Picking up Steam
Eagles intercept Jones four times in 17-0 shutout of Pittsburgh
PITTSBURGH >> Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Landry Jones threw four interceptions and the Philadelphia Eagles capitalized.
Nolan Carroll’s 38-yard interception return for a score was the lone touchdown of the first half, helping the Eagles to a 17-0 victory Thursday night.
The Eagles’ defense has nine takeaways in six quarters. Pittsburgh, which suffered its previous preseason shutout in 2014, has one offensive touchdown in two games.
Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was held out for the second straight week along with running backs Le’Veon Bell and DeAngelo Williams and wide receiver Antonio Brown.
Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz, the No. 2 overall pick in the draft, missed the game with fractured ribs, while wide receiver Jordan Matthews sat out with a knee injury.
Sam Bradford led Philadelphia’s offense to a field goal late in the first half, giving the Eagles a 10-0 lead at the break. He finished 14 of 19 for 115 yards.
Jones had a dismal half for Pittsburgh, going 12 of 20 for 111 yards with four interceptions. The first was Carroll’s 38-yarder for a
score.
Jones’ second interception came in the first quarter after leading the Steelers to the Philadelphia 8. A fade for Cobi Hamilton was broken up by Leodis McKelvin and intercepted by Malcolm Jenkins.
Jones threw his third interception late in the second quarter as a pass intended for Sammie Coates was picked off in the end zone by Aaron Grymes. Jaylen Watkins picked off Jones again in the final minute of the half.
Chase Daniel opened the second half, leading the Eagles on a 15-play, 87-yard touchdown drive. A 23yard pass to Paul Turner helped set up Kenjon Barner’s 5-yard touchdown run, making it 17-0. Daniel finished 10 of 16 for 82 yards.
ROOKIE WATCH
STEELERS » Second-round pick Sean Davis started his second straight game as the slot cornerback. He’s been rotating at safety and first-team slot cornerback after an injury to 2015 second-round pick Senquez Golson. EAGLES » Third-round pick Isaac Seumalo started at left guard. Allen Barbre started at right tackle for Lane Johnson, who is expected to be suspended the first 10 games of the season. That opened up a spot at left guard for Seumalo, who could be given an opportunity to earn the starting job. The rookie committed a costly holding penalty that wiped out a big gain late in the first half.
POSITION BATTLES
STEELERS » Alejandro Villanueva and Ryan Harris, who are competing for the starting left tackle spot, both started along the offensive line. Marcus Gilbert missed the game and Harris, a nine-year veteran, who won a Super Bowl with Denver last season, started in his place at right tackle. Villanueva started at left tackle for the second straight week. EAGLES » It’s a crowded wide receiver group behind Matthews. Turner, an undrafted rookie, led the Eagles with three receptions for 44 yards, while Nelson Agholor, the team’s 2015 first-round pick, had 30 yards on two receptions. Veteran Rueben Randle, a free agent acquisition from the New York Giants, caught two passes and Josh Huff, a 2014 thirdround pick, finished with a reception. Newly acquired Dorial Green-Beckham was targeted in the red zone, and again later in the game, but the 6-foot-5 former second-round pick didn’t finish with any catches.
INJURY UPDATE
STEELERS » The Steelers sat linebackers Jarvis Jones, Bud Dupree and Anthony Chickillo and cornerback Artie Burns, the team’s first-round pick. EAGLES » Kicker Caleb Sturgis suffered a concussion when he was struck by a punt during warmups. The Eagles also sat RB Wendell Smallwood, DT Mike Martin, WR Hunter Sharp, LB Mychal Kendricks and cornerbacks JaCorey Shepherd and Jalen Mills. Grymes (shoulder), Joe Walker (knee), and Blake Countess (head) left the game with injuries.