Comprehensive test awaits Eagles
With Roethlisberger back, a tough road for Philadelphia
NFL WEEK
Philadelhia at Pittsburgh
1 p.m. today
TV: FOX
Radio: WCTO 96.1 FM, WIP 94.1
Another difficult road contest looms for the Eagles on Sunday when they visit the Pittsburgh Steelers, whohaven’t lost since quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has returned from an injury that spoiled their 2019 season.
But exactly how good the Steelers are after winning their first three games before being forced to take last weekend off because of a COVID-19 outbreak that forced a postponement of their game against Tennessee is unclear. Twoof their victories have come against winless teams (New York Giants, Houston Texans). Their other came against a team (Denver Broncos) that is 1-3.
For that matter, exactly how good the Eagles (1-2-1) are remains a mystery as well, given all their injuries and how inexplicably poor quarterback Carson Wentz has played through the first four games.
Perhaps Sunday’s matchup will help answer these questions for both teams. Here’s a closer look:
Dangerous Doug?
A week after admitting he should not have made the conservative decision to punt near the end of overtime in a 23-all tie with Cincinnati, Eagles coach Doug Pederson immediately called a successful two-point conversion following their first touchdown against San Francisco last Sunday. The play had a huge impact on the outcome because it forced the 49ers to go for two after scoring a late touchdown and didn’t make it, which meant they needed a touchdown instead of a field goal on their final possession.
Fan friendly
Gov. Wolf’s decision on Tuesday to allow 15% capacity at event centers means the Steelers will allow approximately 5,500 fans into Heinz field for this game.
Masks will be required at all times, and food will be required with all alcohol purchases, which will be cut off at the beginning of the third quarter.
But hey, it’s a start.
Who’s Travis Fulgham?
He’s a 6-foot-2, 215-pound receiver out of Old Dominion. The Eagles had their eyes on him since the 2019 NFL Draft, when the Detroit Lions selected him in the sixth round. He played sparingly for Detroit last season, was waived at the start of training camp this year and claimed by Green Bay, which waived him nine days later. The Eagles claimed him, then were able to get him through waivers onto their practice squad. They were forced by injuries to promote him the day before the 49ers game, which he helped win by catching a 42-yard TD pass by Carson Wentz in the fourth quarter.
Offensive line depth going a long way
For part of the 49ers game, center Jason Kelce was the only starter on the Eagles offensive line who was able to play. Tackles Andre Dillard and Jason Peters and guard Isaac Seumalo are on the injured reserve list, and guard Brandon Brooks is on the physically unable to perform list and will miss the season with an Achilles tendon injury. Right tackle Lane Johnson was able to start and finish the game but had to come out for some plays because of a chronic ankle condition that required minor surgery in August.
Fun facts
Although the Eagles lead the all-time series, 48-28-3, and have won four of the last six meetings, they haven’t won at Pittsburgh since 2000.
Mike Tomlin is in his 14th season as Steelers coach, making him the third-longest tenured coach in the NFL today behind Bill Belichick of New England and Sean Payton of New Orleans. The Steelers have had just three head coaches since 1969. All have won the Super Bowl. The Eagles, by contrast, have had 11 in that span, not including interim coaches Fred Bruney and Pat Shurmur, who took over for the final games of the 1985 and 2015 seasons, respectively.
The Eagles have 13 players on the injured reserve list and two more on the physically unable to perform list.
The Steelers feature the No. 1-ranked rushing defense and No. 2-ranked overall defense in the NFL.
Injuries
Eagles: WR Alshon Jeffery (illness), CB Avonte Maddox (ankle) and WR DeSean Jackson (hamstring) are out.
Steelers: LB Marcus Allen (foot) and FB Derek Watt (hamstring) are out.
Key matchups
Eagles run defense vs. Steelers RBs James Conner and Benny Snell
Conner is averaging 5.6 yards per carry. Snell is averaging 4.4. Together, they have rushed for 353 yards in three games. They also pack a mean punch at 235 and 225 pounds, respectively. This will put a lot of strain on a depleted linebacker corps led by converted safety Nate Gerry and a secondary that could be without top safety Rodney McLeod.
Eagles LTJordan Mailata vs. Steelers OLB Bud Dupree
As light as the 350-pound Mailata is on his feet, Dupree, at 270 pounds, is lighter and coming off a season in which he produced career highs in sacks (11.5) and forced fumbles (four).
Eagles pass rush vs. Steelers offensive line
All of a sudden, the Eagles lead the NFL with 17 sacks through Week 4. And the Steelers have a backup, Chukwuma Okorafor, at right tackle going against starter Brandon Graham and rotational backup Genard Avery, who was outstanding against the 49ers with five
QB hits in just 16 snaps.
The Eagles have to like the matchup on the other side as well with Derek Barnett going against Alejandro Villanueva, who tried to make the Eagles as a defensive end in 2014 before being asked by the Steelers to bulk up and give offensive line a try. Barnett had two QB hits Sunday night.
Eagles secondary vs. Steelers WRs JuJu Smith-Schuster is accomplished. Diontae Johnson is accomplished. James Washington is accomplished. Eric Ebron is accomplished. So when three of them are playing at the same time and being targeted by accomplished quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, that could be a problem for a secondary that likely will be without starting cornerback Avonte Maddox, could be without starting safety Rodney McLeod and has four other defensive backs on the injured reserve list.
That could mean keeping Jalen Mills at cornerback for another week. Mills had converted from a corner to a safety before this season but was moved back to his original position last week out of necessity.
“We’ll do what we think is best each week depending on who we have available to the game,” defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz said. “I thought that was a really unselfish thing for him to do. He was still a developing player at safety and making some plays there and also having some learning on the job [and] growing pains at the position.”
Fierro’s pick
Because the Steelers are so formidable on defense, this game is likely to provide the best gauge for the Eagles to date. The feeling here is that the path to an Eagles win would have to be paved by their defensive line, which would have to provide the experienced Roethlisberger with countless uncomfortable at-bats. Even then, it might not be enough. Have to go with the undefeated and untied here.
Steelers 27, Eagles 20. (Season pick record 1-2-1)
Next up for the Birds
The Eagles host the 3-1 Baltimore Ravens next Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field.
Morning Call reporter Nick Fierro can be reached at 610-778-2243 or nfierro@mcall.com.