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Week 15 is just around the corner as the Rams and 49ers kick off the busy slate on Thursday Night Football. Later in the week, the Pittsburgh Steelers will take on the Philadelphia Eagles in the late window of Sunday afternoon.
The Steelers (10-3) have been one of the season’s biggest surprises, while the Eagles (11-2) won their 9th straight game on Sunday. Sunday’s matchup should be a good one, so let’s look back at each team’s performance in Week 14 and then what to expect in Week 15.
A lot of people owe Russell Wilson an apology. Wilson missed the first few games of the season with a calf injury, which allowed Justin Fields to become a QB1 again. Fields led them to a 4-2 record in the first six games, and Wilson took over once he was cleared to return. Steelers fans questioned the decision at first, but it turned out to be the right one. Wilson is 6-1 as the starter and has been the perfect quarterback for the Steelers.
Pittsburgh defeated the Browns 27-14 on Sunday afternoon. The Steelers were out for revenge after they lost to the Browns in a snow game just a few weeks ago. Wilson finished the game 15 for 26 with 158 passing yards and 2 touchdowns, even though he was missing his favorite target. George Pickens was expected to play last week until the team didn’t want to risk him re-aggravating his hamstring injury, so they had him sit out. Pickens has blossomed into a true WR1 under Wilson, and he should be back on the field for this critical Week 15 matchup.
The Steelers will need all hands on deck against the Eagles defense. Philadelphia has had one of the best defensive lines and secondaries in the league this season but has shown some weaknesses in the last few weeks. This will be Wilson’s toughest test yet.
The Eagles won their 9th straight game on Sunday, but it wasn’t easy. Philly was on an 8-game win streak and had a home game against the Panthers, which seemed like a very favorable matchup. However, the Panthers came out fighting. Carolina led after the 1st quarter and went into the half down just 4 points. QB Bryce Young was finding WR Adam Thielen open in the gaps in the Philly secondary, and the veteran receiver finished with 9 catches for 102 yards.
Young and the Panthers took a lead into the 4th quarter before a Philly touchdown combined with a successful 2-point conversion put the Panthers into a 6-point hole. But with only a few minutes left, Young led the Panthers downfield and found Xavier Legette open for what everyone thought was a game-winning touchdown. On review, however, Legette dropped the ball, and the Panthers ran out of time. The Eagles held on for the 22-16 win, but it was a concerning victory.
It’s not going to get easier for Jalen Hurts and company on Sunday. The Steelers have a strong secondary and will be looking to lock down A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith to force Hurts into difficult situations. Both offenses are good, but which defense is going to step up?
There are a lot of impressive offensive weapons in this matchup. The Steelers have Pickens and Najee Harris, while the Eagles have Brown, Smith, and of course, RB Saquon Barkley. Barkley has made an immediate impact in Philly in his first season and has become a front runner for the Offensive Player of the Year award. He’s been the heart of the Eagles offense and has finished with at least 80 rushing yards in 7 of his last 8 games.
The Steelers have a strong defensive line that has been solid against the run this season. They’ve limited Nick Chubb and Chase Brown in the last few weeks, but they’ve yet to face a back like Barkley. Barkley will likely get at least 20 touches on Sunday, meaning as long as he averages around 4 yards per carry and breaks free for a long rush or two, he should be able to make a big impact on the game.
Keith is a sports writer who has evolved into a sports betting personality across social media in the past several years. He specializes in MLB but also writes about the NFL and NBA.