The Philadelphia Eagles will face the in-state Pittsburgh Steelers at Lincoln Financial Field in the Battle of Pennsylvania. The Week 15 matchup should feature a physical, defensive battle. The two teams have faced each other 81 times, including one postseason matchup, with the Eagles leading the all-time series 49-29-3.
With the 2024 NFL season winding down, this will be the last real test for the Eagles heading into the playoffs. Jalen Hurts, and the offense will be going up against one of the top defensive units in the league. The Steelers’ offense is nothing to slouch at with veteran quarterback Russell Wilson’s resurgence this year. It’s a battle between two first-place teams with five combined losses in 2024. Here are three bold predictions for the in-state classic:
There’s been much talk about the Eagles’ passing offense and Hurts’ relationship with his star wide receiver, A.J. Brown. There could be some truth behind it, but both players have publicly stated that their relationship is fine and there’s nothing to worry about. With the drama that unfolded this past week, Hurts might make it a point to get the ball to Brown and put on a clinic to put that narrative to rest.
The Eagles last played the Steelers in 2022, defeating their in-state rival 35-13. Hurts threw for 285 yards and four touchdowns and found Brown six times for 156 yards with three of those four touchdowns.
The Steelers have allowed only 14 receiving touchdowns through Week 14, tied for the fourth-fewest in the NFL. They haven’t allowed many touchdowns to receivers, but the defense ranks in the middle of the NFL for receiving yards allowed this season. In comparison, the Steelers’ defense has allowed the fourth-fewest rushing yards this year, which could force the Eagles to rely on their passing game more than usual.
Look for Hurts to target Brown early and often against the Steelers.
Philadelphia’s defense has been one of the top defenses in the NFL since coming out of their Week 5 bye week. It’s been an impressive turnaround by defensive coordinator Vic Fangio and his unit.
The Eagles have held opposing offenses under 200 yards twice in 2024. The New York Giants could only muster 119 yards in Week 7, and the Dallas Cowboys put up just 146 yards in Week 10. The Eagles held those offenses to nine combined points.
The Steelers will be without their No. 1 wide receiver, George Pickens, against the Eagles due to a hamstring injury. Their next leading receiver is Calvin Austin III, who averages 29.8 receiving yards per game. The Steelers’ top option in the receiving game will likely be tight end Pat Freiermuth, who has yet to have a game over 70 receiving yards in 2024.
Steelers running back Najee Harris is having a solid year, but the 26-year-old is averaging just 3.9 yards per carry. He hasn’t had a 100 or more-yard rushing game since Week 8 against the Giants.
If the Eagles can stop the run, look for Fangio to pressure Wilson, who has limited resources in the passing game.
The Eagles opened as 2.5-point favorites for the in-state matchup with the Steelers. They’re now sitting at 5.5-point favorites on most platforms as of Friday.
It’s hard to imagine the Steelers’ offense having much success against an elite Eagles defense. Pickens is a huge loss for their offense. He has 850 yards with three touchdowns and averages 70.8 yards per game.
The only thing that will prevent the Eagles from a commanding win in Week 15 is if they’re unable to generate enough offense against a good Steelers defense. Hurts has to protect the ball and get it out quickly to his receivers. The Eagles have had a tough time starting games fast on offense, but if they can jump out to an early lead, there’s no reason this should be a close game.
The Steelers are a very good team. They’re in first place in the AFC North with a 10-3 record and are riding a two-game win streak. Given this week’s circumstances and playing a relatively healthy Eagles team in Philadelphia, the odds are stacked against them.
The only way the Eagles will lose this in-state game is if they beat themselves.
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