December 10, 2024 • 19 mins
Matt Williamson and Tom Opferman break down the Steelers upcoming matchup with the Eagles.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
We got some work to do.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
This is the Advanced Scout with Tom Upperman and Matt Williamson.
Steelers beat the Browns at home this week. They are
ten and three. They go to Philadelphia to face off
against the eleven and two Eagles.
Speaker 3 (00:16):
This is a heavyweight fight, man.
Speaker 1 (00:18):
Yeah, it really is. This is a very good football
team they're playing.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
That's hot, and for the first time in a while,
you can realistically say the Steelers are involved in what
could be a potential Super Bowl preview. You could say, no,
I don't think so either. I don't think it's crazy
at all. No, I could see.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
Either one of these teams making it all the way
to New Orleans.
Speaker 4 (00:35):
This yeah, yeah, I mean, I really do think the
Eagles are one of the best two teams in the league,
whether it's them or the Lions, But I would put
the Steelers in the next tier.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Do you buy a new teams being due for a
loss in the NFL? Like, nine game winning streaks are
absurd in this league.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
Now, the Lions are on on one that's longer right now,
and the Chiefs had one like that earlier this year.
But it's I always feel like the Bill's coming due
at some point in this league. Yeah, and when you
go up against the team like the Steelers, it's a
great time for that bill to come due.
Speaker 4 (01:03):
Yeah, I would phrase it differently. I would just say
it's hard to win ten games in a row. Okay,
you know what I mean, like because so many of
these games come down to the last possession or one
score game, and or weather or a goofy penalty or
a weird bounce that just goes your way the wrong way,
and we were the better team, but you know, or
(01:24):
Buffalo Rams. You know, like the Bills are probably better
than the Rams, but you ran into a super hot
quarterback and you know, you got a punt blocked and
otherwise you were won, you know whatever.
Speaker 2 (01:34):
The Eagles are seven and one in one score games, yep.
And what you were just saying, Stars are six and
three this year in one score games. If you're a
good team in the NFL, you're winning one score games
more than you're losing them. I love this Russell Wilson's
stat that made its way into the matchup overview. It
kind of puts into context where he's at historically. Oh yeah,
compares him to an all time great. He is six
(01:54):
and one with the Steelers. Now as a starting quarterback,
he now has seventy three career games with multiple touchdown
passes in a game with out an interception. He had
two touchdowns and no picks against the Browns on Sunday.
That ties him with Peyton Manning.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
That freaky compy time.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
All these stats that you pull Matt from the beginning
of the season. Aaron Rodgers is his company, Patrick Mahonmes
is his company. Pate Mannings is his company. Dude's one
of the all time greats.
Speaker 4 (02:16):
Yep, he's only behind Brady who's played forever. And you
know guys like that, I mean, just crazy all time
great type players.
Speaker 3 (02:23):
Let's get into some serious history between these two teams.
Speaker 2 (02:25):
Dating back to nineteen thirty three, these cross state rivals
have met eighty one times. There are three ties in
this series, and Philadelphia has won forty nine of the
remaining seventy eight matchups. There is a postseason meeting between
Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. It was an Eagles divisional playoff win
before nineteen forty, before Pittsburgh even became the Steelers. Philadelphia
won six of those thirteen meetings over the Pittsburgh Pirates.
(02:47):
The most recent six meetings have gone back and forth
without winning streaks, but the Eagles did win the most
recent meeting in twenty twenty two. Between nineteen sixty four
and two thousand, the Eagles won thirteen and seventeen, and
between a stretch starting in nineteen forty seven and finishing
in nineteen fifty four, the Eagles were thirteen to two.
But as everybody knows by now, during World War Two,
these two franchises combined forces. In nineteen forty three, the
(03:07):
Steegles were five to four and one. That was that
phil That was that Philadelphia's first winning season as a
professional football team, when the Steelers helped them out there.
The Eagles do have a ten game winning streak at
home against Pittsburgh, however, and Mike tomins two and three
against the Eagles a ten game winning streak ate dates
back to nineteen sixty five. Like literally, no legendary Steeler
has ever gone and beaten Philadelphia in Philadelphia.
Speaker 4 (03:31):
No one that covers the team has seen it, or
I mean hardly anyone walking around still has seen it,
you know.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
But I got a stat to counter that statue. Bring
for this, Yep, Russell Wilson is six and oh, including
a playoff win against the Philadelphia Eagles in his career.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
Really interesting four and at that think some time to change.
Speaker 3 (03:53):
Dude's never lost to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
Something's got to give on Sunday, either Rusk gets his
first loss or the Dealers in that drought that dates
back to nineteen sixty five.
Speaker 1 (04:03):
It's funny.
Speaker 4 (04:03):
I mean, you talk to these dudes, have covered the
team forever, as soon as they came out to the Steelers
are going to Philly.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
Wow, that's a lot. It's impossible to win there. I
don't know it's impossible to win there.
Speaker 3 (04:13):
I don't think it's impossible either.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
Spoiler alert though, I don't think I'm picking the Steelers
to win this game.
Speaker 1 (04:17):
If not with the.
Speaker 4 (04:19):
Things a little bit, which isn't the end of the world,
you know, I mean an NFC loss, You're still in
good shape.
Speaker 3 (04:24):
Matt.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
All they have to do is beat the Ravens, right,
It's literally all they have to do to get that
home game. When people realize that you want to get
the two seed, three seed, whatever. But haven't had a
home playoff game in quite a while. The last time
you did, no one was allowed to go to the
stadium points.
Speaker 1 (04:37):
So get a home game, beat the Ravens.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
Yeah, uh, Philadelphia, We're going to get to their defense first.
But one thing about this game, these teams don't really
like to pass the ball that much.
Speaker 1 (04:48):
No, both are bottom league and pass parent.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
Steelers changing a little bit though, I think you're seeing
an increase in that they're leaning more towards Russell Wilson now.
But the Eagles forty three point five percent clip of
passing the football is the only team that's.
Speaker 3 (05:00):
Lower than the Steelers forty eight point four.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
I'm gonna give you those numbers again, forty three point
five percent of the time they started all and the
Steelers are second lowest at forty eight. There's a big
discrepancy between just those two teams.
Speaker 4 (05:12):
Being below fifty percent is kind of crazy in today's NFL.
And they're five points different percentage points different than the Steelers.
And then you probably noticed in there they have a
six game street going where they have more rushing yards
the passing yards.
Speaker 1 (05:25):
I mean, it's bonkers.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
In their past three games, Philadelphia's pass rate is at
thirty eight point seven percent and they're at a forty
two point three percent at home, while the Steelers are
throwing at a fifty or excuse me, a forty six
point nine percent clip on the road. Pittsburgh and Philadelphia
each have fours passing touchdowns. Only four teams have fewer.
But the difference there is Russell Wilson's got twelve of
(05:47):
them and he's played seven games.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
Yeah, Jalen Hurts has played every game for the Eagles
and they still only have fourteen passing touchdowns.
Speaker 4 (05:53):
They run the ball in the end zone though, and
they're not short on touchdowns. They're just short on passing touchdowns.
And Hurts has some issues.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
We'll get to Hurts and Barkley. Yeah, yeah, yeah, you
brought this up on Mark Show. The most amazing thing
is Barkley has been stopped at the one yard line
eleven times.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
Has even high number. And then yeah, I mean imagine
like what his fantasy life.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
Oh my god, it starts.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
Not only he'd be pushing Eric Dickerson's record, which he's
on pace to b He'll be pushing it was an
LT who has the touchdown record. I think rushing touchdown
means you're making a run for that one too.
Speaker 3 (06:28):
It's a great year for Barkley.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
Let's get to the Eagles defense or the Eagles offense
second that. I want to start with their defense because
it's a.
Speaker 1 (06:34):
Good group to listen.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
Offense has the headlines A J. Brown, Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley,
Davante Smith. The offensive line has been a juggernaut for
years and years and years now. I think their defense
is the better side of the ball, and I think
it's been playing.
Speaker 4 (06:48):
Yeah, like they're a hard team to find weaknesses, but
I think their passing game is their weakness and that's
not on the defense side of the ball. Defense is
really really good.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
So the defense leads the league at allowing just four
point seven yards per play. They also allow just two
hundred and eighty four point two yards per game, that's
the best in the NFL.
Speaker 3 (07:08):
They allow a set of down to.
Speaker 2 (07:10):
Be turned into a new set of downs or a
touchdown at a sixty eight percent rate. Only the Texans
and the Browns defenses are better than that, and they
only allow one hundred and seventy eight point five passing
yards per game. Only the Titans allow fewer, and the
Eagles five yards per play allowed is best in the
league by half a yard over the second best defense, and.
Speaker 4 (07:29):
It's been getting better and better throughout the course of
the year. Like these young defensive backs and the new
linebackers and are all hitting their stride.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
Now, let's talk about those young defensive backs. Mitchell and
Dejene have been two home run picks this year at draft.
Dejane a great nickel corner, and do you.
Speaker 3 (07:46):
Think Mitchell's already their best corner are.
Speaker 4 (07:48):
Probably slay Yeah, I think he's probably passed them, you know,
slaves starting to little pretty good. Yeah, and that's Feasier two.
You're in really good shape. I'm not sure Mitchell's quite
at a one level. They're close, sort of similar to
like Porter last year in his rookie year, you know,
I mean he's really doing good stuff.
Speaker 3 (08:06):
And then you got depth at those positions too.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
I mean, like I recognize these names, like Keey Ringo
is a guy that I know, like a fourth round
pick a couple of years ago.
Speaker 3 (08:14):
Avante Maddox is a guy.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
I definitely know, a true guys, but he's been in
Philadelphia forever. That's a vet that now it's all of
a sudden been pushed down their depth chart. The secondary
is really strong.
Speaker 1 (08:23):
The gene could go outside if needed, and you know,
he's a really good piece.
Speaker 3 (08:27):
I love their linebackers. I think they they bond. They've
dipped into the Georgia pool. No, well, they love Georgia guys.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
And that leads me to the two upfront, the big boys,
Carter and Davis. I mean, I thought that Davis was
to steal the drafts in twenty twenty two. Then I
thought Carter was to steal the drafts in twenty twenty three.
And they're both playing at a high level, aren't they.
Speaker 3 (08:49):
Carter more so than Carter.
Speaker 1 (08:52):
Carter's gonna win defensive players a year in his career.
Speaker 3 (08:55):
I mean, I plural, you think at least one at least.
Speaker 1 (08:58):
I think he's going to be kind of talent.
Speaker 4 (09:00):
Yes, I think he's a top five defensive tackle behind
Cam at the moment, but I mean a year from now,
he might be the best defensive tackle in the league.
I mean he's a special, special talent that went to
a perfect environment to harness it.
Speaker 1 (09:13):
Too.
Speaker 4 (09:14):
He's great. He's gonna cause problems and that's mostly against McCormick.
Speaker 2 (09:18):
Yeah, and you know other guy they faced that Guys
like Dexter Lawrence where it was really just him that
That's the thing. Like Jordan Davis is such a good
running lee for him too, he's gonna cause just as
many problems, not just as many problems, but problems in
his own right. One thing that the Steers have been
doing well, especially in that Bengals game a couple of
weeks ago, is getting yards after the catch.
Speaker 3 (09:35):
Well, the Eagles don't do that.
Speaker 1 (09:36):
They do they tackle.
Speaker 3 (09:37):
Great, only one and thirteen yards given up after the catch.
Speaker 2 (09:41):
Only the Commanders and the Jets have given up fewer
than the Eagles, so they're very disciplined. You're not gonna
get a lot of catch and run opportunities against these guys,
and with George Pickens probably out too, that was gonna
be limited anyway.
Speaker 4 (09:53):
It doesn't help, but their linebackers and secondary can all
run and they all tackle well.
Speaker 2 (09:57):
One thing I'm surprised though, Matt, because this is a
team that gets a lot of sacks over the past
couple of years. They don't seem to be creating that
much pressure this year.
Speaker 1 (10:04):
Not as much you'd think.
Speaker 4 (10:05):
No. I mean, the Brandon Grahams are still good players,
but getting old. They've always had hockey lines of defensive line,
and it's not as deep as it's been. Carter's better
than ever, but you know, Fletcher Cox has gone Brandon Green.
Some of their stalwarts have moved on. You know, Hard
Graves not around anymore.
Speaker 3 (10:20):
You know, the only recorded one sack against Carolina.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
They only blitzed on eighteen point eight percent of dropbacks.
Only three defense defenses blitz at a lower rate, and
their defense is twenty sixth in pressure rate created. Pittsburgh's
offensive line, for that matter, is twenty sixth in pressure
rate allowed.
Speaker 3 (10:38):
You mentioned Zach Bond.
Speaker 2 (10:40):
Three of the eagles six tackles for a loss last
week was because of him, and then Jalen Carter had
the other two. Is this going to be Carter's and
Bond's defense kind of moving forward? Those two guys is
like the face of.
Speaker 4 (10:49):
It, and the two guys you mentioned the second area. Yeah, Yeah,
Bond is a revelation. I mean, he was very similar
to her Big at Wisconsin and the Saints used them
coming off the edge, and the Eagles signed him and
said you're a linebacker. I mean they'll blitz him and stuff,
but he is an off the ball linebacker. He's gonna
go to the Pro Bowl. I mean he might be
an All Pro. He was a phenomenal fine for them.
Speaker 2 (11:11):
The Eagles on defense are allowing a third down conversion
rate of thirty four point four percent that is fourth
best in the league. And the Eagles defense allows a
red zone conversion rate of just forty eight point seven
percent to the Steelers offensive success rate in the red
zone of forty five point six percent.
Speaker 3 (11:25):
But this is weird to me, Matt at home.
Speaker 2 (11:28):
The Eagles red zone conversion rate allowed jumps to sixty
three point six percent. They give them zone touchdowns right.
The link is one of the toughest places to play.
You'd think it would be pandemonium when you got down
into that red area teams, but it's it's working. The
opposite teams are more successful if you're in Philadelphia against
them down in the twenty yard line and to the
goal line.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
Yeah, I thought that was noteworthy.
Speaker 4 (11:49):
Maybe there's just very few red zone trips and it's
a small sample size, but the fact that it's that
much different I thought was odd.
Speaker 2 (11:57):
Looking now to the Eagles offensive side of the ball,
this is an astounding stat for an offense that is
I still think considered pretty high power despite the passing
game woes lately and aj Brown being upset postgame. Uh,
they're scoring one point three offensive points in the first
quarter of games this season.
Speaker 1 (12:13):
This is remarkable.
Speaker 2 (12:14):
That ranks seven hundred and ninety second of seven hundred
and ninety six offenses since the two thousand season.
Speaker 1 (12:20):
Isn't that insane?
Speaker 3 (12:21):
But they're still a good offense.
Speaker 2 (12:23):
But they're still a good off So they explode after
the first quarter.
Speaker 4 (12:26):
Yeah, I sent you that, and I actually, like five
minutes ago I went and looked at it. Because they
averaged nine point four in the second, that's fourth most,
six point seven in the third, that's seventh most, eight
point nine in the fourth, which is second.
Speaker 1 (12:44):
So they go crazy after the first quarter.
Speaker 4 (12:47):
But the Steelers are fifth best in defending an allowing
second quarter, and they're best in the league in the
third quarter. Yeah, I mean, they only allow one point
two points per game in the third quarter.
Speaker 1 (12:58):
Steelers.
Speaker 3 (12:59):
Steelers starts little on offense too.
Speaker 2 (13:00):
So if there's like a prop first quarter under or
if you the first quarter end at like three nothing
or something like that, that's that's quite a BOSLEA the
amazing thing you laid it out with the points per
game in the second, third, and fourth quarter. But you
also in this original stat boss you sent me put
it into perspective. Despite only scoring one point three offensive
(13:21):
points in first quarters this year, there's only five offenses
that have more touchdowns total than the Philadelphia Eagles.
Speaker 3 (13:26):
Right.
Speaker 2 (13:29):
Yeah, I don't know why either. You mentioned this stat earlier.
The offense has gone six straight games with more rushing
than receiving yardage. I think I think Hurts is a
good quarterback. I don't think he's a great quarterback by
any stretch.
Speaker 1 (13:40):
No, they're hiding him a little bit.
Speaker 2 (13:43):
Yes, And that brings me to and that stat kind
of leads me to this. Is it really as simple
as if you can stop twenty six and you'd be
the first team, Right, you're gonna win the football game,
or have a really good chance to win the football game.
Speaker 4 (14:00):
I would phrase it as you have to stop him
to have a chance to win, a chance.
Speaker 3 (14:06):
Carriod at all.
Speaker 2 (14:07):
Yeah, it's it's foolish to think you can win if
he goes one hundred and fifty yards or something like that.
Speaker 4 (14:11):
My hunches and I have no clue, but I bet
you're going to see Porter on Brown Jackson on DeVante Smith.
Speaker 3 (14:17):
Brown killed him last time they killed but there's no porter.
Speaker 4 (14:21):
But I think that they're going to really try to
keep Hurts in the pocket and sort of a Lamar
Jaden Daniels Boa constrictor of the pocket and he holds
the ball a long time and make him win from there,
and maybe put some extra bodies into a line of scrimmage.
And if aj Brown beats you at the top for
an eighty yard er, such his life to.
Speaker 2 (14:41):
Your point of them hiding Hurts a little bit. He
hasn't attempted thirty passes in a game since week four.
From weeks one to four, he averaged thirty three pass attempts.
Speaker 3 (14:48):
For per game.
Speaker 2 (14:49):
He's only averaging twenty one point four since then. You
may have wonder, why are they doing that well. He
threw four interceptions in the Eagles first two games of
the season. He has thrown just one. They're playing that
Steelers f ball where it's like, if we don't turn
them all over, our defense are running game.
Speaker 3 (15:03):
We're not losing.
Speaker 1 (15:04):
And this Barkley guy we picked up yea even better
than we thought.
Speaker 4 (15:06):
And you know, so I was on the drive with
Dale just now and I compared it kinda to the Browns.
Speaker 1 (15:12):
And Steelers, where a week ago we talked.
Speaker 4 (15:15):
About Browns when they went to Winston, Steelers when they
went to Wilson. Well, it's almost like the first month
is this version of Hurts. So it's a hurt centric offense.
And then they said.
Speaker 1 (15:27):
We're gonna do a different version of our quarterback from
here on out. And they really.
Speaker 4 (15:31):
Haven't lost since the hiding is a strong word, but
they're protecting in massaging.
Speaker 2 (15:39):
His sacrate is nine point nine percent. It's the worst
of his career. Only Deshaun Watson, will Levis and Caleb
Williams get sacked at a higher rate than Jalen Hurts.
So to your point, maybe if you keep him in
the pocket high time to get on the ground.
Speaker 1 (15:51):
Yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 4 (15:52):
And he's a good runner, of course, but he gets uncomfortable,
he starts patting the ball, he plays slow.
Speaker 3 (15:57):
All right, Now, say Quon Barkley, this is all.
Speaker 1 (15:59):
Terrible for everybody.
Speaker 2 (16:02):
Last week he had one hundred and twenty four rushing yards.
He averaged six point two yards on the ground. Eagles
had two hundred and nine total on the season. Barkley
has one six hundred and twenty three yards already that
has passed Leshaw McCoy.
Speaker 3 (16:12):
He hailed a pit for most rushing yards.
Speaker 2 (16:14):
In a season in Eagles history, and we got four
games left to go. Barkley is on pace for a
single season rushing record of twenty one and twenty two yards,
passing Eric Dickerson. He has a four game streak willing
with one hundred plus rushing yards and has a league
leading nine such games this season. And Barkley has received
twenty plus carries in six of his last nine games.
Speaker 3 (16:34):
Matt, do you think he breaks Dickerson's record?
Speaker 2 (16:37):
And of course there's a little bit of an asterisk
there because extra Yeah.
Speaker 1 (16:42):
I don't know.
Speaker 4 (16:44):
I bet it comes down to week seventeen ends. They
probably have nothing to play for in week eighteen. He
needs one hundred yards. Saquon how bad you want the record?
Should we put Lane Johnson in Malata and those guys
out there and get it and then get you out?
Speaker 1 (16:57):
Or you want to we're sweatpants at day, you know
what I mean?
Speaker 2 (17:02):
Because he's on pace, But it's it's like you gotta
go for like one hundred yards every game.
Speaker 1 (17:05):
He's gonna need.
Speaker 4 (17:06):
It's like a two hundred game or something some monster
game in between here and it hopefully it's not Sunday.
Speaker 3 (17:10):
Hopefully it is not Sunday. Let's take a look at
our key matchups for that game.
Speaker 1 (17:14):
There's a thousand I could have picked from initial It
starts with.
Speaker 3 (17:16):
That guy right there.
Speaker 2 (17:17):
It's siquon Barkley, and you made the matchup with Patrick Queen.
But that's all hands on deck, right it's Cam Hay
where that's Watt and high Smith and runs the port.
Speaker 3 (17:26):
Everybody's got to help out against Barkley.
Speaker 4 (17:27):
Absolutely, But I mean that could have picked Watt first, Johnson.
I could have picked high Smith versus Melatta, Porter versus Brown.
I mean, like, it's not hard to find key matchups
in this game.
Speaker 2 (17:38):
What steps up a lot when it's big time, you know,
name brand guys across from him.
Speaker 4 (17:43):
So I think this is the best set of tackles
in the league, Jane Johnson. Yes, I think they're both
top two or three at their respective position. It's a
weird way of looking at it, but he might get
singled more than ever because it's Lane Johnson.
Speaker 1 (17:57):
He's all you know what I mean.
Speaker 2 (17:59):
And then you have Mason McCormick for the Steelers on
the interior of the offensive line against Jalen Carter.
Speaker 3 (18:04):
Similarly though to Saquon Barkley.
Speaker 2 (18:06):
Yeah, McCormick's probably going to get the brunt of it,
but I mean that's double team's all hands on deck
to stop that.
Speaker 3 (18:12):
But Zach Frazer is going to have to help out.
Speaker 4 (18:14):
Yeah, more often than not, Carter will line up on
McCormick's outside shoulder as a three.
Speaker 1 (18:19):
Technique on that side of the line, but not exclusively.
Speaker 2 (18:22):
Anything you can say to the rookie other than good luck,
I mean, just try to survive. Similar you're better than
McCollum was McCormick, but right similarly to him against Dexter
Long's no one beats him.
Speaker 1 (18:34):
So he's getting better and better.
Speaker 4 (18:36):
He's playing more and more snaps as you know, as
the season goes on.
Speaker 1 (18:39):
He's a remarkable football player.
Speaker 2 (18:41):
Well, the Steelers go to Philadelphia to try to end
that losing streak. They haven't won there since nineteen sixty five.
Hopefully Russell Wilson can provide some of his magic against
Philadelphia and get the Steelers a win in the city
of brotherly love.
Speaker 3 (18:54):
For Matt Williamson on Tom Offraman.
Speaker 2 (18:55):
Matt will be on the air around noon on Steelers
Audio Network on Sunday, getting you set four Steelers and Eagles.
Our coverage begins with Labs du Lac and Persuda at.
Speaker 3 (19:05):
Two twenty five and kickoff is at four twenty five.
Speaker 2 (19:08):
For Matt Williamson on Tom Oferman, thanks for giving us
a listen on the Advanced Scout
We got some work to do.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
This is the Advanced Scout with Tom Upperman and Matt Williamson.
Steelers beat the Browns at home this week. They are
ten and three. They go to Philadelphia to face off
against the eleven and two Eagles.
Speaker 3 (00:16):
This is a heavyweight fight, man.
Speaker 1 (00:18):
Yeah, it really is. This is a very good football
team they're playing.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
That's hot, and for the first time in a while,
you can realistically say the Steelers are involved in what
could be a potential Super Bowl preview. You could say, no,
I don't think so either. I don't think it's crazy
at all. No, I could see.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
Either one of these teams making it all the way
to New Orleans.
Speaker 4 (00:35):
This yeah, yeah, I mean, I really do think the
Eagles are one of the best two teams in the league,
whether it's them or the Lions, But I would put
the Steelers in the next tier.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Do you buy a new teams being due for a
loss in the NFL? Like, nine game winning streaks are
absurd in this league.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
Now, the Lions are on on one that's longer right now,
and the Chiefs had one like that earlier this year.
But it's I always feel like the Bill's coming due
at some point in this league. Yeah, and when you
go up against the team like the Steelers, it's a
great time for that bill to come due.
Speaker 4 (01:03):
Yeah, I would phrase it differently. I would just say
it's hard to win ten games in a row. Okay,
you know what I mean, like because so many of
these games come down to the last possession or one
score game, and or weather or a goofy penalty or
a weird bounce that just goes your way the wrong way,
and we were the better team, but you know, or
(01:24):
Buffalo Rams. You know, like the Bills are probably better
than the Rams, but you ran into a super hot
quarterback and you know, you got a punt blocked and
otherwise you were won, you know whatever.
Speaker 2 (01:34):
The Eagles are seven and one in one score games, yep.
And what you were just saying, Stars are six and
three this year in one score games. If you're a
good team in the NFL, you're winning one score games
more than you're losing them. I love this Russell Wilson's
stat that made its way into the matchup overview. It
kind of puts into context where he's at historically. Oh yeah,
compares him to an all time great. He is six
(01:54):
and one with the Steelers. Now as a starting quarterback,
he now has seventy three career games with multiple touchdown
passes in a game with out an interception. He had
two touchdowns and no picks against the Browns on Sunday.
That ties him with Peyton Manning.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
That freaky compy time.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
All these stats that you pull Matt from the beginning
of the season. Aaron Rodgers is his company, Patrick Mahonmes
is his company. Pate Mannings is his company. Dude's one
of the all time greats.
Speaker 4 (02:16):
Yep, he's only behind Brady who's played forever. And you
know guys like that, I mean, just crazy all time
great type players.
Speaker 3 (02:23):
Let's get into some serious history between these two teams.
Speaker 2 (02:25):
Dating back to nineteen thirty three, these cross state rivals
have met eighty one times. There are three ties in
this series, and Philadelphia has won forty nine of the
remaining seventy eight matchups. There is a postseason meeting between
Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. It was an Eagles divisional playoff win
before nineteen forty, before Pittsburgh even became the Steelers. Philadelphia
won six of those thirteen meetings over the Pittsburgh Pirates.
(02:47):
The most recent six meetings have gone back and forth
without winning streaks, but the Eagles did win the most
recent meeting in twenty twenty two. Between nineteen sixty four
and two thousand, the Eagles won thirteen and seventeen, and
between a stretch starting in nineteen forty seven and finishing
in nineteen fifty four, the Eagles were thirteen to two.
But as everybody knows by now, during World War Two,
these two franchises combined forces. In nineteen forty three, the
(03:07):
Steegles were five to four and one. That was that
phil That was that Philadelphia's first winning season as a
professional football team, when the Steelers helped them out there.
The Eagles do have a ten game winning streak at
home against Pittsburgh, however, and Mike tomins two and three
against the Eagles a ten game winning streak ate dates
back to nineteen sixty five. Like literally, no legendary Steeler
has ever gone and beaten Philadelphia in Philadelphia.
Speaker 4 (03:31):
No one that covers the team has seen it, or
I mean hardly anyone walking around still has seen it,
you know.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
But I got a stat to counter that statue. Bring
for this, Yep, Russell Wilson is six and oh, including
a playoff win against the Philadelphia Eagles in his career.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
Really interesting four and at that think some time to change.
Speaker 3 (03:53):
Dude's never lost to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
Something's got to give on Sunday, either Rusk gets his
first loss or the Dealers in that drought that dates
back to nineteen sixty five.
Speaker 1 (04:03):
It's funny.
Speaker 4 (04:03):
I mean, you talk to these dudes, have covered the
team forever, as soon as they came out to the Steelers
are going to Philly.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
Wow, that's a lot. It's impossible to win there. I
don't know it's impossible to win there.
Speaker 3 (04:13):
I don't think it's impossible either.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
Spoiler alert though, I don't think I'm picking the Steelers
to win this game.
Speaker 1 (04:17):
If not with the.
Speaker 4 (04:19):
Things a little bit, which isn't the end of the world,
you know, I mean an NFC loss, You're still in
good shape.
Speaker 3 (04:24):
Matt.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
All they have to do is beat the Ravens, right,
It's literally all they have to do to get that
home game. When people realize that you want to get
the two seed, three seed, whatever. But haven't had a
home playoff game in quite a while. The last time
you did, no one was allowed to go to the
stadium points.
Speaker 1 (04:37):
So get a home game, beat the Ravens.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
Yeah, uh, Philadelphia, We're going to get to their defense first.
But one thing about this game, these teams don't really
like to pass the ball that much.
Speaker 1 (04:48):
No, both are bottom league and pass parent.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
Steelers changing a little bit though, I think you're seeing
an increase in that they're leaning more towards Russell Wilson now.
But the Eagles forty three point five percent clip of
passing the football is the only team that's.
Speaker 3 (05:00):
Lower than the Steelers forty eight point four.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
I'm gonna give you those numbers again, forty three point
five percent of the time they started all and the
Steelers are second lowest at forty eight. There's a big
discrepancy between just those two teams.
Speaker 4 (05:12):
Being below fifty percent is kind of crazy in today's NFL.
And they're five points different percentage points different than the Steelers.
And then you probably noticed in there they have a
six game street going where they have more rushing yards
the passing yards.
Speaker 1 (05:25):
I mean, it's bonkers.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
In their past three games, Philadelphia's pass rate is at
thirty eight point seven percent and they're at a forty
two point three percent at home, while the Steelers are
throwing at a fifty or excuse me, a forty six
point nine percent clip on the road. Pittsburgh and Philadelphia
each have fours passing touchdowns. Only four teams have fewer.
But the difference there is Russell Wilson's got twelve of
(05:47):
them and he's played seven games.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
Yeah, Jalen Hurts has played every game for the Eagles
and they still only have fourteen passing touchdowns.
Speaker 4 (05:53):
They run the ball in the end zone though, and
they're not short on touchdowns. They're just short on passing touchdowns.
And Hurts has some issues.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
We'll get to Hurts and Barkley. Yeah, yeah, yeah, you
brought this up on Mark Show. The most amazing thing
is Barkley has been stopped at the one yard line
eleven times.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
Has even high number. And then yeah, I mean imagine
like what his fantasy life.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
Oh my god, it starts.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
Not only he'd be pushing Eric Dickerson's record, which he's
on pace to b He'll be pushing it was an
LT who has the touchdown record. I think rushing touchdown
means you're making a run for that one too.
Speaker 3 (06:28):
It's a great year for Barkley.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
Let's get to the Eagles defense or the Eagles offense
second that. I want to start with their defense because
it's a.
Speaker 1 (06:34):
Good group to listen.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
Offense has the headlines A J. Brown, Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley,
Davante Smith. The offensive line has been a juggernaut for
years and years and years now. I think their defense
is the better side of the ball, and I think
it's been playing.
Speaker 4 (06:48):
Yeah, like they're a hard team to find weaknesses, but
I think their passing game is their weakness and that's
not on the defense side of the ball. Defense is
really really good.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
So the defense leads the league at allowing just four
point seven yards per play. They also allow just two
hundred and eighty four point two yards per game, that's
the best in the NFL.
Speaker 3 (07:08):
They allow a set of down to.
Speaker 2 (07:10):
Be turned into a new set of downs or a
touchdown at a sixty eight percent rate. Only the Texans
and the Browns defenses are better than that, and they
only allow one hundred and seventy eight point five passing
yards per game. Only the Titans allow fewer, and the
Eagles five yards per play allowed is best in the
league by half a yard over the second best defense, and.
Speaker 4 (07:29):
It's been getting better and better throughout the course of
the year. Like these young defensive backs and the new
linebackers and are all hitting their stride.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
Now, let's talk about those young defensive backs. Mitchell and
Dejene have been two home run picks this year at draft.
Dejane a great nickel corner, and do you.
Speaker 3 (07:46):
Think Mitchell's already their best corner are.
Speaker 4 (07:48):
Probably slay Yeah, I think he's probably passed them, you know,
slaves starting to little pretty good. Yeah, and that's Feasier two.
You're in really good shape. I'm not sure Mitchell's quite
at a one level. They're close, sort of similar to
like Porter last year in his rookie year, you know,
I mean he's really doing good stuff.
Speaker 3 (08:06):
And then you got depth at those positions too.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
I mean, like I recognize these names, like Keey Ringo
is a guy that I know, like a fourth round
pick a couple of years ago.
Speaker 3 (08:14):
Avante Maddox is a guy.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
I definitely know, a true guys, but he's been in
Philadelphia forever. That's a vet that now it's all of
a sudden been pushed down their depth chart. The secondary
is really strong.
Speaker 1 (08:23):
The gene could go outside if needed, and you know,
he's a really good piece.
Speaker 3 (08:27):
I love their linebackers. I think they they bond. They've
dipped into the Georgia pool. No, well, they love Georgia guys.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
And that leads me to the two upfront, the big boys,
Carter and Davis. I mean, I thought that Davis was
to steal the drafts in twenty twenty two. Then I
thought Carter was to steal the drafts in twenty twenty three.
And they're both playing at a high level, aren't they.
Speaker 3 (08:49):
Carter more so than Carter.
Speaker 1 (08:52):
Carter's gonna win defensive players a year in his career.
Speaker 3 (08:55):
I mean, I plural, you think at least one at least.
Speaker 1 (08:58):
I think he's going to be kind of talent.
Speaker 4 (09:00):
Yes, I think he's a top five defensive tackle behind
Cam at the moment, but I mean a year from now,
he might be the best defensive tackle in the league.
I mean he's a special, special talent that went to
a perfect environment to harness it.
Speaker 1 (09:13):
Too.
Speaker 4 (09:14):
He's great. He's gonna cause problems and that's mostly against McCormick.
Speaker 2 (09:18):
Yeah, and you know other guy they faced that Guys
like Dexter Lawrence where it was really just him that
That's the thing. Like Jordan Davis is such a good
running lee for him too, he's gonna cause just as
many problems, not just as many problems, but problems in
his own right. One thing that the Steers have been
doing well, especially in that Bengals game a couple of
weeks ago, is getting yards after the catch.
Speaker 3 (09:35):
Well, the Eagles don't do that.
Speaker 1 (09:36):
They do they tackle.
Speaker 3 (09:37):
Great, only one and thirteen yards given up after the catch.
Speaker 2 (09:41):
Only the Commanders and the Jets have given up fewer
than the Eagles, so they're very disciplined. You're not gonna
get a lot of catch and run opportunities against these guys,
and with George Pickens probably out too, that was gonna
be limited anyway.
Speaker 4 (09:53):
It doesn't help, but their linebackers and secondary can all
run and they all tackle well.
Speaker 2 (09:57):
One thing I'm surprised though, Matt, because this is a
team that gets a lot of sacks over the past
couple of years. They don't seem to be creating that
much pressure this year.
Speaker 1 (10:04):
Not as much you'd think.
Speaker 4 (10:05):
No. I mean, the Brandon Grahams are still good players,
but getting old. They've always had hockey lines of defensive line,
and it's not as deep as it's been. Carter's better
than ever, but you know, Fletcher Cox has gone Brandon Green.
Some of their stalwarts have moved on. You know, Hard
Graves not around anymore.
Speaker 3 (10:20):
You know, the only recorded one sack against Carolina.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
They only blitzed on eighteen point eight percent of dropbacks.
Only three defense defenses blitz at a lower rate, and
their defense is twenty sixth in pressure rate created. Pittsburgh's
offensive line, for that matter, is twenty sixth in pressure
rate allowed.
Speaker 3 (10:38):
You mentioned Zach Bond.
Speaker 2 (10:40):
Three of the eagles six tackles for a loss last
week was because of him, and then Jalen Carter had
the other two. Is this going to be Carter's and
Bond's defense kind of moving forward? Those two guys is
like the face of.
Speaker 4 (10:49):
It, and the two guys you mentioned the second area. Yeah, Yeah,
Bond is a revelation. I mean, he was very similar
to her Big at Wisconsin and the Saints used them
coming off the edge, and the Eagles signed him and
said you're a linebacker. I mean they'll blitz him and stuff,
but he is an off the ball linebacker. He's gonna
go to the Pro Bowl. I mean he might be
an All Pro. He was a phenomenal fine for them.
Speaker 2 (11:11):
The Eagles on defense are allowing a third down conversion
rate of thirty four point four percent that is fourth
best in the league. And the Eagles defense allows a
red zone conversion rate of just forty eight point seven
percent to the Steelers offensive success rate in the red
zone of forty five point six percent.
Speaker 3 (11:25):
But this is weird to me, Matt at home.
Speaker 2 (11:28):
The Eagles red zone conversion rate allowed jumps to sixty
three point six percent. They give them zone touchdowns right.
The link is one of the toughest places to play.
You'd think it would be pandemonium when you got down
into that red area teams, but it's it's working. The
opposite teams are more successful if you're in Philadelphia against
them down in the twenty yard line and to the
goal line.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
Yeah, I thought that was noteworthy.
Speaker 4 (11:49):
Maybe there's just very few red zone trips and it's
a small sample size, but the fact that it's that
much different I thought was odd.
Speaker 2 (11:57):
Looking now to the Eagles offensive side of the ball,
this is an astounding stat for an offense that is
I still think considered pretty high power despite the passing
game woes lately and aj Brown being upset postgame. Uh,
they're scoring one point three offensive points in the first
quarter of games this season.
Speaker 1 (12:13):
This is remarkable.
Speaker 2 (12:14):
That ranks seven hundred and ninety second of seven hundred
and ninety six offenses since the two thousand season.
Speaker 1 (12:20):
Isn't that insane?
Speaker 3 (12:21):
But they're still a good offense.
Speaker 2 (12:23):
But they're still a good off So they explode after
the first quarter.
Speaker 4 (12:26):
Yeah, I sent you that, and I actually, like five
minutes ago I went and looked at it. Because they
averaged nine point four in the second, that's fourth most,
six point seven in the third, that's seventh most, eight
point nine in the fourth, which is second.
Speaker 1 (12:44):
So they go crazy after the first quarter.
Speaker 4 (12:47):
But the Steelers are fifth best in defending an allowing
second quarter, and they're best in the league in the
third quarter. Yeah, I mean, they only allow one point
two points per game in the third quarter.
Speaker 1 (12:58):
Steelers.
Speaker 3 (12:59):
Steelers starts little on offense too.
Speaker 2 (13:00):
So if there's like a prop first quarter under or
if you the first quarter end at like three nothing
or something like that, that's that's quite a BOSLEA the
amazing thing you laid it out with the points per
game in the second, third, and fourth quarter. But you
also in this original stat boss you sent me put
it into perspective. Despite only scoring one point three offensive
(13:21):
points in first quarters this year, there's only five offenses
that have more touchdowns total than the Philadelphia Eagles.
Speaker 3 (13:26):
Right.
Speaker 2 (13:29):
Yeah, I don't know why either. You mentioned this stat earlier.
The offense has gone six straight games with more rushing
than receiving yardage. I think I think Hurts is a
good quarterback. I don't think he's a great quarterback by
any stretch.
Speaker 1 (13:40):
No, they're hiding him a little bit.
Speaker 2 (13:43):
Yes, And that brings me to and that stat kind
of leads me to this. Is it really as simple
as if you can stop twenty six and you'd be
the first team, Right, you're gonna win the football game,
or have a really good chance to win the football game.
Speaker 4 (14:00):
I would phrase it as you have to stop him
to have a chance to win, a chance.
Speaker 3 (14:06):
Carriod at all.
Speaker 2 (14:07):
Yeah, it's it's foolish to think you can win if
he goes one hundred and fifty yards or something like that.
Speaker 4 (14:11):
My hunches and I have no clue, but I bet
you're going to see Porter on Brown Jackson on DeVante Smith.
Speaker 3 (14:17):
Brown killed him last time they killed but there's no porter.
Speaker 4 (14:21):
But I think that they're going to really try to
keep Hurts in the pocket and sort of a Lamar
Jaden Daniels Boa constrictor of the pocket and he holds
the ball a long time and make him win from there,
and maybe put some extra bodies into a line of scrimmage.
And if aj Brown beats you at the top for
an eighty yard er, such his life to.
Speaker 2 (14:41):
Your point of them hiding Hurts a little bit. He
hasn't attempted thirty passes in a game since week four.
From weeks one to four, he averaged thirty three pass attempts.
Speaker 3 (14:48):
For per game.
Speaker 2 (14:49):
He's only averaging twenty one point four since then. You
may have wonder, why are they doing that well. He
threw four interceptions in the Eagles first two games of
the season. He has thrown just one. They're playing that
Steelers f ball where it's like, if we don't turn
them all over, our defense are running game.
Speaker 3 (15:03):
We're not losing.
Speaker 1 (15:04):
And this Barkley guy we picked up yea even better
than we thought.
Speaker 4 (15:06):
And you know, so I was on the drive with
Dale just now and I compared it kinda to the Browns.
Speaker 1 (15:12):
And Steelers, where a week ago we talked.
Speaker 4 (15:15):
About Browns when they went to Winston, Steelers when they
went to Wilson. Well, it's almost like the first month
is this version of Hurts. So it's a hurt centric offense.
And then they said.
Speaker 1 (15:27):
We're gonna do a different version of our quarterback from
here on out. And they really.
Speaker 4 (15:31):
Haven't lost since the hiding is a strong word, but
they're protecting in massaging.
Speaker 2 (15:39):
His sacrate is nine point nine percent. It's the worst
of his career. Only Deshaun Watson, will Levis and Caleb
Williams get sacked at a higher rate than Jalen Hurts.
So to your point, maybe if you keep him in
the pocket high time to get on the ground.
Speaker 1 (15:51):
Yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 4 (15:52):
And he's a good runner, of course, but he gets uncomfortable,
he starts patting the ball, he plays slow.
Speaker 3 (15:57):
All right, Now, say Quon Barkley, this is all.
Speaker 1 (15:59):
Terrible for everybody.
Speaker 2 (16:02):
Last week he had one hundred and twenty four rushing yards.
He averaged six point two yards on the ground. Eagles
had two hundred and nine total on the season. Barkley
has one six hundred and twenty three yards already that
has passed Leshaw McCoy.
Speaker 3 (16:12):
He hailed a pit for most rushing yards.
Speaker 2 (16:14):
In a season in Eagles history, and we got four
games left to go. Barkley is on pace for a
single season rushing record of twenty one and twenty two yards,
passing Eric Dickerson. He has a four game streak willing
with one hundred plus rushing yards and has a league
leading nine such games this season. And Barkley has received
twenty plus carries in six of his last nine games.
Speaker 3 (16:34):
Matt, do you think he breaks Dickerson's record?
Speaker 2 (16:37):
And of course there's a little bit of an asterisk
there because extra Yeah.
Speaker 1 (16:42):
I don't know.
Speaker 4 (16:44):
I bet it comes down to week seventeen ends. They
probably have nothing to play for in week eighteen. He
needs one hundred yards. Saquon how bad you want the record?
Should we put Lane Johnson in Malata and those guys
out there and get it and then get you out?
Speaker 1 (16:57):
Or you want to we're sweatpants at day, you know
what I mean?
Speaker 2 (17:02):
Because he's on pace, But it's it's like you gotta
go for like one hundred yards every game.
Speaker 1 (17:05):
He's gonna need.
Speaker 4 (17:06):
It's like a two hundred game or something some monster
game in between here and it hopefully it's not Sunday.
Speaker 3 (17:10):
Hopefully it is not Sunday. Let's take a look at
our key matchups for that game.
Speaker 1 (17:14):
There's a thousand I could have picked from initial It
starts with.
Speaker 3 (17:16):
That guy right there.
Speaker 2 (17:17):
It's siquon Barkley, and you made the matchup with Patrick Queen.
But that's all hands on deck, right it's Cam Hay
where that's Watt and high Smith and runs the port.
Speaker 3 (17:26):
Everybody's got to help out against Barkley.
Speaker 4 (17:27):
Absolutely, But I mean that could have picked Watt first, Johnson.
I could have picked high Smith versus Melatta, Porter versus Brown.
I mean, like, it's not hard to find key matchups
in this game.
Speaker 2 (17:38):
What steps up a lot when it's big time, you know,
name brand guys across from him.
Speaker 4 (17:43):
So I think this is the best set of tackles
in the league, Jane Johnson. Yes, I think they're both
top two or three at their respective position. It's a
weird way of looking at it, but he might get
singled more than ever because it's Lane Johnson.
Speaker 1 (17:57):
He's all you know what I mean.
Speaker 2 (17:59):
And then you have Mason McCormick for the Steelers on
the interior of the offensive line against Jalen Carter.
Speaker 3 (18:04):
Similarly though to Saquon Barkley.
Speaker 2 (18:06):
Yeah, McCormick's probably going to get the brunt of it,
but I mean that's double team's all hands on deck
to stop that.
Speaker 3 (18:12):
But Zach Frazer is going to have to help out.
Speaker 4 (18:14):
Yeah, more often than not, Carter will line up on
McCormick's outside shoulder as a three.
Speaker 1 (18:19):
Technique on that side of the line, but not exclusively.
Speaker 2 (18:22):
Anything you can say to the rookie other than good luck,
I mean, just try to survive. Similar you're better than
McCollum was McCormick, but right similarly to him against Dexter
Long's no one beats him.
Speaker 1 (18:34):
So he's getting better and better.
Speaker 4 (18:36):
He's playing more and more snaps as you know, as
the season goes on.
Speaker 1 (18:39):
He's a remarkable football player.
Speaker 2 (18:41):
Well, the Steelers go to Philadelphia to try to end
that losing streak. They haven't won there since nineteen sixty five.
Hopefully Russell Wilson can provide some of his magic against
Philadelphia and get the Steelers a win in the city
of brotherly love.
Speaker 3 (18:54):
For Matt Williamson on Tom Offraman.
Speaker 2 (18:55):
Matt will be on the air around noon on Steelers
Audio Network on Sunday, getting you set four Steelers and Eagles.
Our coverage begins with Labs du Lac and Persuda at.
Speaker 3 (19:05):
Two twenty five and kickoff is at four twenty five.
Speaker 2 (19:08):
For Matt Williamson on Tom Oferman, thanks for giving us
a listen on the Advanced Scout
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