Steelers Make Troubling Decision With Rising Star
The Pittsburgh Steelers made a bizarre decision and need to fix it.
PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers had a good thing going, but that only seemed to last one game. Now, they're trying to change things, and it's not working. So much so, that they find themselves with another loss, and fans worried about the future.
The Steelers seemed to have found their next star in outside linebacker Nick Herbig, who replaced Alex Highsmith as the starter while Highsmith dealt with a sprain ankle. This season, Herbig has recorded 4.5 sacks and six tackles for loss, while recovering a fumble and batting down two passes.
Pittsburgh and their fanbase were thrilled to see the former third-round pick explode onto the scene in his short opportunity, and with Highsmith back in the lineup, it looked to continue. But only for a one-game sample size.
Steelers Make Strange Nick Herbig Decision
In Week 6 against the Cleveland Browns, the Steelers had Highsmith back in the starting lineup, but announced a 12th man in Herbig as the team ran out of the tunnel.
"I wasn't expecting that at all," Herbig said after the Cleveland game. "DY and Mike T. told me before the game, I just wear that with great pride and an honor because I know all the great legendary players that have come through these buildings and walked the same halls as me. Just the fact that they have their belief in me, that respect for me to allow me to run out of the tunnel with all the guys, you know, I'm truly blessed."
Herbig played 50 snaps against the Browns, logging 61% of the defensive snaps.
Against the Bengals, that vanished. Herbig played just 29, logging 40% of the team's defensive total and basically removing him from the starting role he was in a week ago when he logged two sacks.
Steelers Need More Herbig
The Steelers defense needs more Herbig. This isn't a situation where they're trying to find their best pieces, it's very obvious he's one of them and needs to remain on the field. That doesn't mean taking Highsmith or Watt off, it means utilizing the three-man rotation and three outside linebacker packages.
If Pittsburgh wants to get back to their ways of making the quarterback's life miserable, their edge rushers are the key. Herbig has also found success as a run stuffer this season, meaning there is no weakness in his game. So, he should be a large part of the mix.
Something the Steelers need to adjust to and utilize before they continue to struggle defensively.
Eagles Praised for ‘Game Changing’ Move in Win Over Vikings
For every guy or girl out there who has screamed at their television watching the Philadelphia Eagles play football the first 6 games of the regular season, the refrain has been pretty much the same.
“THROW THE DAMN BALL.”
In a 28-22 Week 7 win over the Minnesota Vikings, the Eagles finally listened.
Philadelphia took the roof off its offense with huge games from quarterback Jalen Hurts and star wide receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, who each caught touchdown passes.
Hurts went 19-of-23 passing for 326 yards, 3 touchdowns and no interception.
It was the first 300 yard passing game for Hurts in over a year, dating back to Week 3 of the 2024 regular season when he threw for 311 yards in a 15-12 win over the New Orleans Saints.
The win snapped a 2 game losing streak by the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles, who improved to 5-2 before coming home to face their NFC East rival New York Giants in Week 8.
The Giants routed the Eagles, 34-17, in Week 6.
“It’s almost like when you’re not predictable, results happen!” Philadelphia Sports Radio WIP host Hunter Brody wrote on his official X account on October 19. “What an ARM by my QB!!”
“This is the best passing performance we’ve seen from Jalen Hurts in a really long time … it’s a game changer,” Fox Sports color commentator and former NFL tight end Greg Olsen said during the broadcast. ” … You want to win in this league and you want to score points in this league, more often than not you have to do it by passing the ball.”
Eagles Get Career Day From DeVonta Smith
No player was better against the Vikings than Smith, who bet former teammate and Vikings cornerback Isaiah Rodgers for a career long, 79-yard touchdown in the third quarter.
Smith finished with 9 receptions for a career high 183 receiving yards on 11 targets. His previous career high was 8 receptions for 169 yards in a 24-8 win over the Washington Commanders in Week 3 of the 2022 regular season.
Brown had 4 receptions for 121 yards and 2 touchdowns, including what proved to be a game-clinching, 48-yard reception on 3rd-and-9 with 1:45 left in the fourth quarter.
“I love the play action deep shot by the Eagles,” former Eagles quarterback and Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles wrote on his official X account. “Great call by Coach Patullo. Great throw by Jalen Hurts to Devonta Smith! That’s what they need more of. Run the ball and do play actions out of the same looks. Make it tough on these defenses to defend you. They won’t know what’s coming!”Embattled OC Kevin Patullo Still Catching Heat
The Eagles went into Week 7 ranked 29th in the NFL in total offense, which much of the blame directed toward first year offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo.
Beating the Vikings seemed to do little to slow down that criticism.
“This is no longer being hyperbolic. Kevin Patullo has to go. It doesn’t matter who replaces him. Make Nick Sirianni call plays until he figures out another plan,” Eagles blog The Bird Blitz wrote on tis official X account.
“Kevin Patullo found out the forward pass was legal again,” TNT researcher Chris Jastrzembski wrote on his official X account after the win over the Vikings.
