Lolley's Kickoff: Steelers vs. Eagles

All bye weeks are not the same. At least that's what the Steelers have now found out this season.

They got a surprise bye weekend in Week 4, missing their scheduled game against the Titans, who had a massive breakout of COVID-19 within their team.

More importantly, a lot happened in that week the Steelers didn't play. Their game against the Titans was rescheduled for Oct. 25, bumping their first of two meetings with the Ravens to the following weekend, which was their original bye week.

That means the Steelers (3-0) will play seven of their final 11 games in 2020 on the road. It also set the team up for an unprecedented four-game home stand that will continue today when they host the Eagles (1-2-1) at Heinz Field.

Oh, and did we mention that, unlike their first two home games this season -- wins over the Broncos and Texans -- this time around the Steelers will have fans at Heinz Field?

Yep, it's been a pretty busy time for the Steelers, despite the team not playing since Sept. 27. Not that they're particularly happy about the circumstances -- other than having the ability to have 5,500 fans at this game, something the state gave the OK to earlier this week.

"I am actually very excited," said Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster. "As far as Steelers Nation, this is something they look forward to. This is unbelievable. I think it's awesome that we are going to have some fans. Although it's not all 68,000, it's something that is going to keep us going to see people in the stands. I can't wait."

Especially not after having had to wait to play their fourth game this season.

The Steelers felt they were building on something in their first three games, as Ben Roethlisberger shook off the rust of not having played an NFL game in nearly a year after his elbow surgery. Now, they hope the league's forced bye because of what appears to have been negligence by the Titans doesn't cause them to take a step backward. 

"It’s tough, especially for someone like myself who was just starting to kind of get back in the flow of things," said Roethlisberger, who has thrown seven touchdown passes and one interception in the first three games. "It’s not easy, but you have to adjust. You have to adapt and do the best you can."

The Eagles know what that's like. They've had to adapt to a number of injuries this season that has left them with a makeshift offensive line and quarterback Carson Wentz working with a decimated receiving corps.

It's added up to Wentz essentially running for his life. He's been sacked 14 times and leads the NFL with seven interceptions. But it's hardly all his fault.

He's working with both hands tied behind his back.

The Eagles will rely on the running of Woodland Hills graduate and Penn State product Miles Sanders along with a wide receiver group that includes John Hightower, a fifth-round draft pick, Greg Ward, J.J. Arcega-Whiteside and Travis Fulgham to attack the Steelers' defense. The only reliable target remaining for Wentz is tight end Zach Ertz, but he's averaging just 7.3 yards per catch this season as opposing defenses focus on limiting his production.

"I feel good about those guys," Wentz said. "They're working hard and making progress. I have all the confidence in the world in them. We're going to line up and play."

Despite those issues, the Eagles are a first-place team just like the Steelers. Despite their sub-.500 record, the Eagles sit atop the NFC East standings

Wentz was saying the right things about that group, much the same way the Steelers largely said the same things about a forced bye week that will leave them as road warriors in the second half of this season.

It's not ideal, but at least they're playing football. And in the first three games, it was winning football.

The Steelers feel like they've been treated unfairly in this whole situation -- particularly Roethlisberger. But there's nothing they can do about it right now -- except keep winning.

"It's all about that fair playing field. Until that is established and figured out, I feel like we are moving through this with blinders on," tight end Vance McDonald said. "We are going to have to do that to some degree throughout this whole journey, but that doesn't mean we just say all right, whatever happens, happens. There has to be some sort of foundation we come back to as a league that establishes fair play. Like Ben mentioned, we got the short end of the stick, I feel the same way.

"We knew what we were supposed to be doing since day zero at training camp when we all reported. Let's just do that, let's have respect and honor for everyone, and just follow the rules. For me that is the only way you are going to have fair play. As soon as any of that is compromised, you are going to have some other team on the other end of it that gets the short stick. I feel like we were that team this past weekend."

They get an opportunity to take their frustrations out on an opponent this week.

THE ESSENTIALS

• Who: Steelers (3-0) vs. Eagles (1-2-1)
• When: 1:02 p.m.
• Where: Heinz Field
• Forecast: 71°, 40% chance rain
• TV: FOX, WPGH (local)
• Radio: 102.5 WDVE, ESPN Pittsburgh
• Streaming: Steelers Nation Radio
• Satellite: SiriusXM 83, Internet 225
• Boxscore: NFL Game Center
• Media notes: Steelers | Eagles

THE INJURY REPORT

Steelers: FB Derek Watt (hamstring, out), LB Marcus Allen (foot, out)

Eagles: WR DeSean Jackson (hamstring, out), WR Alshon Jeffrey (illness/foot, out), CB Avonte Maddox (hamstring, out) 

THE KEY VARIABLE

When it comes to the topic of Philadelphia, Steelers fans just don't have the vitriol for the Eagles that Penguins fans hold for the Flyers.

That's because since the 1970 NFL merger, the Steelers and Eagles meet during the regular season just once every four years. Sure, they play in the preseason on a semi-regular basis, but that doesn't lend itself to creating much heat between the two teams -- or fan bases.

In fact, during the 1943 NFL season, the Steelers and Eagles merged, forming a team many called the Steagles, to help both franchises deal with a lack of players during World War II. The merger only lasted one season and the two teams competed against each other on a twice-a-year basis from 1945 through 1965 and then once a year from 1966 through 1970, but the meetings after that have happened as often as a presidential election.

The Steelers have been the far better franchise since the 1970 merger, winning six Super Bowls, going to eight and posting a 477-299-3 record in that time span that is the best in the NFL. The Eagles have made three trips to the Super Bowl, winning once. 

But when it comes to head-to-head games, the Eagles hold a 47-28-3 record all-time against the Steelers, one of the best records of any franchise against them. The only teams the Steelers have a worse winning percentage against than their .378 mark against the Eagles are the Bears (7-19-1, .278) and the long-defunct St. Louis Gunners (0-1).

The Steelers' 48 losses to the Eagles are their second-most against any franchise, second only to the 59 losses they have to the Browns. The difference, however, is that the Steelers have beaten the Browns 74 times, owning that "rivalry" for the past 20 years.

And even when the Steelers have been a top franchise, they have struggled with the Eagles, even when Philadelphia has been down. In 1979, the Super Bowl-bound Steelers lost to the Eagles, 17-14. In 1997, the Steelers, who would advance to the AFC Championship, lost 23-20 to Philadelphia, who were 6-9-1 that season. In 2008, the eventual Super Bowl-champion Steelers were manhandled by the Eagles, 15-6, with Roethlisberger getting sacked nine times.

The Steelers will be on their guard in this game. They won't take the Eagles lightly, especially not Roethlisberger, who knows the Eagles are once again built around their defensive front.

Last week, the Eagles moved past the idle Steelers to take over the league lead in sacks with 17. They've done it largely on the backs of their defensive line, led by All-Pro Fletcher Cox, but which the Eagles added to in the offseason by signing former Steelers nose tackle Javon Hargrave. That group has accounted for 13 1/2 of those league-high sacks.

And defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz has long been a foil of Roethlisberger. His defenses in Tennessee, where he was coordinator from 2001 through 2008 were built the same way. And he's brought that same plan of being solid up front to Philadelphia.

"I don’t think there is any doubt about their d-line being very good," said Randy Fichtner. "They have been solid for a long time and they keep adding pieces to that puzzle. They are going to run you two-deep at the position. It’s been a signature of Coach Schwartz. It’s interesting because we have done a lot of business against Coach Schwartz over the years, and his defensive line is always one of those penetrating, physical, pass rushes. It’s one of the few teams in the league that can rush four, and they are leading the league in sacks and they generally rush four."

THE HISTORY LESSON

Donovan McNabb was a very good NFL quarterback. He took the Eagles to a Super Bowl in 2004. And it's that season at which we're going to take a look back this week.

The Steelers had turned their offense over to a rookie quarterback named Ben Roethlisberger after starter Tommy Maddox was injured in a Week 2 loss at Baltimore. And Roethlisberger had led the Steelers to five-straight wins when the Eagles rolled into Heinz Field for a meeting between division leaders -- much like this week's game.

Only in this game, the Steelers were 6-1 and the Eagles 7-0.

As they did for much of that season, the Steelers jumped on their opponent early and allowed their defense to control the game.

Hines Ward scored on a 16-yard end around on the game's opening possession for a 7-0 lead. Then, after forcing a quick three-and-out culminated by a Larry Foote sack on third down, Roethlisberger and Ward hooked up for a second score, this one from 20 yards out for a 14-0 advantage.

Another three-and-out for the Eagles led to second-straight punt for the Eagles and another touchdown for the Steelers. This time, Roethlisberger tossed a 2-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jay Riemersma early in the second quarter to give the Steelers a 21-0 lead.

At that point, the Steelers had run 31 plays compared to six for the Eagles. And it would get worse from there.

Though Philadelphia managed to put together a field goal drive on their third possession, the damage was done. The Steelers played keep away the rest of the way, tacking on two second half field goals for a 27-3 lead. And McNabb was sacked three times and intercepted once in the second half as the Eagles were completely shut down in a 27-3 thrashing.

McNabb finished 15 of 24 for just 109 yards with an interception as Philadelphia was held to 113 total yards.

The Steelers, meanwhile, got 183 yards and two touchdowns from Roethlisberger, who attempted just 18 passes, completing 11. Jerome Bettis bulled his way to 149 yards on 33 carries, while Verron Haynes had 51 yards on 12 rushing attempts as the Steelers ran for 252 yards on a whopping 56 carries, controlling the clock for nearly 42 minutes.

James Farrior had five tackles, a sack and an interception to lead the defensive effort.

THE MAIN MATCHUP

Offensive numbers are up across the league, with NFL games averaging 51.3 points per game, the most since the 1970 NFL merger.

But two teams who haven't taken part in the offensive explosion have been the Steelers and Eagles -- but for different reasons.

The Steelers haven't yet broken 30 points this season -- and have gone 23 consecutive games without doing so. But they're averaging a healthy 26.7 points per game and have finished off two of their first three games kneeling on the ball deep in opposing territory.

The Eagles, meanwhile, are averaging just 21 points per game, which is 26th in the league. And they're doing so because their offensive line has been a mess.

All-Pro Brandon Brooks was injured in the offseason. Offensive tackle Andre Dillard followed him there after getting hurt in training camp. Fellow guard Isaac Seumalo suffered a knee injury a couple of weeks into the season and landed on short-term injured reserve. Jason Peters, re-signed to help at guard, has a toe injury that landed him on injured reserve. Right tackle Lane Johnson has an ankle injury that has him on and off the field like he's doing hockey line shifts.

That leaves the Eagles starting Jordan Mailata at left tackle, Nate Herbig beside him at left guard, Matt Pryor at the other guard spot and an iffy Johnson at right tackle along with Pro Bowl center Jason Kelce. Mailata made his first career start -- at any level -- last week against the 49ers. 

The former rugby star was drafted by the Eagles in the seventh round last year despite never playing football before, while Herbig and Pryor have six regular season starts between them, all coming this year.

"Mailata, we actually brought him in on a visit a while ago," Steelers' All-Pro defensive end Cam Heyward said. "To think he’s starting his second game is fun. They’ve had to shuffle their line and make proper adjustments. That’s the name of the game. But for us, when you’ve got to replace somebody, there’s blood in the water and we try to feast on that."

That's typically when there's just a little bit of blood. Right now, the Eagles line is bleeding so much, to use Heyward's metaphor, an emergency room trip might not help.

Because of that, Wentz has been under constant pressure this season. Wentz has already been sacked 14 times, including eight by Washington in Week 1. He's been hit 32 times, including six last week by the 49ers' Arik Armstead, who lined up at left defensive end.

What's going to happen against Heyward, T.J. Watt and company, who have averaged 5 sacks per game?

"It really doesn’t mean nothing about what I say or what our players say. It’s what we do," Steelers defensive coordinator Keith Butler said. "I used to work for a guy named Chuck Knox. He’d always say the same thing, “What you do speaks so well, nobody can hear what you say.” We’ve got to play good. We need to play good against these guys. They’re a good football team. We have to get after them in terms of the running game. They ran the ball on us four years ago when we played them. We have to stop that, and we have to stop the quick throwing pattern too. They get rid of the ball really quickly. It’s kind of hard to get to the quarterback when he gets the ball out that quick. We have to play well and play together."

The Steelers are allowing a league-low 54 yards rushing per game. They led the NFL in sacks with 15 prior to having their bye last week. And they've hit opposing quarterbacks 29 times, which also led the NFL before their impromptu bye.

If the Steelers do what they've been doing in their first three games, Wentz, who leads the NFL with seven interceptions, could be in for a very long day.

Because of the line issues, Wentz has been rolling out more often. And he's also scrambling more because of it. He's already rushed for 111 yards and three touchdowns this season after rushing for 243 yards all of last year.

But that could lead to more hits on him, as well.

"What we have to do is make sure we don’t put ourselves in positions where he’s going to hurt us in the running game," Butler said. "They keep the ball with him like a lot of people do in the game to get in critical situations and they have to have a play. He will keep the ball as he takes the handoff. If he does that, we have to hit him. He’s live. If he does that, he doesn’t have any quarterback rules protecting him from that. 

"We have to do the best we can and take some good shots on him, not illegal shots but good shots on him. If he’s going to run the ball, then he’s going to need to know what that means."

THE TEN DATA POINTS

• James Conner has averaged 6.3 yards per carry the past two games after leaving a Week 1 win over the Giants in the first half.

• The Steelers are averaging 2.4 more yards rushing per attempt than their opponents, the best in the NFL.

• Smith-Schuster has caught 17 of the 19 passes Roethlisberger has thrown to him this season.

• The Eagles are allowing 5.8 combined sacks and turnovers per game, the most in the league.

• The Eagles have allowed just two receivers to top 61 receiving yards in a game, with both coming from the slot. The Bengals' Tyler Boyd had 10 catches for 125 yards, while the Rams' Cooper Kupp caught five passes for 81 yards. That's where Smith-Schuster lines up primarily for the Steelers.

• Tight ends are averaging 6.3 catches for 68.8 yards and have scored five touchdowns against the Eagles.

• The Steelers have had a 100-yard rusher in each of their first three games, the first time since 2007 that has happened. They have never had a 100-yard rusher in their first four games in franchise history.

• With a win, Roethlisberger would move past Dan Marino (147) and into a tie with John Elway (148) for the fifth-most regular season wins in NFL history.

• The Steelers' 162 yards rushing allowed is the fewest the team has given up in its first three games since the 1970 NFL merger, topping the 179 yards they allowed in 2010.

• Watt's 38 sacks in his first 50 games are the most by a linebacker since Denver's Von Miller had 45 in his first 50 games from 2011 through 2014.

THE FANTASY CORNER

Not a bad showing two weeks ago as my lineup posted 152.12 points. Obviously Alvin Kamara with 47.70 points was a solid pick, but he was also used heavily. Eric Ebron was a solid pick at tight end and Jerrick McKinnon, Chris Godwin and Calvin Ridley also posted solid point totals. As I did last year, I'm going to build a fantasy lineup using Draft Kings and a $50,000 salary cap.

Quarterback: Teddy Bridgewater, Panthers ($5,900) -- Did you see that Atlanta pass defense last week against the Packers? Bridgewater isn't Aaron Rodgers, but he's got good weapons.

Running back: Jerrick McKinnon, 49ers ($5,800), Mike Davis, Panthers (6,400) -- McKinnon has scored a touchdown in every game this season, while Davis has been a PPR machine since replacing Christian McCaffrey.

Wide receiver: DJ Moore, Panthers ($6,000), DK Metcalf, Seahawks ($7,100), Justin Jefferson, Vikings ($5,500) -- I am double stacking Panthers for what should be a shootout. And Metcalf and Jefferson should be involved in one, as well. Looking for upside here.

Tight end: Evan Engram, Giants ($4,600) -- Engram hasn't done much this season, but the matchups have been awful. This one against the Cowboys is not. Engram should feast.

Flex: Devonta Freeman, Giants ($4,600) -- Yep, a double play of Giants. Freeman was a big part of New York's passing game last week. And the Browns just ran for 300 yards on the Cowboys.

Defense: Cardinals ($4,100) -- A chance to have a defense play against Joe Flacco? Yes please.

Our football staff predicts the game:

Dale Lolley (3-0): If this game were in Philadelphia, I'd automatically pick the Eagles. The Steelers are 0-9 there since 1965. But it's not. The Steelers have beaten the Eagles both times they've come to Heinz Field, where they're also 30-7-1 against NFC opponents. The team record for sacks in a game is 10, something the Steelers have accomplished four times, the last coming back in 2001 against the Buccaneers. That record could be in jeopardy in this game. The Steelers are going to eat this makeshift Eagles line alive, especially if the offense can put some points on the board early. We might even see a safety in this game, so I'll factor that into my final score. Steelers, 26-14

Chris Carter (3-0): The Steelers' defensive front should terrorize Wentz, and Wentz's lack of healthy weapons will keep him from getting bailed out. On the other side the Steelers' skill players match up very well with the Eagles' secondary and linebackers. Outside of Slay, the Eagles won't have a lot of answers to the Steelers' weapons, especially Ebron. But do beware the Eagles' defensive front. Steelers, 31-13

Ramon Foster (3-0): In the words of Coach Tomlin, 'Nobody cares about your problems. Or they're glad you've got 'em.' All of Philly's injuries ... the way their O-line is ... their receivers ... guess what, it's not the Steelers' problem they've developed T.J. Watt and Bud Dupree. The way the Eagles are right now, I'm sure this is defense is just looking to mow them down. Crank the lawnmower, and let's roll. Steelers, 30-17

Tom Reed (3-0): The NFC East is awful and the AFC North teams, who face the teams from that division through this regular season, are likely to feast all the way through. The Steelers can't afford a slip-up today. They need to take care of business against a wounded opponent. The Eagles are battered on the the offensive line and at wide receiver. Hard to see an upset in this one. Steelers, 27-17

Dejan Kovacevic (3-0): It's often fun to be the contrarian. It's more often dumb to be the contrarian. Only way the Eagles and Wentz survive an offensive line that's got a rookie Australian rugby guy at left tackle would be if Roethlisberger throws a pick every other possession. And the Eagles' secondary isn't nearly good enough to pull that off. Philly's defensive front will prevent the blowout, but that's about it. Steelers, 26-10