WHEN EAGLES HAVE THE BALL
Key performers: QB Carson Wentz, RB Ryan Mathews, RB Darren Sproles, WR Nelson Agholor, WR Jordan Matthews, TE Brent Celek, T Jason Peters.
Who’s hot or not: Wentz has been surprisingly poised and in control for a quarterback who played only two quarters in the preseason because of a hairline fracture to two ribs. He has not turned the ball over and does a good job getting out of the huddle and making adjustments at the line of scrimmage. If it wasn’t for an injury to Minnesota’s Teddy Bridgewater, he’d still be the Eagles’ No. 3 quarterback. What’s been working: Even with a rookie quarterback, the Eagles have not turned the ball over in the first two games — the first time an Eagles team has done that since 1954. That has allowed them to possess the ball on average a league-best 37 minutes, 43 seconds. That is a big departure from the Chip Kelly-styled offense from last year when the Eagles were last in the league with a TOP of 25:51.
Game plan: Coach Doug Pederson will try to be careful early with Wentz, easing him into the game with short passes and runs to get him established and not attacking downfield. That has worked the first two games because the Eagles had a touchdown against the Browns and a field goal against the Bears on the opening possessions. The Steelers are the third team in a row Wentz will face that uses a 3-4 defense.
Keep an eye on: With a displaced rib injury to TE Zach Ertz, Trey Burton has had to step in as the second tight end along with Celek. Ertz led the Eagles with 75 catches for 853 yards and was targeted 112 times in 2015, more than any other Eagles receiver. Because of his injury, the Eagles will use G Stefen Wisniewski, a Central Catholic grad, or T Matt Tobin as a third tight end in some run situations.