EAGLES 34 – Steelers 3
PHILADELPHIA dominated Pittsburgh in a fashion that will be impossible to ignore around the NFL. By the end of the third quarter it was clear that the fight had gone completely out of the Steelers, and they were just waiting for the bus ride home.
QB Carson Wentz (23/31 – 74.1% – 301 – 2 – 0) came out and effectively managed the game again. RB Darren Sproles (2 – (-1) – (-0.5) – 0 – 0 / 6 – 128 – 21.3 – 1) led all Eagles in receptions and receiving yards today. Rookie RB Wendell Smallwood (17 – 79 – 4.6 – 1 – 0) got made the most of his 14 second half carries as he paced both teams in rushing.
While the news stories will undoubtedly focus on Wentz, the real story here is our Defense. It was one thing to hold Cleveland and Chicago’s heads underwater, but Pittsburgh entered this game with the NFL’s second leading rusher. Today they were held to 29 yards on 10 carries. As a team. Ben Roethlisberger (24/44 – 54.5% – 257 – 0 – 1) was sacked 4 times, losing a fumble on one of those.
Defensive Coordinator Jim Schwartz once again called a masterful game, and got production from all levels. His Defensive Line however, was the heart and soul of this attack. DT Fletcher Cox (3 – 2 – 0 – 1) was a terror up front allowing DE Brandon Graham (1 – 1 – 0 – 0) to collect a sack in his third consecutive game, as well as a fumble recovery. DT Bennie Logan (1 – 1 – 0 – 0) also looked great out there, contributing not just on Defense, but also blocking Pittsburgh’s first field goal attempt on Special Teams.
Did you notice?
WR Josh Huff (4 – 20 – 5.0 – 0) had 4 catches today after only one in the first two games. Both he and Sproles worked the flat area in the first half, which opened up the run up the gut in the second half. I specifically mentioned this should be the Eagles strategy in my Four Things article. This isn’t the first time the Eagles suddenly shifted what they routinely do, to something I’d specifically suggested in one of my articles.
I think they’re finally listening to you. It’s a new trend.