In the battle of Pennsylvania, the 1-2-1 Philadelphia Eagles travel to Heinz Field to take on the 3-0 Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers are coming off a “bye week” after their game against the Tennesse Titans was postponed due to positive COVID-19 tests. This will be the second time Carson Wentz plays the Steelers, as he was a rookie when they last played in 2016. That last time they met in 2016 the Eagles crushed the Steelers, 34-3. The Eagles lead the all-time series 47-28-3 and have won two of the last three meetings.
Eagles
The Eagles are coming off a huge 25-20 victory over the San Francisco 49ers last week, which put them in first place in the weak NFC East division. In that one, Wentz carried the very injury-riddled offense. He passed for 193 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 37 yards and one touchdown. The one touchdown he threw for was to Travis Fulgham, who was added from the practice squad prior to the game. The key for the Eagles in this one will be stopping the run and forcing Ben Roethlisberger to throw the pigskin.
The run defense has been playing fairly well so far despite giving up three scores on the ground last week. They haven’t allowed any offense to consistently pound the rock and have been able to get off the field. Another key on the offensive standpoint is how much the battered offensive will create for Wentz and the run game. The Steeler run defense is very tough. They allowed just 29 yards on the ground to both the New York Giants and Houston Texans. Miles Sanders had 76 scrimmage yards last week (46 rush, 30 receiving) and will look to get something going. Not turning the ball over will also be huge; Wentz has been picked off seven times. DeSean Jackson, Jalen Reagor, and Alshon Jeffery will all be unavailable once again for the Eagles.
Steelers
The Steelers’ last game was in Week 3, and they got the best of the Texans, 28-21. After an unplanned bye week, they could have some rust to shake off at the beginning of the game. But they could more likely use the rest in their favor. They will need to get something from the rushing attack led by James Conner. Conner led the team with 149 scrimmage yards (109 rush, 40 receiving) and one rushing touchdown in Week 3. With a depleted Eagles offense, the Steelers will have a ground-and-pound game.
If they get ahead, Conner will only get more touches, along with Benny Snell. Snell has had 90+ scrimmage yards in the first three games. In the passing game, the Eagles have allowed 243.5 passing yards per game, so the Steelers should be able to get something going there. Something to watch for is how well Roethlisberger will be able to evade off the Eagles’ pass rush that has gotten a league-leading 17 sacks. The Eagles, however, struggle in the pass defense, and Diontae Johnson is probable to come back. JuJu Smith-Schuster has gotten a touchdown in two of three games and tight end Eric Ebron had five catches last week for 52 yards and a touchdown.
Game Info
Date: October 11, 2020
Start Time: 1:00 P.M. est
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Stadium: Heinz Field
TV Info: Fox
Betting Odds Sponsored by Jazz Sportsbook
Points Spread: PHI +7 (-110) | PIT -7 (-110)
Moneyline: PHI +265 | PIT -340
Over/Under: O 44 (-110) | U 44 (-110)
This is a very tough point spread, as the game could easily come down to just a touchdown. This game looks to be a low-scoring defensive game, so don’t expect the over to be hit.
Prediction
The Eagles are banged up and face one of the strongest defenses in the league. This will come down to one or two drives that swing momentum one way of the other. With a big stop late in the game, the Steelers stay undefeated and turn an Eagles’ comeback away.
Final Score: Philadelphia 17, Pittsburgh 21
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