The football gods have smiled upon Pennsylvanians this Sunday: it’s “Steagles” week. The tension between ‘Steelers Nation’ and the ‘Philly Faithful’ rivals the hatred of an intra-division clash. Both fan bases are known for traveling well, boast rich and successful histories in the NFL, and feature top-five defenses this season. Most importantly, both sit atop their respective divisions.
The Battle of Pennsylvania has historically favored the Eagles, who lead the all-time series 49-29-3. The last time the Steelers won in Philadelphia was back in the 1960s, when “Yesterday” by The Beatles topped the U.S. music charts. But this year’s match-up is different—the stakes are higher, and the narratives more compelling: Saquon Barkley is enjoying an MVP-caliber season, Russell Wilson has finally become the consistent and accomplished leader the Steelers needed, and a pair of promising rookies in the Eagles’ secondary are shutting down some of the NFL’s best receivers. This game will hinge on how well the Steelers can exploit the Eagles’ dependency on Barkley and their secondary, taking advantage of a potentially short-handed Steelers wide receiver room.
Steelers: The post-Ben Roethlisberger era has been uncertain, particularly at the quarterback position, where mediocrity seemed to linger for the past two seasons with former Pittsburgh quarterbacks Kenny Pickett, Mitch Tribusky, and Mason Rudolph—until now. After Justin Fields guided the ship through the first six weeks, Wilson took over in October and has since led the Steelers (10-3) to six wins in seven starts. The Steelers’ defense remains formidable, ranking in the top five for both points allowed and rushing yards allowed per game. They also lead the league in total takeaways, with 28 through 13 games.
Despite a quieter year for superstar T.J. Watt, who faces constant double and triple teams from offensive lines, he still leads the league in forced fumbles. However, primary cornerback Joey Porter Jr. has been a liability, ranking second in penalties among cornerbacks in the league, making his potential matchup against A.J. Brown a clear area of concern for the Steelers. Offensively, with Wilson under center, Pittsburgh averages an impressive 28.4 points per game. The ‘deep ball’ in Pittsburgh has been revived by the sports world thanks to Wilson’s connection with wide receiver George Pickens, which has proven intimidating. Perhaps Pittsburgh’s greatest edge lies on the sidelines. Mike Tomlin, one of the league’s premier head coaches, continues to instill a winning culture, and the team is 4-0 against opponents with records above .500 (Broncos, Chargers, Commanders, Ravens). As the Steelers head to Philadelphia, they will be motivated to secure a crucial win and a greater chance at an AFC North title.
Eagles: Philadelphia has been a dominant force this season, riding a nine-game winning streak and remaining undefeated at home since Week 17 of the 2023 NFL season. Like the Steelers, the Eagles have an exceptional defense, with rookie corners Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean exceeding all expectations. They have consistently shut down the league’s top receivers, meaning Rusell’s signature “moon ball” may be neutralized against this formidable secondary. Offensively, Barkley is enjoying an MVP-caliber season and is on pace to break Eric Dickerson’s single-season rushing record of 2,105 yards. However, the Eagles’ offense has been somewhat one-dimensional: Quarterback Jalen Hurts has thrown for over 300 yards just once this season and hasn’t surpassed 200 passing yards in a month. This frustration came to a head recently, with A.J. Brown publicly expressing dissatisfaction with the lack of passing opportunities. A win against the Steelers could push the Eagles to the coveted No. 1 seed in the NFC, pending the results of the highly anticipated Lions-Bills matchup. Expect the Birds to come out hungry and ready to defend their home turf on Sunday.
What to expect: The Steelers’ defense made a statement in Week 11, forcing Derrick Henry’s first lost fumble since 2022 and completely shutting him down. HBO Max’s Hard Knocks debut episode on the AFC North showed Mike Tomlin’s tailored game plans for stars like Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson, and Ja’Marr Chase. There will undoubtedly be a similar focus on stopping Barkley this week, potentially forcing Hurts to throw the ball over 30 times—something he hasn’t done since a September loss to Tampa Bay. However, Hurts has undoubtedly heard his WR1’s recent call for more targets and will look to feed Brown, especially when matched against the penalty-prone Porter Jr. The Eagles will lean on their elite offensive line to give Hurts time in the pocket and will work to neutralize Watt’s disruptive presence. While both teams boast top-tier defenses, this game could still feature several touchdowns. While Wilson has been effective in getting the Steelers into the red zone, with Pickens now unlikely to play, the Steelers may need to rely more on the running game with Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren as opposed to the deep ball. With Barkley and Hurts combining for 24 rushing touchdowns through 13 games, expect one of them to find the end zone. As playoff seeding and divisional championships are on the line, this game promises to have the intensity and feel of a playoff matchup and could easily come down to the wire.
Score: 34 Steelers – 28 Eagles
Correction: The article previously stated that “mediocrity seemed to linger for over half a decade.” The author has revised this to read: “mediocrity seemed to linger for the past two seasons.”
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