Black & Yellow | Pittsburgh Steelers M26

[Soapy]

nice to see Pop Douglas balling

[redsox907]

Dart would probably be fun

nice to see Pop Douglas balling

who

[redsox907]

AB3 Throws Interception On Potential Game Winning Drive In Narrow Defeat


Jayden Daniels exchanging pleasantries with Jalen Ramsey after the former LSU QB threw the go-ahead touchdown with 3:45 in the contest.

ScoringSummary

Team	Q	Time	Play	Pittsburgh	Washington
	1st	5:50	Quinshon Judkins, 21 Yd Run	7	0
	1st	1:09	DeMario Douglas, 31 Yd Pass From Jayden Daniels	7	7
	2nd	7:17	DK Metcalf, 31 Yd Pass From Alonza Barnett III	14	7
	2nd	2:31	Terry McLaurin, 28 Yd Pass From Jayden Daniels	14	14
	2nd	0:19	DK Metcalf, 12 Yd Pass From Alonza Barnett III (Missed XP)	20	14
	4th	3:45	Terry McLaurin, 21 Yd Pass From Jayden Daniels	20	21

Landover, MD. - Alonza Barnett III showed enough in his first two starts to generate genuine optimism about what the offense could look like with an athletic, instinctive quarterback under center. Sunday at Northwest Stadium, he also showed exactly how much he still has to learn, throwing two second half interceptions, including one on what could have been the game-winning drive, in a deflating 21-20 loss to the Washington Commanders that leaves Pittsburgh's playoff hopes hanging by the thinnest of threads.

The afternoon started as promisingly as any the Steelers have had in months. Barnett was sharp and decisive in the first half, connecting with DK Metcalf for a pair of touchdowns while Quinshon Judkins punched in a rushing score to give Pittsburgh a 20-14 halftime lead. The second touchdown to Metcalf came with just 19 seconds remaining in the half—a perfectly executed two-minute drill that had the Pittsburgh sideline buzzing. A missed extra point by the usually reliable Brandon Aubrey was a minor blemish on an otherwise encouraging first half, though it would loom much larger before the afternoon was over.

Jayden Daniels struggle for much of the the game, but in one final effort was able to methodically dismantle Pittsburgh's defensive adjustments, and his second touchdown strike to Terry McLaurin with 3:45 remaining gave Washington a one-point lead—a margin that existed entirely because of Aubrey's missed kick. The door was open for Barnett to author a comeback and erase the miscue entirely.

Instead he threw the interception.

Targeting Metcalf on an in-route over the middle, Barnett never identified Zaire Franklin lurking underneath. The linebacker made the play to end the drive and seal the victory for Washington, and Barnett was left with nothing but an honest postgame assessment of what went wrong.

"I just never saw him," he said quietly. "I've got to be better in that situation. To throw a gimme to the defense when we needed that drive most — that can't happen."

The loss drops Pittsburgh to 6-9 and moves them two games behind the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC North with one week remaining. The math is unforgiving. Next Sunday's home finale against those same Bengals is a must-win — and even then Pittsburgh would need help they are unlikely to get.

One season removed from back-to-back Super Bowl appearances, the 2028 Pittsburgh Steelers are fighting for their playoff lives and if nothing else, are guaranteed to finish with a losing regular season record.


Alonza Barnett III | 23/38, 240 Yds, 2 TD, 2 INT; 3 Att, 30 Yds
Jayden Daniels | 12/20, 130 Yds, 3 TD; 6 Att, 22 Yds

Quinshon Judkins | 14 Att, 115 Yds, TD
Kaleb Johnson | 14 Att, 58 Yds

DK Metcalf | 5 Rec, 83 Yds
Terry McLaurin | 3 Rec, 53 Yds, 2 TD

LB Payton Wilson | 9 Tkl, 2 TFL, 1.5 Sacks
DT Derrick Harmon | 8 Tkl, TFL, Sack
EDGE TJ Watt | Tkl, TFL, 0.5 Sack
LB Dorian Williams | 4 Tkl, TFL, Sack
MLB Zaire Franklin | 3 Tkl, TFL, INT
SS Preston Zachman | 8 Tkl, 2 TFL, INT

[djp73]

Where’s the Duck

[Captain Canada]

That one has got to hurt

[redsox907]

Where’s the Duck

wut

That one has got to hurt

would have been a nice narrative. AB3 has been surprisingly solid and now in retro, you have to wonder if we should have gone to him and not Minshew

[redsox907]

Anthony Richardson Pleads Guilty to Reckless Homicide in Death of Christiano Gonzalez; Sentencing Set for February

Indianapolis, IN. - The legal saga that has defined the Pittsburgh Steelers' 2028 season—and consumed one of the NFL's brightest careers—reached its pivotal moment Friday afternoon in Indianapolis.

Anthony Richardson, the two-time NFL Most Valuable Player and Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback, entered a guilty plea to Reckless Homicide in Marion County Criminal Court Friday, accepting a negotiated agreement with the Marion County Prosecutor's Office that resolves the criminal case stemming from the July 14th shooting death of 27-year-old Christiano Gonzalez in the Broad Ripple neighborhood of Indianapolis. Under the terms of the plea agreement, the original Voluntary Manslaughter charge—a Level 2 Felony carrying a potential sentence of up to thirty years—was reduced to Reckless Homicide, a Level 5 Felony. The remaining charges of Carrying a Firearm While Intoxicated, Carrying a Firearm in a Licensed Establishment, and Obstruction of Justice were dropped entirely as part of the negotiated resolution.

Richardson, 26, stood before Judge Harold Watkins and entered the plea in a brief but somber proceeding that lasted approximately forty minutes. He was accompanied by his attorney Marcus Holloway and members of his immediate family. His fiancée Jada Richardson and his mother were present in the courtroom. Richardson did not speak publicly outside the courthouse, but Holloway addressed reporters briefly following the hearing.

"Anthony Richardson accepted responsibility today for his role in the death of Christiano Gonzalez," Holloway said. "This was not a decision made out of fear or convenience. This was a decision made by a man who has spent the last five and a half months carrying the weight of that night and who understands that a resolution—however painful—is necessary for everyone involved, including the Gonzalez family, including Jada, and including his son. Anthony is deeply remorseful for the loss of Christiano Gonzalez's life, and he will carry that remorse with him for the rest of his own."

Holloway confirmed that a separate civil wrongful death settlement between Richardson and the Gonzalez family was reached privately in December, the terms of which both parties have agreed to keep confidential. The civil settlement, sources told ESPN, played a significant role in the Gonzalez family's decision to soften their public opposition to a plea agreement—a shift that gave Marion County Prosecutor Sandra Elkins the political latitude she needed to bring the criminal case to a negotiated resolution rather than a lengthy and public trial.

Elkins addressed reporters outside the courthouse following the hearing, striking a tone that balanced the gravity of the conviction with an acknowledgment of the circumstances that led to it.

"Christiano Gonzalez lost his life on July 14th of this year, and nothing about today's proceedings changes that reality for his family," Elkins said. "What today represents is accountability. Anthony Richardson has pleaded guilty to a felony in the death of Christiano Gonzalez. He will be sentenced. He will serve time. And the Gonzalez family, who have conducted themselves with extraordinary dignity throughout this entire process, will have the closure of knowing that the legal system delivered a consequence."

When pressed on whether the reduction from Voluntary Manslaughter represented justice for the Gonzalez family, Elkins was measured.

"The circumstances of this case have always been complex," she said. "The law does not exist in a vacuum. We prosecuted this case based on the evidence, and the evidence supported a resolution that holds Mr. Richardson accountable while acknowledging the full context of what occurred that night."

Rosa Media, the Gonzalez family's civil attorney, released a brief statement on behalf of the family Friday evening.

"The Gonzalez family thanks the Marion County Prosecutor's Office for their dedication to this case and their respect for Christiano's memory throughout this process. They ask that their privacy be respected as they continue to grieve the loss of their son, their brother, and their friend."

Sentencing is scheduled for February 14th before Judge Watkins. Under Indiana law, Reckless Homicide as a Level 5 Felony carries a sentencing range of one to six years, with an advisory sentence of three years. Sources familiar with both legal teams told ESPN that Elkins intends to push for the maximum six year sentence at the February hearing, while Holloway is expected to present extensive mitigating evidence—including Richardson's clean prior record, the robbery context that precipitated the shooting, and the civil settlement reached with the Gonzalez family—in support of a sentence at the lower end of the range.

Legal observers expect Judge Watkins to land somewhere in the middle, with a sentence in the range of three to four years and parole eligibility after serving approximately half. If that projection holds, Richardson could realistically be eligible for parole consideration as early as mid-2030.

For the Pittsburgh Steelers, Friday's development lands at the worst possible moment on the calendar—two days before a critical Week 17 home game against the Cincinnati Bengals, with the franchise already navigating a 6-9 season that has been defined almost entirely by Richardson's absence. General Manager Omar Khan released a brief organizational statement Friday evening that was notable primarily for what it did not say.

"We are aware of today's proceedings and are in the process of reviewing the situation with our legal counsel. We will have no further comment at this time."

The carefully worded statement—conspicuously absent of any expression of support for Richardson—signals that the organization is preparing to make a significant contractual decision in the very near future. Sources with knowledge of the Steelers' thinking told ESPN that the franchise has been in communication with the NFL's legal office in anticipation of Friday's development and that a formal determination regarding Richardson's five-year, $360 million contract is expected imminently.

The NFL Players Association, which publicly committed in November to advocating for Richardson in the event of a contract dispute, released its own statement Friday reaffirming that position.

"The NFLPA has been in consistent communication with Anthony Richardson and his representatives throughout this process," the statement read. "We are prepared to advocate fully for Anthony's rights and his contractually guaranteed compensation should any action be taken against his contract. We will have more to say in the days ahead."

The league itself declined to comment Friday, consistent with its stated policy of waiting for legal proceedings to conclude before acting under the Personal Conduct Policy. Sources with knowledge of the Commissioner's office told ESPN that Goodell has been briefed on Friday's development and that a formal announcement regarding Richardson's status under the Personal Conduct Policy is expected early next week.

Richardson has not spoken publicly since his arrest on July 14th. He has watched the entire 2028 NFL season from the sidelines, absent from team facilities, largely out of the public eye. Those close to him describe a man who is simultaneously relieved that the legal uncertainty is behind him and clear-eyed about the significant consequences that lie ahead—on the field, in the courtroom at his February sentencing, and in the contract dispute that is now all but certain to follow.

"He's at peace with the decision," one person close to Richardson told ESPN. "It's been a long five and a half months. He just wants to start moving forward."

For a franchise that entered 2028 as the favorite to reach a third consecutive Super Bowl, and for a 26-year-old quarterback who entered the season as the best player in the NFL, moving forward has rarely felt so complicated.

[redsox907]

2028 - Week Seventeen Preview

Pittsburgh Steelers (6-9)
91 Overall // 93 Offense // 88 Defense
Offensive Points Per Game: 20.6 (18th)
Pass Yards: 177.8 (31st)
Rush Yards: 141.6 (1st)
Defensive Points Per Game: 20.7 (12th)
Opp Pass Yards: 219.1 (17th)
Opp Rush Yards: 86.9 (10th)

Cincinnati Bengals (8-7)
87 Overall // 89 Offense // 85 Defense
Offensive Points Per Game: 25.1 (2nd)
Pass Yards: 250.1 (3rd)
Rush Yards: 81.4 (26th)
Defensive Points Per Game: 21.6 (13th)
Opp Pass Yards: 221.6 (22nd)
Opp Rush Yards: 102.4 (22nd)

Pittsburgh Steelers                                                  Cincinnati Bengals
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
N/A                                                         | INJ  | WR Tee Higgins (89) High Ankle Sprain (Week to Week)
N/A                                                         | INJ  | FS Geno Stone (82) Broken Finger (Week to Week)
N/A                                                         | INJ  | LT Connor Malone (79) High Ankle Sprain (Week to Week)

Pittsburgh Steelers                    | 2028 Results      | Cincinnati Bengals
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
@ Philadelphia  L 24-31                | Week 1            | @ New York (A) L 24-21
@ Denver  L 25-33                      | Week 2            | @ Baltimore W 31-0
@ Cleveland  W 31-21                   | Week 3            | Atlanta W 38-28
New York (A)  W 37-27                  | Week 4            | Miami L 10-27
Cleveland  W 17-9                      | Week 5            | Tennessee W 33-30
Houston  W 13-6                        | Week 6            | @ Dallas W 33-23
BYE                                    | Week 7            | Buffalo L 20-23
@ Miami  L 21-24                       | Week 8            | Cleveland L 31-37
@ Cincinnati L 6-23                    | Week 9            | Pittsburgh W 23-6
@ Baltimore W 35-31                    | Week 10           | @ Cleveland W 30-14
New England L 6-14                     | Week 11           | Washington L 15-20
Carolina L 24-25                       | Week 12           | @ New England L 16-21
Baltimore L 3-27                       | Week 13           | BYE
Dallas L 14-19                         | Week 14           | Philadelphia L 18-21
New York (N) W 33-0                    | Week 15           | Baltimore W 20-16
@ Washington L 21-20                   | Week 16           | @ New York (N) W 35-17

Pittsburgh Steelers                                               Cincinnati Bengals
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alonza Barnett III 47/75 (62%), 515 Yds, 5 TD, 2 INT | Passing  | Joe Burrow - 316/476 (66%), 3,752 Yds, 28 TD, 6 INT
Quinshon Judkins - 254 Att, 1,476 Yds, 7 TD          | Rushing  | Fluff Bothwell - 96 Att, 380 Yds, 8 TD
DK Metcalf - 61 Rec, 761 Yds, 10 TD                  | Receiving| Tee Higgins - 72 Rec, 887 Yds, 4 TD
Zachariah Branch - 38 Rec, 487 Yds, 4 TD             | Receiving| Ja'Marr Chase - 80 Rec, 1,235 Yds, 9 TD
SS Ji'Ayir Brown - 88 Tkl, 3 TFL, 4 INT              | Defense  | MLB Barrett Carter - 129 Tkl, 5 TFL, 2 Sacks
EDGE TJ Watt - 54 Tkl, 23 TFL,  12.5 Sacks           | Defense  | EDGE Trey Hendrickson - 52 Tkl, 12 TFL, 3.5 Sacks
LB Payton Wilson - 78 Tkl, 16 TFL, 9 Sacks           | Defense  | DT Kris Jenkins Jr - 43 Tkl, 4 TFL, 6 Sacks
SS (R) Jermaine Ward -  57 Tkl, 4 TFL, 3 INT         | Defense  | CB  Cam Taylor-Britt - 97 Tkl, 4 INT

[Captain Canada]

Ja'Marr is still absolutely lethal at this point in the game huh

Hopefully him and Burrow don't beat you down too much.

[Caesar]

Bet you want them 9-7 seasons back now