Steelers vs. Eagles 2020 – Syndication Server

Instant analysis of Steelers’ 38-29 victory over the Eagles

A quick glimpse at how things played out at Heinz Field today.

The Steelers are 4-0 for the first time since 1979. But it wasn’t easy.

For yet another game, Pittsburgh wasn’t able to break their streak of 22 games without an opening touchdown and fell flat on their first drive.

It was a sluggish start to what ended up being a high-scoring affair. After three punts to open the game, the Steelers and Eagles traded touchdowns on four drives, the speed finally picked up.

Linebacker Vince Williams set the tone for the Eagles run game — or lack thereof — when he bull-rushed in to tackle running back Miles Sanders for a two-yard loss on the first play of the game.

With the exception of a long 76-yard run by Sanders, in which Pittsburgh was clearly caught off guard, the Steelers held him to a mere four yards.

Both teams did an excellent job stopping the run and there was little to speak of on the ground.

Philly’s quarterback Carson Wentz spread it around to seven different receivers throughout the game, but second-year receiver Travis Fulgham was the Eagles’ playmaker. Not Steven Nelson, nor Mike Hilton or Minkah Fitzpatrick could put a stop to Fulgham, who ended the day with 152 yards and a touchdown.

With a minute left in the 1st quarter, a questionable holding call (there were plenty in this game) on the Eagles took the Steelers down to the goal line where wide receiver Chase Claypool scored his first touchdown of four touchdowns.

As the game went on, Pittsburgh’s front four became less and less effective. After a rough first couple of quarters, Philadelphia’s offensive line was giving Wentz time — a luxury he hadn’t had all season long.

The Birds came back from 17 points down to make it a 31-29 point game near the end.

Just as Wentz was getting comfortable, he threw a comeback-killing interception to Nelson with two minutes left.

In nail-biting fashion, the Steelers pulled off another win to go 4-0 on the season.

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Chase Claypool joins distinguished company to make Steelers history

In a highlight reel kind of day, the rookie receiver made Steelers history — not once, but twice.

With a rushing and receiving touchdown in Sunday’s Steelers-Eagles matchup, wide receiver Chase Claypool made franchise history as a rookie — twice. But he wasn’t the first to do it.

In 1972, running back Franco Harris became the first Steelers rookie to score on the ground and through the air. In a 38-21 win over the Buffalo Bills, Harris finished the game with 155 total yards and three touchdowns.

Speaking of three touchdowns, Claypool also became the first Steelers rookie to score three touchdowns in one game since wide receiver Eric Green in 1990.

But Claypool wasn’t done yet. He scored a fourth, game-winning touchdown with three minutes remaining.

Chase’s day was a highlight reel of its own. He ended the day with 116 total yards and four touchdowns.

Week 5 was the first of what will hopefully be many multi-touchdown games for Claypool.

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Pittsburgh vs. Philadelphia: Steelers Wire’s prediction for Week 5

Predictions for Steelers-Eagles matchup from Steelers Wire editor, Curt Popejoy, and contributor, Allison Koehler.

Predictions… what a concept!

Ladies first.

Allison Koehler

I’m eager to see how this game unfolds because of the wild two weeks the Steelers have experienced since they last took the field. Ultimately, I don’t see it affecting them.

The main concern is with Philadelphia’s defensive line, which rivals Pittsburgh’s, ranked 4th and 2nd, respectively. With a first-ranked run defense, the Steelers should have the upper hand there. The Eagles have allowed 435 on the ground and six touchdowns.

The Pittsburgh forecast calls for rain starting around kickoff and increasing throughout. Depending on how that goes, it could mean a big day for James Conner, Anthony McFarland, and whoever else Mike Tomlin uses.

On paper, it appears that the only viable threat to the Steelers is the Eagles defensive line. Pittsburgh’s offensive line has been playing well, though. The Steelers should go 4-0 — for the first time since 1979 — as long as they can protect Ben and open lanes up for James Conner.

My prediction: Steelers 17, Eagles 9

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Curt Popejoy

The strength of both these teams is in their ability to rush the opposing quarterback. So it makes sense that you look at which team has the advantage based on which offensive line is set up to handle the challenge.

In this case, the advantage goes to the Steelers in a big way. Philadelphia’s offensive line has been decimated but injuries and I’m not sure they know what they are getting themselves into trying to slow down the waves of pass rushers the Steelers are going to bring.

Pittsburgh has been waiting a long time to get 30 points in a game and I think this is the week they get it done. This long layoff and abridged bye week will serve as a rallying point for the Steelers and they finally come out of the gates fast on offense.

My prediction: sTEELERS 35 , eAGLES 24

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Steelers vs. Eagles: 2 key receivers ruled out for matchup vs. Philadelphia

An already ailing Eagles team will be without two playmakers on Sunday at Heinz Field.

On Friday, the Philadelphia Eagles ruled out both Desean Jackson (hamstring) and Alshon Jeffery (illness) for their Sunday square-off at Heinz Field.

Jackson suffered a hamstring injury in the first half of the Eagles’ Week 4 tie with the Bengals, and won’t be suiting up though he practiced on a limited basis this week. The Pro Bowl receiver has 10 catches for 121 yards in the Eagles’ first three games.

Jeffery missed the last seven weeks of 2019 after being placed on injured reserve with the foot injury that has lingered into this season. He was on the brink of returning when the illness came to light this week. Alshon had 490 yards and four touchdowns in 10 games last season.

These guys are just two on a laundry list of hurt Birds.

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With Philadelphia’s offense is in shambles, their defense should pose the biggest concern for the Steelers on Sunday. The Eagles D is ranked 10th overall and currently has the most sacks in the league with 17.

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Steelers vs. Eagles: Week 5 battle of Pennsylvania will double as reunion with Javon Hargrave

The Steelers will reunite with their former defensive tackle next week in The Battle of Pennsylvania.

A deep-seated rivalry that began 87 years ago takes the field next Sunday when the 0-2-1 Philadephia Eagles travel to Heinz Field to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Unofficially dubbed “The Battle of Pennsylvania,” the interstate, interconference clash dates back to Nov. 19, 1933. The Steelers and Eagles were, for three decades, in the same NFL Eastern Division, and played twice annually. Post-AFL-NFL merger, they’ve played a dozen times, meeting once every four years.

This contest, their first since 2016, will be the fifth in the Ben Roethlisberger era. The teams are tied at two wins apiece since Big Ben took over in 2004.

Javon Hargrave reunion

The Steelers lost a significant piece of their defense when the Philadephia Eagles signed lineman Javon Hargrave in free agency this offseason.

Pittsburgh will reunite with their former tackle in Week 5, but Hargrave hasn’t been as heavily involved as he was with the Steelers.

Initially, we at Steelers Wire weren’t too happy about Pittsburgh not extending Hargrave, but the team seems to know what they’re doing (they usually do). They plugged in Tyson Alualu and didn’t skip a beat — he’s been performing exceptionally well in the void left by Hargrave’s departure.

Isaiah Buggs is there to spell Alualu, and, for added depth, Pittsburgh selected Carlos Davis in the 7th round of the 2020 draft.

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Hargrave was dealt an early blow with an upper-body injury a couple of weeks into Eagles training camp. It was expected he would miss multiple games but, instead, returned Week 2 versus the Los Angeles Rams.

Since getting back on the field, the former third-rounder has been rotating in behind starter Malik Jackson. In 37 pass-rush snaps, Javon has four hurries, and in 20 run snaps, a single tackle and stop.

In Pittsburgh, Hargrave started all but 12 games in four seasons. During that span, Javon contributed 14.5 sacks, 168 tackles (22 for loss), 22 QB hits and two forced fumbles. His rookie season he recovered a fumble and took it in for six points.

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