The Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers will meet at Lincoln Financial Field in a Week 15 showdown. This game is a fantastic test for the Eagles heading into the playoffs, but it could mean much more for the Steelers.
Seeding is at stake for the Steelers, while the Eagles are as close to a lock for the two-seed at this point in the season. This game starts a tough stretch for the Steelers, as they play the Eagles, Baltimore Ravens, and the Kansas City Chiefs in the next 10 days. Their first test against the Eagles could determine confidence levels for fans of the Steelers heading forward.
However, they do not have the injury report or history on their side. George Pickens will miss this game with a hamstring injury. The Steelers have also not beaten the Eagles in Philadelphia in 59 years. The Eagles are rightly 5.5-point favorites, but the outlook for this team has changed among the fans since the game against the Carolina Panthers.
According to the Media, even at 11-2, Jalen Hurts still has a ton to prove. Brandon Graham said on his podcast that the friendship between Hurts and A.J. Brown has changed, implying a bit of a rift. That statement certainly justified the media’s questions about the star offensive duo. Graham walked back those comments in the following days, but the doubt remains among the fans and media.
Everyone, including myself, thought Brown would succeed against a Panthers’ defense that is vulnerable against the pass. However, that did not come to pass, as Hurts and the passing game struggled again. It was a key last week, but it has to be again. If this continues, expectations might have to be tempered heading into January.
Get A.J. Brown the Ball
Brown is one of the most talented receivers in the sport. Although he missed three games due to injury, he is still 18th in receiving yards. It is even more impressive, because he is 57th in targets with 66. Diontae Johnson, who the Baltimore Ravens recently suspended for one game, is one target behind Brown despite seeing just five targets since joining the Ravens.
The Eagles are last in the league in passing play percentage at 43.49, and coincidentally, the Steelers are 31st at 48.41. The Steelers are finding ways to feed Pickens, and understandably so. They are not paying their second wide receiver the 11th-highest contract in terms of average value like the Eagles are with DeVonta Smith.
The lack of volume hasn’t been as concerning on the state of the passing game. Hurts has the 28th-highest passing grade on PFF, below quarterbacks who are currently not playing, such as Andy Dalton and Daniel Jones.
The Eagles are playing to their strengths by running the football with Saquon Barkley. However, at some point, the team has to get the ball to its top two receivers.
That will be a point of emphasis in this game, and the Eagles could find some success. The Steelers rank 18th in passing yards allowed. It doesn’t matter which game it is, but the fanbase would surely like to see some success in the passing game in the next four games.
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Pittsburgh Steelers Game Thoughts
This game will be closer than their last meeting, which they played in 2022. The Eagles won that game 35-13 over the Steelers. The teams have changed since then, but A.J. Brown caught three touchdowns in the victory. In his only other career game against the Steelers, Brown had six catches for 153 yards and a touchdown while on the Titans.
Reigniting the fan base would be the best possible outcome for the team this Sunday. It feels unreal to say that, as the Eagles currently rank third in Super Bowl odds. If I were to give a temperature check on where the fanbase is, I would say cautiously optimistic. The hope has not gone away, but there are valid concerns around the team.
The defense has excelled, along with Saquon Barkley and the ground game. The Detroit Lions will likely present a tough test come playoff time. Meanwhile, the Green Bay Packers will be eager for a rematch. The Minnesota Vikings would also be a challenging game with the way Sam Darnold is playing.
Although the playoffs are still weeks away, it does not hurt to scout the likely opponents. The Steelers are next for this team, and they have plenty of motivation. After all, they are playing for their division and potentially the No. 1 seed, based on how these coming weeks play out. That is a long shot, but it is now on the table after Buffalo’s recent loss. So, the Steelers have a lot to play for because a loss severely dampens their odds at the by.
However, I believe A.J. Brown is the X-factor in this highly competitive game that will come down to the wire. He will post his fourth 100-yard game of the season, along with his fifth touchdown.
Prediction: Philadelphia Eagles 24, Pittsburgh Steelers 20
