The Pittsburgh Steelers faced their first bit of adversity in the young 2020 season dealing with sudden change associated with their unexpected bye week. They now will look to go 4-0 for the first time since 1979, the last Super Bowl squad of the 70’s dynasty.
Steelers vs. Eagles all time record: 28-48-3
Steelers vs. Eagles (at home): 19-21-1
Last match result: 34-3 Eagles (2016)
Notable offseason additions: CB Darius Slay, DT Malik Jackson, DT Javon Hargrave, ILB L.J. Fort
Notable draft picks: WR Jalen Reagor, QB Jalen Hurts, OT Prince Tega Wanogho
The Philadelphia Eagles are entering this game with large question marks at the wide receiver position as Jalen Reagor is on IR, DeSean Jackson and Alshon Jeffery were ruled out, and Marquise Goodwin opted out before the season. The Steelers will look to take advantage and right the ship in the secondary – one that has allowed more than expected so far this season.
These two defenses held the top two sack totals in the NFL entering week 5, but the Steelers have played one less game. Both teams have the means to do some damage from their front 7 which could ultimately help decide the outcome either way.
Steelers Inactive Players:
FB Derek Watt
ILB Marcus Allen
OL Derwin Gray
QB Joshua Dobbs
DL Carlos Davis
TE Zach Gentry
Eagles Inactive Players:
QB Nate Sudfeld
WR DeSean Jackson
WR Alshon Jeffery
CB Avonte Maddov
RB Jason Huntley
DE Case Toohill
TE Hakeem Butler
With Marcus Allen inactive with an injury, Ulysees Gilbert III will get his first gameday helmet of the season.
Fans are back in the building. It isn’t many, but it will be nice to see some towels twirling in the stands.
Live warmup video courtesy of Steelers Nation Unite:
The Steelers will once again start out on defense.
Chris Boswell placed the opening kickoff perfectly, right at the goal line. Boston Scott takes it out to the 17 before being brought down.
On first down, nice tackle for loss by Vince Williams to set the tone early. On 3rd, TJ Watt gets off his blocker and finishes the sack after a bunch of chaos in the backfield. The Eagles are punting. Diontae Johnson fields the punt around the 40 and takes it a few yards. Good starting position for the Steelers.
The Steelers were very close to stalling out on their first drive and continuing their streak of no touchdown in the opening drive, but Eric Ebron was able to convert in the middle of the field.
Ben Roethlisberger was sacked on 2nd down, and Diontae Johnson was tackled for loss after trying to make something out of nothing. The Steelers will punt back.
Steven Nelson with a great drive in coverage, helping on back to back plays to force an incompletion and get his defense off the field. The Steelers getting the ball back quick.
Diontae Johnson got hit pretty hard on the punt return and now looks like he may be banged up on the sideline. Right when he got back from a week 3 concussion.
Chase Claypool up the middle for another first down. A quick slant into heavy coverage. Good to extend the drive, as not much else has worked yet.
The Steelers go to James Conner on 1st and 2nd with a pair of unsuccessful runs. This sets up 3rd and 6. James Washington crossed over the field from left to right and outran the defender to the sticks for the 1st down.
The Steelers using Ray-Ray McCloud a bit for some speed at the wide receiver position. Chase Claypool with the sweep on 3rd and short, converting for the first down. The Steelers are in the red zone and will have their first chance to score.
Ben Roethlisberger rolled out on 1st down with defenders close behind him. Almost zipped one in to Juju on a nice throw. It was dropped, but it wouldn’t have mattered as Chuks Okorafor was called for a holding.
Ben Roethlisberger went deep to James Washington with Darius Slay in coverage. A late flag comes in and the Steelers get a fresh set of downs near the goal line on pass interference.
Number 65 reporting as eligible. Jerald Hawkins in for the jumbo package near the goal line.
It was set to be 3rd down, but some unsportsman like conduct called on the Eagles defense. Another fresh set of downs near the end zone. Steelers were basically gifted this drive and must turn this into a touchdown.
The Steelers implement some pre-snap motion and send Chase Claypool across the backfield. They hand it to him while crossing and he bursts into the endzone. Touchdown! 7-0 Steelers.
Steven Nelson was burned on 2nd down, but Wentz missed the easy touchdown throw. The very next play, Mike Hilton misses an open field tackle on Miles Sanders, who takes it 74 yards for the touchdown. 7-7 ballgame.
Kevin Dotson will be in for now in place of the injured DeCastro. Another big test for the rookie who already fared well against Jurrell Casey. Fletcher Cox will give him fits.
Chase Claypool has seemingly been the go to guy on possession downs, converting for another first down.
James Conner takes it 25 yards up the middle for an explosive play. The offense responding to the long Sanders touchdown.
On 3rd and 6 from the 32, Ben Roethlisberger hits Claypool across the middle of the field for another touchdown! A two touchdown day for the rookie – 1 rushing and 1 receiving. 14-7 Steelers.
On 3rd down, Bud Dupree has the Sack all but secured in the backfield, but Wentz was able to duck under Bud. Vince Williams came and delivered the hit, but Wentz had already completed the pass for the first down. Roughing the passer called on Vince and the Eagles have crossed the mid field mark.
Travis Fulgham receives the pass from Wentz and takes it down around the Steelers 12. On 1st, the Eagles take it a couple yards up to the 10. Wentz keeps the ball and runs for a few yards up the middle, bringing up 3rd and 4 near the goal line. Zach Ertz receives the ball, but Terrell Edmunds brought him down around the 1 yard line for a fresh set of downs.
Miles Sanders takes the ball up the middle for a 1 yard touchdown. 14-14 ballgame.
The Steelers have just over 6:00 to try and burn some clock and score before regaining the ball at the top of the 2nd half.
Ray-Ray McCloud almost gets free on what could have been a homerun touchdown on the first play of the drive. Darius Slay called for holding and a fresh set of downs for the Steelers.
The Steelers go to the screen game on 2nd down. James Conner for a quick screen with Maurkice Pouncey and Kevin Dotson leading the way.
Ben Roethlisberger under pressure dropped back and delivered an u-g-l-y pass but it was caught by Eric Ebron for a 1st down. Ben went to Claypool for what could have been his third touchdown, but the ball was slightly overthrown.
Juju Smith-Schuster with a nice first down pickup along the sideline, but Kevin Dotson was an ineligible man downfield. The ball is coming back to the 30 with 2nd and 10. The Steelers attempted some misdirection with the pre-snap motion, but the snap was high and the carrier was tackled for no gain.
On 3rd and 10, Ben dumped the ball off to Conner who *almost* span out of the tackle. He couldn’t quite make it for the 1st down. The Steelers will likely bring out the field goal unit.
Chris Boswell’s 41 yarder is good. 17-14 Steelers.
On 1st down, Vince Williams shoots into the backfield to clog up rushing lane. TJ Watt comes in to clean up the play for the TFL. Cameron Heyward gets the sack on the next play, so the Eagles have a crucial 3rd and long with just enough time left on the clock to allow the Steelers a chance. The Steelers call a timeout to give themselves a chance.
The Eagles are able to pickup 20 on 3rd and 17 to Fulgham along the sideline.
The Eagles get around midfield and use their final timeout with 00:27 to go.
Joe Haden in coverage on the end zone shot, Haden plays the receiver tight and forces the incompletion. That was close.
They go deep again for a completion, but with no timeouts the Steelers defenders keep him in bounds to end the half.
17-14 Steelers at the half.
Join us for the 2nd half thread here.
