It’s not your typical NFC East division rivalry, but when the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles meet on the gridiron, there is an added edge to the game and between the fans. The Steelers (10-3) lead the AFC North by two games over Baltimore when they come to South Philly to take on the Eagles (11-2) and holding their position atop the NFC East Division.
This is just the second time since 2000 these two teams will play each other with less than four years in between their last contest against one another. The Eagles took care of the Steelers the last time these two teams squared off in 2022 35-13 at Lincoln Financial Field which has continued a dominant streak for Philadelphia as it has won every game at home since October 24, 1965 against Pittsburgh!
Here are five key matchups to keep your eye on in this marquee matchup.
Eagles Offensive Line vs. T.J. Watt and Steelers’ Pass Rush
T.J. Watt is well on his way to join his brother J.J. in Canton, Ohio when he calls it a career. A true game wrecker in every sense of the term, Watt can flip a game on in a blink of an eye. He leads the league with five forced fumbles, tied for the league-lead with 17 tackles for loss and tied for 7th in the NFL with 9.5 sacks. He has over 100 sacks in just eight seasons and has shown no signs of slowing down. You simply need to know where he is on the field at all times.
Add in Cam Heyward, the savvy veteran in the middle of the defensive line with 8 and a solid rotation with other pass rushers in Alex Hagsmith, Nick Herbig and Preston Smith, who have combined for 12 sacks on the season, this will be a very formidable unit the Eagles’ offensive line and Jalen Hurts will face.
The Eagles though, continue to have a top-tier offensive line, anchored by tackles Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata. It most likely will be Johnson’s responsibility to negate Watt’s bullish pass rush, but the Steelers could move him around to try and confuse the Eagles’ front five to disrupt the Eagles’ offense who continues to get off to a slow start in games.
Saquon Barkley vs. Steelers’ Rush Defense
At this point it simply doesn’t matter how good of a defense the Eagles’ star running back faces, he is going to produce. Barkley has been a smashing success in his first year in the City of Brotherly Love, racking up 100-plus yards on the ground in seven of the last eight games, including four consecutive. He broke the franchise’s single-season rushing record held by LeSean McCoy in last week’s win over Carolina.
This Sunday, he will take on a Steelers’ rush defense that has allowed the fourth-fewest yards on the ground this season at 91.5 yards per game. Facing a top-5 rush defense hasn’t slowed Barkley down this season, galloping for 107 yards against the Ravens two weeks ago who ranked 2nd in yards allowed at a measly 77.9 entering that game.
The running game has been a major ingredient in the winning formula for the Eagles who put their nine-game win streak on the line on Sunday and they will need Barkley to have success once again on the ground to keep the Steelers’ pass rushers off-balanced.
Jalen Hurts vs. Steelers’ Pass Defense
For a second season in a row, the relationship, the lack thereof, whatever and however you or other media outlets want to describe it between Hurts and A.J. Brown made waves leading up to a game. It’s been covered in great detail across the city, but we are keeping the main thing, the main thing. Right Jalen?
That’s this passing attack. It has not been up to par in terms of what the team, fans and experts have expected this far into the season. Surprisingly, the Eagles rank 31st in passing yards per game at 180.6. That’s only better than the New England Patriots who have rookie quarterback Drake Maye running the offense.
Now yes, the Eagles relying on the rushing attack certainly can cut into the offensive numbers, but if you look at other teams who are in the top-5 in rushing in the Ravens, Commanders, Lions and Packers, two of those other four squads in the Ravens and Lions who have elite running backs, are also Top-5 in passing yards per game.
Last week Hurts only threw for 108 yards but did find the end zone twice. However, he missed an open Brown multiple times and only targeted the star wideout four times all game. Now, the Eagles can’t force feed Brown because the Steelers will be keying on that, but getting him back into the mix more consistently against a middle of the road Steelers pass defense (17th in passing yards allowed) will certainly be beneficial.
Jake Elliott vs. Himself
Being a kicker can be a lonely place on a football team. Not nearly as physically demanding as any other position on the field, expected to deliver every time you step on the field to salvage a stalling drive. However, it arguably could be the toughest mentally. Check out Ravens’ kicker Justin Tucker for example.
Now Elliott hasn’t been as bad as the future hall of famer kicker in Baltimore, but he certainly hasn’t been the Jake Elliott that has become a fan-favorite and arguably the best kicker in franchise history, right next to David Akers.
After missing a 52-yard field goal after the opening drive in the third quarter fizzled out for the Eagles, there was a very telling situation in the Panthers game last week. It was when Nick Sirianni opted to not send Elliott out for a 53-yard field goal with a little over three minutes left in the game. A successful kick would’ve made it a two-score game late. Instead, Philadelphia punted the ball and ultimately got lucky that Panthers’ wide receiver Xavier Leggette dropped a would-be touchdown pass with 54 seconds left.
Elliott has not made a field goal longer than 49 this season, going 0-for-5 on field goals of 50 yards or more this season, a stark contrast to his resume from the past, connecting on 15 of 17 kicks from long distance over the previous three seasons.
Eagles’ Secondary vs. George Pickens-less Steelers WR Corps
The Steelers will be without one of their top playmakers with the news the wide receiver George Pickens is doubtful for the game Sunday. That forces the Steelers to run out Mike Williams, Van Jefferson, Calvin Austin III and Scotty Miller. A group much less intimidating when the Eagles’ secondary doesn’t have to focus on Pickens who leads the receiving room for the Steelers by a wide margin with 850 yards and averaging 70.8 yards per game (tight end Pat Freiermuth is second with 470 yards.) That collection of Williams, Van Jefferson, Austin III and Miller have accounted for just 755 yards on the season.
This could be a get right game for the Eagles’ secondary who surprisingly had some trouble limiting the Panthers’ passing game, with Adam Thielen giving rookie Cooper DeJean and company fits at times. Eagles should have quite an advantage in this aspect of the game with the way their secondary has been playing wholistically for the majority of the season.
The Eagles will host the Steelers at Lincoln Financial Field at 4:25 p.m. on Sunday.
Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
