The Philadelphia Eagles (12-2) emphatically responded to a week of internal criticism with a decisive 27-13 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers (10-4) on Sunday, The Associated Press reports.
The win extends their franchise-record winning streak to ten games.
The Eagles’ offense, recently criticized by star receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith for a perceived lack of targets, exploded against Pittsburgh. The criticism intensified after injured defensive end Brandon Graham suggested on a local radio show that personal issues existed between quarterback Jalen Hurts and Brown.
Hurts, however, delivered a powerful performance, throwing for 290 yards – a significant improvement over his last three games – and connecting with both Brown and Smith for touchdowns. Brown finished with eight catches for 110 yards, and Smith had 11 receptions for 109 yards, a stark contrast to their combined eight catches and 80 yards the previous week. Hurts also added a rushing touchdown.
Despite the offensive resurgence, Eagles running back Saquon Barkley’s pursuit of the NFL rushing record hit a snag. He managed only 65 yards on 19 carries after absorbing a hard hit. Barkley stated he was not seriously injured.
The Steelers (10-4), despite the loss, secured a playoff berth due to losses by other teams. Coach Mike Tomlin downplayed the playoff implications, focusing on the team’s failure to win the game. The Steelers suffered further setbacks with injuries to linebacker T.J. Watt (ankle) and the continued absence of wide receiver George Pickens (hamstring). Quarterback Russell Wilson had a dismal performance, throwing for a season-low 128 yards. A botched pitch by Wilson to Najee Harris in the third quarter led to an Eagles touchdown.
The game marked the first time these two original NFL franchises played each other with both teams having double-digit win totals. However, the contest was far from competitive. Steelers kicker Chris Boswell set a new franchise record with 38 field goals on the season, adding two more in this game.
The Eagles’ victory showcased a compelling rebuttal to the week’s controversies and continues their dominant season. The Steelers, meanwhile, face injury concerns and the challenge of maintaining momentum heading into the playoffs. Several injuries marred the game, including a back injury for Steelers cornerback Donte Jackson, an abdominal injury for backup quarterback Justin Fields, an Eagles concussion to safety Sydney Brown, and a knee injury for left guard Landon Dickerson. The Steelers haven’t won in Philadelphia since October 24, 1965.
