Takeaways: Steelers fall as Eagles rewrite the script
Steel City Underground offers post-game takeaways for every 2024 Pittsburgh Steelers NFL regular season game, focusing on the black and gold, just for members of Steelers Nation.
The battle for bragging rights in the Keystone State on Sunday afternoon was billed as a game between two evenly matched teams: the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles. After having issues, offensively, against the Carolina Panthers, it appeared the Eagles may be able to be turned one-dimensional by a tough Steelers defense. Instead, Philadelphia rewrote that script by opening up hot – and controlling time of possession throughout the game – to hand the Steelers a 27-13 loss in Week 15 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
Steelers offense couldn’t stay on the field
Entering the game, it was clear there would be challenges for the Steelers offense without receiver George Pickens available. Quarterback Russell Wilson was heavily pressured by the Eagles defense who also played tight pass coverage and solid against the run. As a result, Pittsburgh struggled to sustain drives and remain on the field.
Russell Wilson speaks to the media. pic.twitter.com/1pZyBzGngA
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) December 16, 2024
Despite taking just two sacks, both costly, Wilson threw just 22 passes; completing 14 for 128 yards and one touchdown to tight end Pat Freiermuth. He took all but one snap for 41 total offensive plays; Justin Fields entered the game and kept the ball for an 8-yard run.
The Steelers gained just 163 total yards of offense on Sunday. They converted 3-10 third downs. With 56 yards rushing, Pittsburgh fought to get the 107 receiving yards they did. All of these factors, including a Najee Harris fumble resulted in an ineffective performance that took them off the field and forced things into the hands of the defense for a very uneven workload.
Takeaways weren’t enough to hold off Eagles
Pittsburgh – defense and special teams – looked ready to stop anything Philly had to throw at them early in the game. On the second Eagles offensive series, T.J. Watt punched the ball out of Jalen Hurts‘ clutches, forcing a fumble that Beanie Bishop recovered.
When Pittsburgh took over offensively, they went three and out, but on the Corliss Waitman punt, Eagles returner Cooper DeJean was folded in half by Mark Robinson and Nick Herbig recovered the fumbled ball.
The turnover margin in their favor only resulted in a disappointing 3 points by way of a Chris Boswell field goal.
Defensively, the Steelers gave up 401 total yards to the Eagles offense. Saquon Barkley, hobbled physically at times, ran for 65 yards on 19 carries and was kept from breaking into the end zone. The Eagles finished with 131 yards rushing and one touchdown on a Hurts “Brotherly Love” push. Philly put up 290 yards via the receiving game, though, earning a 11.6 yards per play average with A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith making touchdowns.
Record setters and a playoff berth
With a loss, it usually indicates a somber moment for a team. On Sunday, though, as the Steelers lost they watched two of their players set records and found out they’d secured a playoff berth.
Boswell surpassed his prior single-season franchise record of 36 field goals set in 2021 when he hit a 37-yarder for his 37th field goal in 2024. The placekicker also set a new single-season team record for points scored with his current 144.
Watt set a franchise record by earning his 33rd career forced fumble in this game, the most in Steelers history since 1994 (official NFL stat). After logging 2.0 sacks in this game, Watt moved to 11.5 on the season and set a new team record by posting six different seasons with 10-plus sacks.
The Steelers remain at the top of the AFC North (10-3) and will enter the NFL playoffs after the Miami Dolphins and Indianapolis Colts lost their Week 15 games. It will be the Steelers’ 34th playoff appearance and 11th with head coach Mike Tomlin at the helm.
Final thoughts
Weeks 16 and 17 will be brutal for the Steelers. Dealing with several injuries, including a late-game one to Watt, Pittsburgh has a tough sled to pull in the remainder of December. They face the Baltimore Ravens this upcoming Saturday for what will be, for all intents and purposes, the AFC North championship. They will then turn around to play the Kansas City Chiefs on Christmas Day.
There’s not much time to get healthy or change much in game plans, but addressing offense has to be an immediate focal point.
Coach Tomlin addresses the media following our game against Eagles. pic.twitter.com/XIE3hjXudd
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) December 16, 2024
