds for multiple sportsbooks.
Pittsburg, PA
Pittsburgh natives Joe Manganiello and Caitlin O’Connor move to Mt. Lebanon
Pittsburgh-area natives Joe Manganiello and Caitlin O’Connor are returning to their roots.
Manganiello, from Mt. Lebanon, and O’Connor, from Uniontown, have bought a home in the South Hills after getting engaged this summer.
On Pittsburgh Today Live on Thursday, O’Connor talked about the couple’s move from Hollywood to Mt. Lebanon.
“It’s so nice to be home,” she said.
While Manganiello and O’Connor are happy to be back in southwestern Pennsylvania, O’Connor said it’ll be a bigger adjustment for the beloved chihuahua Bubbles. From the Pittsburgh Steelers fashion show to the gala celebrating the new airport terminal, the tiny dog is seemingly always in Manganiello’s arms.
“Bubbles is a California girl. She really doesn’t like the cold. We wrap her in a blanket and she has many, many puffy coats. I bought her a Steelers puffy to put in her stocking, so we’re going to see how she does over the next few months. But it’s not that long. It’s not forever. Winter will come and go,” O’Connor said.
And they all got quite the Pittsburgh welcome. O’Connor said it snowed when they were moving in, and Manganiello was outside shoveling for over two hours. She said she’s getting him a snowblower for Christmas.
The couple won’t be braving the Pittsburgh winter for too long. O’Connor said they’ll soon be off to South Africa, where Manganiello will film “One Piece” for Netflix. He’ll star as the villain Crocodile in the popular Japanese manga series.
“Bubbles will be in a better state,” O’Connor joked, saying it’s currently summer in South Africa. “I just bring Bubbles to set and hang out. It’s really the best job.”
Pittsburg, PA
Police investigating late-night shooting at Irwin apartment complex
Police in Westmoreland County are investigating a late-night shooting that happened at an apartment complex in Irwin Borough.
Irwin Police Chief Daniel Wensel confirmed to KDKA-TV that the department, along with Westmoreland County detectives are investigating a shooting that happened at the Bevington Building along Sweetbriar Drive within the Villages of Easton Apartment Complex.
Dispatchers said the first call related to the incident came in around 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
Details are limited but Chief Wensel said there is no danger to the public.
It’s unclear if any injuries have been reported or if any arrests have been made.
Chief Wensel said that more information is expected to be released once detectives and the department get further along in the investigation.
Pittsburg, PA
Steelers re-sign veteran running back
The Pittsburgh Steelers are re-signing veteran running back Trey Sermon, the team announced today. Sermon has had multiple on-and-off stints with the Steelers since signing with the team rookie mini-camp. He’s appeared in three games for the Steelers in 2025.
Sermon was drafted in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers. In 46 career games, Sermon has 505 yards on 134 carries and three touchdowns with the 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, Indianapolis Colts, and Steelers.
The Steelers have the chance to put the Baltimore Ravens on the ropes this Sunday. If they defeat the Detroit Lions, the Ravens would have to defeat one of the New England Patriots or Green Bay Packers for the Week 18 matchup between the Steelers and Ravens to have any stakes. The Steelers can also clinch the division before Week 18 if they win their next two games and the Ravens go 1-1 or 0-2.
Be sure to bookmark Behind the Steel Curtain for all the latest news, breakdowns, and more!
-
Iowa4 days agoAddy Brown motivated to step up in Audi Crooks’ absence vs. UNI
-
Washington1 week agoLIVE UPDATES: Mudslide, road closures across Western Washington
-
Iowa5 days agoHow much snow did Iowa get? See Iowa’s latest snowfall totals
-
Maine2 days agoElementary-aged student killed in school bus crash in southern Maine
-
Maryland4 days agoFrigid temperatures to start the week in Maryland
-
Technology1 week agoThe Game Awards are losing their luster
-
South Dakota5 days agoNature: Snow in South Dakota
-
Nebraska1 week agoNebraska lands commitment from DL Jayden Travers adding to early Top 5 recruiting class