Atlanta, GA
Winners and losers from Pittsburgh Steelers’ 18-10 win over Atlanta Falcons
ATLANTA — Nothing about it was that pretty, well at least offensively, but the Pittsburgh Steelers ground out an 18-10 victory against the Atlanta Falcons to start the season 1-0. It was a spirited game that started out sloppy for both sides, but as the game went on, the Steelers started to impose their will on the defensive side of the ball, which allowed them to surge ahead for the win.
With all that in mind, who on the team were the winners and losers from the game? Here are a few in each category:
Winner: New secondary players
Both Donte Jackson and DeShon Elliott earned every bit of their week’s pay for the Steelers on Monday. Elliott made a great interception and was everywhere. The Steelers ended up bottling up Kyle Pitts and he was a huge reason why they did that. Elliott showed why the Steelers like him as a complement to Minkah Fitzpatrick since he can do most of what Fitzpatrick did last year while getting Fitzpatrick back into his old role.
Meanwhile, Donte Jackson played a stellar game. His interception was a perfect read by him, and he should have had two interceptions. Overall, he proved to be a willing tackler and made more than a few plays in that area of the game, too. Those new players stepped up for the Steelers big time.
Loser: Spencer Anderson
Initially, on first watch, I thought Anderson played well, but going back to the tape, he was thoroughly dominated by both Grady Jarrett and David Onyemata when facing the veterans. It was a tough test for someone in his first start, but Anderson has to be much better moving forward if he wants the Steelers to have confidence in him. His pad level was the main issue on Sunday, and by playing so high, he allowed two quarterbacks hits, both of which Jarrett was able to get underneath him and uncork him out of the way for significant plays.
Winner: T.J. Watt
Honestly, you could put the entire defensive line on here, but T.J. Watt deserves this distinction on his own. He dominated this game and took it over against a solid right tackle in Kaleb McGary. Watt has incredible instincts and playmaking ability and is the lifeblood this Steelers runs on every single year. Watt does not have much to do when he gets out onto the football field. He is a joyous watch and continues to prove why he is an elite player.
Loser: The Middle of the Field
Remember when the Steelers wanted to attack the middle of the field more? When you look at Justin Fields’ passing chart, there is a gaping hole right in the middle of that area. Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith did call plays to that area of the field, but they were either not the primary read, not open, or Fields did not rip them. Either way, there was not even a target in that area of the field, and the Steelers won mostly by creating explosive plays through there, even if George Pickens was able to wiggle his way to a few explosive plays down the sideline.
Winner: Scotty Miller (and Chris Boswell, of course)
Miller did not register a stat as a wide receiver, but made two critical contributions to the team’s special teams. He was the backup holder after Cam Johnston’s knee injury, and then made a great tackle as a gunner on Chris Boswell’s lone punt of the game. While Boswell rightfully gets a lot of praise for going six for six and putting up a solid punt, Miller made two great plays that were winning football. He deserves his own flowers, too.
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Atlanta, GA
Atlanta Hawks Announce Plans For Their Annual Holiday Game Fueled By Georgia Natural Gas
The Atlanta Hawks have announced the plans of their annual Holiday Game fueled by Georgia Natural Gas, the team’s official natural gas provider, on Tuesday, Dec. 23 at 7:30 p.m. during the team’s game against the Chicago Bulls. The evening will showcase a variety of holiday-themed activations, including festive music, family-friendly entertainment and appearances from Santa and other seasonal characters.
“Our annual Holiday Game fueled by Georgia Natural Gas will highlight the spirit of the holidays and create memorable experiences for fans and families across Atlanta. We look forward to spreading the joy of the season both on and off the court again this year,” said Andrew Saltzman, Hawks President of Business Enterprise and Chief Commercial Officer.
In addition to a lineup of festive in-arena entertainment, all fans in attendance will receive a limited-edition red and white holiday beanie courtesy of Georgia Natural Gas. Each beanie will be shipped to the arena in a compostable bag and sustainably disposed of, in collaboration with Georgia Natural Gas, reflecting a broader commitment to reducing waste and fostering a greener future.
“Atlanta Hawks fans are some of the most passionate and dedicated fans in the NBA, and the Holiday Game is a great tradition that brings even more excitement to their holiday season,” said Aimee Henderson, Director of Retail Mass Markets for Georgia Natural Gas. “We’re thrilled that our partnership with the Hawks gives us an opportunity to be a part of it while spreading warmth and holiday cheer to our community in a more sustainable way.”
Holiday programming will continue throughout the game with enhanced in-game elements, including themed video features, seasonal greetings from Hawks players, live holiday carolers on the concourse and special performances from the Hawks Entertainment Team.
At halftime, children from the Arthur M. Blank Family Youth YMCA will take part in a special on-court toy giveaway with an array of gifts displayed at center court. Participants will collect as many items as possible, creating a joyful moment that celebrates the spirit of giving. All remaining toys will be donated to the Atlanta Mission to support families in need during the holiday season.
The game will also feature a selection of festive food and beverage offerings for fans to purchase throughout the concourse, including the State Farm Holiday Plate featuring beef wellington and seasonal sides, an eggnog milkshake topped with nutmeg-dusted whipped cream and a candy cane, and an eggnog martini finished with a swirl of nutmeg-dusted whipped cream.
More Atlanta Hawks News:
Atlanta, GA
Car seen driving on the Beltline trail by Krog Street Market
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — A startling discovery, putting safety at the Atlanta Beltline front and center.
Leandro Gallardo was out for a skate when another set of four wheels rolled past him on the Beltline’s Eastside trail at the Krog Street District late Tuesday afternoon.
In a video he shared with Atlanta News First, viewers can see a car driving toward Irwin Street NE.
“Luckily, it wasn’t busy, but imagine if it was a busy weekend,” Gallardo said.
Cars are not allowed on the main Atlanta Beltline trails. That’s why barriers are in place to keep cars out and people safe. The incident raises serious safety concerns after spotting the car on the trail and at Krog Street.
“Need to be extra aware now where you are and where you are going and who is coming at you,” Gallardo said.
The trails are for walking, biking, skating and fun. Gallardo is still trying to figure out how what happened was done.
“If you see DeKalb Avenue, it’s really easy to access,” Gallardo said. “There are things to stop the cars from the driveway, but the curb is not that high. It’s weird someone thought this was a street.”
Still, no one knows for sure.
The Atlanta Beltline sent issued a statement about the recorded incident:
“All City of Atlanta and Atlanta Beltline access points are secured. The location you mentioned is not Beltline property. We are coordinating with Public Safety and the adjacent property owners of the area to secure all spots.”
For Gallardo, who enjoys skating with a group of friends every week along the Beltline, his attire is even more essential for his skates.
“I always say wear the lights all the time, because it’s a safety thing,” Gallardo said.
Copyright 2025 WANF. All rights reserved.
Atlanta, GA
Charlotte hosts Atlanta following overtime win against Cleveland
Atlanta Hawks (15-12, eighth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Charlotte Hornets (8-18, 12th in the Eastern Conference)
Charlotte, North Carolina; Thursday, 7 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Charlotte hosts the Atlanta Hawks after the Hornets took down the Cleveland Cavaliers 119-111 in overtime.
The Hornets have gone 7-12 against Eastern Conference teams. Charlotte is 7-11 against opponents over .500.
The Hawks have gone 9-8 against Eastern Conference opponents. Atlanta ranks ninth in the league averaging 14.0 made 3-pointers per game while shooting 37.2% from deep. Nickeil Alexander-Walker leads the team averaging 2.9 makes while shooting 39.1% from 3-point range.
The Hornets average 114.8 points per game, 2.6 fewer points than the 117.4 the Hawks allow. The Hawks average 14.0 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.7 more makes per game than the Hornets give up.
The teams play for the second time this season. The Hawks won the last meeting 113-110 on Nov. 23. Jalen Johnson scored 28 points to help lead the Hawks to the victory.
TOP PERFORMERS: LaMelo Ball is scoring 19.4 points per game and averaging 6.0 rebounds for the Hornets. Kon Knueppel is averaging 29.0 points and 4.0 rebounds over the last 10 games.
Onyeka Okongwu is averaging 16.1 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.1 assists for the Hawks. Dyson Daniels is averaging 27.0 points and 10.0 rebounds while shooting 68.4% over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Hornets: 4-6, averaging 112.1 points, 42.8 rebounds, 24.6 assists, 6.9 steals and 5.3 blocks per game while shooting 45.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 114.5 points per game.
Hawks: 5-5, averaging 118.7 points, 43.3 rebounds, 31.6 assists, 9.3 steals and 4.7 blocks per game while shooting 47.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 122.2 points.
INJURIES: Hornets: Grant Williams: day to day (acl), Pat Connaughton: day to day (calf), Josh Green: out (shoulder), LaMelo Ball: day to day (ankle), Collin Sexton: day to day (thigh), Tre Mann: day to day (ankle).
Hawks: Kristaps Porzingis: out (reconditioning), N’Faly Dante: day to day (concussion), Jacob Toppin: day to day (shoulder), Trae Young: out (knee).
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
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