Oct 30, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown (11) catches 29-yard touchdown pass against Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon (25) and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (39) during the second quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
The 11-2 Eagles host the 10-3 Steelers on Sunday in one of the premiere matchups of week 15. The winner gets bragging rights across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Here's what our On Pattison staffers believe will happen Sunday afternoon:
Tim Kelly
Score: Eagles 24 - Steelers 17
Game MVP: A.J. Brown
As much as they tried to put the toothpaste back in the tube, there was way too much smoke this week for me to believe that Jalen Hurts and A.J. Brown are in great terms.
With that said, it feels like a slam dunk that Kellen Moore will design a game plan aimed at squashing any narratives surrounding any personal problems between two of the captains on the team. Expect Brown to be targeted early and often.
It’s been fun to watch Russell Wilson revive his career with the Steelers, but without George Pickens, they just don’t have enough firepower to beat the Eagles.
This is NOT a typo. It's been 59 years since the Steelers beat the Eagles in Philadelphia.
Do the Steelers (+205) end the streak? 🟡@FDSportsbook pic.twitter.com/k7xtorHhWp
— Covers (@Covers) December 14, 2024
John Foley
Score: Eagles 27- Steelers 14
Game MVP: A.J. Brown
The best way to smooth things over between Jalen Hurts and A.J. Brown would be for Hurts to feed Brown the ball relentlessly. The best opponent to do that against would be a team with a strong run defense and a leaky pass defense, so that Hurts-to-Brown is a natural gameplan (not forced in an effort to mend the relationship).
And guess who's in town. The Pittsburgh Steelers, with their top-four run defense and 17th-ranked pass defense. The same team that Brown racked up 156 yards and 3 touchdowns against during the last Battle of Pennsylvania.
This sets up perfectly for the Birds.
Are there concerns? Sure. The Steelers lead the NFL in takeaways, and a turnover or two would scramble any other analysis. The Eagles may not be able to easily bleed the clock late with Barkley, and will have to keep their foot on the gas offensively. And while he may not be the quarterback he was in his prime, Russell Wilson owns the Birds until proven otherwise.
But the Eagles are just better, and they're at home.
#Steelers QB Russell Wilson was asked if he knows he is 4 & 0 in Philly and undefeated in his career against the #Eagles.
“Yeah, but you know, that’s old. I’m aware.”
RUSS IS SO LOCKED IN.
pic.twitter.com/qWBVRPSfms
Anthony SanFilippo
Score: Steelers 19 - Eagles 16
Game MVP: T.J. Watt
The Eagles are going to try and show you that everything is hunky dory, and you're going to see an influx of Jalen Hurts trying to get the ball to A.J. Brown - and it's going to be just enough to disrupt the offensive balance. It's going to allow for more pressure on Hurts from the Steelers pash rush, and you know who likes to get home from that group? T.J. Watt. Give him multiple sacks and several pressures, and the Eagles looking for answers.
I will admit though, that I'm not uber-confident with this prediction. That's because I think the Steelers offense is mediocre and the Eagles defense is excellent. It's why I'm picking a low score, but the Steelers might struggle to get the 19 I'm predicting. But, even if the Eagles find a way, in what should be a defensive affair, keep in mind that despite apologizing for what he said, Brandon Graham is no dummy. He's a 15-year veteran leader and has his finger on the pulse of that locker room. He said what he said for a reason. Keep that in your back pocket as the rest of the season unfolds
In preparation for facing NFL rushing leader Saquon Barkley of the Eagles, TJ Watt discusses how the Steelers defense has been successful against the run the season pic.twitter.com/MSFTNBhiOT
Austin Krell
Score: Eagles 27 - Steelers 20
Game MVP: A.J. Brown
I mean, are we really going to go a full week of AJ/Jalen discourse and have it not end in AJ going for a million receiving yards (all numbers approximate, of course).
I feel bad for the Steelers, they have to play a pissed off and motivated Eagles team on Sunday 😂
