Week eight of the NFL season is upon us and for many of you, it can’t end soon enough as the Steelers have struggled. This week they head to Philly where the team is unbeaten. Oh, and the Steelers haven’t won there since Lyndon Johnson was President. Here’s everything you need to know about the Steelers and Eagles.
What: Pittsburgh Steelers 2-5 at Philadelphia Eagles 6-0
Where: Lincoln Financial Field Philadelphia, PA
When: 1pmET Sunday October 30th 2022
Weather: Mostly cloudy and 61 degrees at kickoff.
Wagering Information: Steelers +10.5 0/U 43
Last Week: The Eagles enjoyed their BYE week while the Steelers fell to the Dolphins 16-10 in Miami.
TV: CBS Jim Nantz (play-by-play), Tony Romo (analysis), Tracy Wolfson (sideline)
TV Coverage in Your Area: A good portion of the country will receive the game Sunday but not everyone. Check here for the map.
Radio: Steelers Nation Radio/WDVE Bill Hillgrove (play-by-play), Craig Wolfley (analysis), Missi Matthews (sideline),
Max Starks (sideline)
Westwood One Radio: N/A
Head Official: Clete Blakeman. He’s in his 13th year as a head official and his last Steelers game was last season in Minnesota against the Vikings. His crew called 21 accepted penalties.
Key Injuries/Game Status (courtesy steelers.com) PIT: K Chris Boswell (Groin) – QUESTIONABLE
DB Josh Jackson (Groin) – QUESTIONABLE, DT Larry Ogunjobi (Knee) – OUT, CB Levi Wallace (Shoulder) – OUT PHI: N/A
Injury Notes: The Eagles are incredibly healthy for this point in the season. The Steelers meanwhile will play without their most consistent defensive lineman in Ogunjobi. The late addition of Boswell is very concerning. As of this writing the Steelers have no other kickers on the roster or Practice Squad.
UPDATE: Chris Boswell has been ruled OUT. The team has signed Nick Sciba who was them during the preseason.
2022 NFL Ranks:
Total Offense: PIT 29th PHI 11th Passing Offense: PIT 20th PHI 24th Rushing Offense: PIT 25th PHI 9th
Total Defense: PIT 23rd PHI 3rd Passing Defense: PIT 30th PHI 1st Rushing Defense: PIT 18th PHI 7th
AFC North Rankings: Baltimore 5-3, Cincinnati 4-3, Cleveland 2-5, , Pittsburgh 2-5
This Week in the AFC North: Baltimore 27 Tampa Bay 22 THU, Cincinnati @Cleveland MON 815pmET
What You Need to Know: Mike Tomlin is 2-2 all-time against the Eagles… The Steelers have 80 offensive drives this season compared to just 65 for the Eagles. Philly has outgained the Steelers offensively however by over 300 yards… Pittsburgh has played 13 times against undefeated teams after week six. They are 5-8 in those games… The Eagles have a 64% success rate in the Red Zone. The Steelers are currently at 50%… The Steelers are now 1-9 all-time in games played without T.J. Watt due to injury… Alex Highsmith has dropped to fourth in the league in sacks with 6.5… Myles Jack leads the Steelers with 68 tackles which ranks him sixth in the NFL.
Philadelphia Eagles Names to Know: QB Jalen Hurts, RB Myles Sanders, WR A.J. Brown, WR DeVonta Smith, CB Darius Slay, DL Jordan Davis, DL Fletcher Cox, DE Robert Quinn, K Jake Elliott, RB Kenneth Gainwell
What’s at Stake: The Eagles are unbeaten but find themselves in a dogfight with both the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys. A win keeps them ahead of both. The Steelers are fortunate that no one is running away with the division yet this game is still vitally important heading into the BYE week.
All-Time Series: Eagles lead 48-29-3 and lead all-time in Philly 27-9-2
Postseason History: Eagles lead 1-0
Steelers Game Highs vs PHI: PASSING: 1997 Kordell Stewart 294 yards RUSHING: 1970 John ‘Frenchy’ Fuqua 218 yards RECEIVING: 1988 Louise Lipps 171 yards SACKS: 2008 Larry Foote 1.5 INTERCEPTIONS: 1965 Jim Bradshaw 3
Last Meeting: October 2020 in Pittsburgh. Steelers 38 Eagles 29
Check out the latest Steel City Blitz Steelers Podcast for more on the Steelers.
Three Things We Need to See for a Steelers’ Victory:
1. Red Zone Success. Pittsburgh has challenges on both sides of the ball when in the Red Zone. Defensively, they have to slow down an Eagles’ club scoring almost 2/3 of the time while offensively, they are successful exactly half the time. Jalen Hurts obviously presents a serious challenge because of his ability to run either on designed plays or when things break down. Teryl Austin’s defense has to force the Eagles into field goal attempts in order to give their struggling offense a chance. Offensively, Matt Canada has to dial plays that take advantage of the Eagles’ speed and aggressiveness so that means some misdirection and crossing routes underneath.
2. Take Advantage of Opportunities. Last week saw the Steelers drop no less than four interceptions. You cannot do that when you have a struggling offense. In fact, you just can’t do that period. The Eagles lead the league in turnover differential having turned it over just twice and has yet to lose a fumble. That means that every chance is magnified and the stakes are higher for the defense.
3. Stop the Insanity. It’s high time Matt Canada wake the hell up and see what the rest of us do. Stop designing plays for Zach Gentry. Are you really trying to fool the defense with your slowest skill player? Listen to your receivers! Give them opportunities to make plays. How can you basically forget that George Pickens was on the field in the second half? He is the rare receiver who is literally never covered. What does that mean? It means you have to trust that when he is covered you still rely on his athleticism to make plays. When your offense is struggling and your rookie QB needs help you have to try anything.
Prediction: There’s much speculation that T.J. Watt will play in this one. Personally, I think that is dumb and unnecessary. You have the BYE week coming so let him have this week and next then bring him back against the Saints. Regardless, I don’t see him making that much of a difference anyway. The Eagles are flying high and the fans will be amped more than usual with the success of the hometown Phillies as well. The defense will likely keep us in this one for a spell but ultimately it’s an ‘L.’
Eagles 30 Steelers 13
Season Record 4-3
