First-team solid, reserves have way to go

PHILADELPHIA » Defensively, the Eagles picked up where they left off in the second half of the Super Bowl.

They were beaten for two touchdown passes in the first half, and the rest was academic as they surrendered a 31-14 decision to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the preseason opener Thursday at Lincoln Financial Field.

Doug Pederson chalked the coverage mistakes up to young players and lack of communication. What he liked most about his team was the performance the first team gave on both sides of the ball. After all, it starts up front.

“I think you can take away that the offensive line and defensive line played good,” Pederson said.

Cornerback Rasul Douglas, who the Eagles have high hopes for, was beaten by JuJu Smith-Schuster for a 71-yard touchdown reception, Landry Jones getting a lot of air under the ball. Smith-Schuster got away with a bump.

Joshua Dobbs fired a 29yard scoring strike over Douglas to Damoun Patterson later in the first half to stake the Steelers to a 22-14 advantage.

The Eagles were torched for 505 passing yards and three touchdowns in their Super Bowl LII win over the New England Patriots.

While the Eagles’ starting corners weren’t gashed, it wasn’t Ben Roethlisberger playing quarterback, much less throwing to Antonio Brown or Le’Veon Bell. None of them played.

For the Eagles, Nate Sudfeld threw for 140 yards and two touchdowns but was picked off twice. Nick Foles and Carson Wentz didn’t play, nor did offensive tackle Jason Peters or tight end Zach Ertz.

After Jones’ TD pass gave the Steelers a 7-0 lead with 4:02 left in the first quarter, Sudfeld rifled a bullet to rookie Dallas Goedert for a 15-yard touchdown. Wendell Smallwood bulled over from the one-yard line for two points, the Steelers penalized for an illegal formation. It gave the Eagles an 8-7 lead with 10:26 to go before the halftime.

Goedert caught three passes for 60 yards from Sudfeld, who threw a 63yard scoring bomb to Shelton Gibson.

The Eagles also gave up a three-yard scoring run to Fitzgerald Toussaint, who rolled in two points to give the Steelers a 15-8 lead with 4:18 to go in the first half. Eagles rookie defensive end Josh Sweat extended the drive by delivering a blow to the face of Dobbs.

The Steelers led, 22-14, at the intermission.

While the outcome wasn’t Alvin Kamara, get the you-know-what-beatout-of-you bad, it wasn’t what Eagles head coach Doug Pederson had in mind.

••• On the local front, Eagles wide receiver Tim Wilson (Radnor) and Steelers linebacker Matt Galambos (The Haverford School) played against each other in the fourth quarter.

Wilson caught the only ball thrown his way, although he was clearly out of the end zone when Joe Callahan lofted the prayer.

Galambos had one special teams tackle.

••• Linebacker Seth Joyner and defensive end Clyde Simmons will be inducted into the Eagles Hall of Fame when the Birds entertain the Colts, Sept. 23.

Joyner and Simmons teamed with Reggie White, Eric Allen, Byron Evans, Wes Hopkins and the late Andre Waters to terrorize opponents in 1991.

That was the year coordinator Bud Carson and the Eagles won the triple crown, ranking first in the league in fewest passing yards allowed, fewest rushing yards allowed and fewest total yards allowed.

••• Eagles defensive tackle Fletcher Cox had a sack and for the few series he was in Thursday night, dominated.

Meanwhile the bookies put odds on the possibility of Cox actualizing his goal of being NFL defensive player of the year in 2018 at 33-1.

J.J. Watt of the Texans is the favorite. Here are the other odds:

Watt 5-1, Joey Bosa, Aaron Donald, Khalil Mack 11-2, Von Miller 9-1, Jalen Ramsey 14-1, Luke Kuechley 22-1, Cameron Jordan, DeMarcus Lawrence 22-1, Chandler Jones 30-1, Cox, Calais Campbell, Myles Garrett, Harrison Smith 33-1.

••• NOTES » Malcolm Jenkins and De’Vante Bausby demonstrated with their fists raised during the national anthem. Michael Bennett walked back and forth behind his teammates, rather than stand with them. The Steelers pretty much stood tall … Running back Donnell Pumphrey didn’t dress for the Eagles … Jets president Mike Maccagnan and Dolphins scout Terry Bradway, among others, scouted the game Thursday night. Both teams need offensive linemen, and the Eagles have a surplus, including, in our humble opinion Isaac Seumalo … Eagles cornerback Sidney Jones lowered his head putting a hit on Patterson, drawing a 15yard penalty. Later, tight end Richard Rodgers also lowered his head to initiate contact, wiping out an 81-yard punt by rookie Cameron Johnston. Johnston belted a 57-yarder on the next attempt and on the night netted 43.8 yards on six punts, dropping two inside the 20-yard line.