Men Of Steel!
Hurts, Brown Look Super Again Vs. Pittsburgh
PHILADELPHIA – While various shades of green largely dominated the parking lots, there was plenty of yellow and gold – and trademark Terrible Towels – spotted along my stroll around the Wells Fargo Center parking lot Sunday afternoon, confirming that fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers are ever devoted in their support of the team.
It was also a mixed bag inside nearby sports bar Xfinity Live, as fans filed in to soak of the pregame festivities ahead of the cross-state rivalry.
The Eagles, however, delivered the knockout punch, adding 10 points to their halftime lead and shutting the Steelers out after the break in their 27-13 win in Week 15, the team’s 10th straight win.
The passing game came alive, with QB Jalen Hurts completing 24 of 31 for 271 yards and two touchdowns. Wide receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith combined for 21 targets.
Brown, who yielded 10 targets, reeled in 7 for 91 yards and a touchdown. Smith, who garnered 12 targets, brought in 11 for 109 yards and a touchdown.
Barkley on 18 carries managed 65 rushing yards against a tough Steelers front. Hurts, for his part, added 43 yards on 10 attempts.

GETTY IMAGES: Eagles QB Jalen Hurts hit WR A.J. Brown for the first touchdown in a commanding win vs. the Steelers.
Let’s get on with the observations.
*Eagles inactives: WR Britain Covey (neck), QB Tanner McKee (3rd QB), CB Eli Ricks, OL Nick Gates, OL Darian Kinnard, and OL Trevor Keegan.
* Talked to Eagles S Sydney Brown last week and he mentioned how much he was looking forward to returning to action after missing the Panthers game. On the opening kickoff, Brown – a key special teamer – blew up Steelers RB Jaylen Warren and was shaken up on the play. He was ruled out with a concussion. Brown’s hair-on-fire play style works against him at times and subjects him to injuries.
* Jalen Hurts on the Eagles’ first drive completed for 4-of-4 pass attempts for 53 yards. The second pass of the game was a 7-yard slant to A.J. Brown. The big pass play was the 22-yard completion down the seam to TE Grant Calcaterra, who by the way has been underutilized in the absence of Dallas Goedert. The third-year pro has a knack for finding the soft spots in zone.
* For just the third time since the bye week, Jalen Hurts turned over the football, fumbling away possession on a 2-yard run. Steelers EDGE T.J. Watt forced the fumble and DB Beanie Bishop recovered. Four plays later, Eagles NB Cooper DeJean fumbled away a punt on a 10-yard return. LB Mark Robinson forced the fumble and Nick Herbig recovered at the Eagles’ 11. Steelers can only come up with a field goal to tie.
* A dust-up ensued on the heels of a 7-yard screen pass to RB Najee Harris. Steelers TE Darnell Washington continued his downfield block against Darius Slay into the back of the end zone, to which Slay took exception. Steelers WR Calvin Austin was in the mix, and Eagles DT Jalen Carter and CB Quinyon Mitchell – among others – came to Slay’s aid.
* Eagles defense provided plaster coverage on the back end, but credit the Eagles’ pass rush for bearing down on Steelers QB Russell Wilson, inhibiting his ability to scan and process, hastening his reads. EDGE Josh Sweat, who picked up a first quarter sack, his eighth of the season, and Nolan Smith both led the charge.
* Hurts orchestrated a 6-play, 70-yard march in the first quarter, culminating in a 5-yard touchdown strike to – you guessed it – WR A.J. Brown. Hurts and Brown were in sync throughout the first half of play. While the passing game has largely been static for much of the season, it was there when the Eagles needed it to click. The conversation early last week probably spawned the predictable overcorrection.
* Steelers clearly came out intent on stopping RB Saquon Barkley, perhaps at the expense of defending the pass, as Eagles WRs A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith combined for 10 first-half targets.
* The kicking concerns should (temporarily) be put to rest. K Jake Elliott nailed a 48-yard field goal that was wiped away due to an unnecessary roughness penalty called on the Steelers, which gave the Eagles first down. The drive stalled, though it afforded Elliott another field goal opportunity. He connected on a 41-yarder. He also drilled a 51-yarder on the first Eagles drive.
* RB Kenny Gainwell is just a solid football player. Doesn’t offer explosion or home-run ability, but he runs tough, burrows ahead for yardage, holds his own in pass protection and is the Eagles’ most natural receiving back. Plays with maximum effort. His gritty 14-yard run in the waning seconds of the third quarter set up the Eagles’ third touchdown, a 1-yard Jalen Hurts plunge.
* When the Eagles went to dime, they didn’t go with veteran CB Avonte Maddox as the fourth corner, but instead went to CB Isaiah Rodgers. Some lineup tinkering from DC Vic Fangio.
* Could just be my perception, but I noticed more TE E.J. Jenkins, which is likely due to his frame – 6-foot-6, 260 pounds – and blocking prowess.
* Aside from two penalties, replacement LG Tyler Steen was solid in protection. Steen, again showcasing his versatility, filled in for Landon Dickerson, who exited with a knee injury. While Dickerson is irreplaceable, having a backup like Steen – a 2023 third-round pick – is invaluable.
– Andrew DiCecco (@AndrewDiCecco) is a Staff Reporter/Content Producer for InsideTheBirds.com.
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