DeAngelo Williams has rushed for 237 yards and a pair of touchdowns to lead the offense while Ben Roethlisberger has thrown for 559 yards and six scores in the two games. Roethlisberger, meanwhile, is orchestrating all of it.
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On defense, the Steelers rank second in the National Football League against the run, allowing just 50.5 rushing yards per game, and 31st against the pass. Its opponents have run 52 in each game. Wentz has been able to win games for the Eagles so far leading drives for field goals. Of course, the Eagles have defeated the Browns and the Bears so far. That took a 9-7 lead to 29-7.
As Frank Reich pointed out, the Eagles need to do a better job of running the ball in order to not face so many third-and-long situations.
Containing Brown is usually the key to beating the Steelers. The Eagles aren’t running the ball efficiently (3.5 yards per carry). Vick threw for 195 yards with 2 TDs and no interceptions.
So far in 2016, the Steelers have picked up where they left off, scoring an average of 31 points per game to start the season.
1st down: What in the name of Chip Kelly is going on? In fact, the Steelers have finished no worse than 8-8 under Tomlin, a streak that is likely to continue in 2016.
The Eagles have owned the line of scrimmage in their first two games, thanks largely to Graham, Barwin and backup Vinny Curry, who has delivered big plays.
Philly comes into the game riding a wave of excitement behind their rookie phenom, quarterback Carson Wentz. Wentz is the first rookie, going back to at least 1970, to win his first two National Football League starts while not turning the ball over. Whoever plays the best gets the most chances to catch balls from Ben Roethlisberger. The Steelers aren’t exactly the Steel Curtain of yesteryear, but Pittsburgh’s defense is on the rise and presents quarterbacks with wrinkles few rookies have been able to handle for four quarters without a few mistakes. It’s not as if the Steelers have a tremendous pass-rush either, with James Harrison reduce to a situational player at age 38, so Wentz will have opportunities.
Q: When you look at it, you picked off Ben Roethlisberger last week and the two before that were against Peyton Manning, so you’re last three have been against future Hall of Famers. The Eagles have won eight game home games in that span, with the most recent a 14-6 win in 2008. The Steelers have allowed two sacks this season. The Eagles will likely use their cornerbacks the same way they did last week, with Mills playing the outside and Brooks playing nickel against three-receiver sets. With Leodis McKelvin out Sunday, expect this year’s seventh round pick, Jalen Mills, to line up across Brown.
Cox is the pick on defense because the Steelers have a very good offense that’s going to be hard for the Eagles to stop. He only has four catches through the first two games, but he’s averaging 38.2 yards per reception. Kelce has always seemed to struggle with bigger defensive linemen, so dealing with Danny Shelton (6-2, 335) and Eddie Goldman (6-4, 320) wasn’t easy for him. That causes a strain on the defensive backs, who have to stick with their man longer.
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In more pressing news, The New York Post this week profiled Wentz’s long-term girlfriend, Melissa Uhrich, whom he has been dating since his high school days in North Dakota.
Linebacker Mychal Kendricks (broken nose, strained quadriceps) was listed as questionable on Friday’s injury report but indicated earlier in the week that he expects to play. Our pass rush has to keep coming.
Steelers: Out: C Cody Wallace (knee), CB Senquez Golson (foot). Pittsburgh will be squaring off against an Eagles’ offense led by talented rookie quarterback Carson Wentz. The wide receivers must eliminate drops, but they could find favorable matchups.
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Like the Steelers, the Philadelphia Eagles would rather not blitz unless necessary, instead relying on one of the NFL’s fiercest defensive fronts to pressure the quarterback.
