Eagles Silence Their Critics In Impressive Win Over Steelers
The week leading into this game was not easy for the Eagles. Comments by AJ Brown and later Brandon Graham led to a drama filled week where everyone had to answer questions about the Hurts/Brown relationship, as well as the struggles of the passing game. By mid-week they were all saying the right things, but it was more adversity than they had faced since the bye week.
But champions are born amid adversity. Despite all the drama, they proved this week why they are Super Bowl contenders. Not just because they beat a tough Steelers team to improve to 12-2, but because of how they did it.
The passing game had not worked right the last few weeks. It didn’t matter too much, because Saquon and the O-Line were playing so well, but people were questioning the Eagles ability to throw the ball.
You won’t hear those questions this week. Hurts threw for 290 yards, went 25 for 32, and threw 2 TDs. Brown and Devonta Smith both went over 100 yards, and both caught a TD. Smith caught 11 passes, Brown caught 8.
It was not a good game for Barkley. He seemed to be banged up and averaged only 3.4 yards per carry. As a team, they averaged only 3.1 yards. The Steelers managed to stop the run. That had been the question before this week, can the Eagles win if they can’t run the ball. Well, the Eagles gave us the answer, yes they can.
The Drive That Never Ended
The most impressive part of the game came in the final drive. The Eagles defense stopped the Steelers at midfield with 10:40 left on the clock. Tomlin opted to punt, rather than going for it. They pinned the Eagles behind the 5-yard line, thanks in part to a dumb penalty by Jalen Carter. They never gave the Steelers the ball back.
They ran 10:40 off the clock and were kneeling inside the 10-yard line by the end of it. Utter domination. They ran 22 plays and went 88 yards. They passed up a chance to kick a FG and go up 3 scores, and it paid off. This is what they did to teams in 2022 when they went all the way to the Super Bowl.
They also had drives that lasted 7:08 and 6:33 in the second half. The Steelers touched the ball twice in the half and had the ball for under 6 minutes. They fumbled on their first drive, and then they punted. A punt that will probably keep Tomlin up late tonight.
Don’t Forget About The Defense
The defense did its part too. For the first 5 drives, they didn’t give up a single 1st down. The Steelers got the ball across half-field thanks to a fumble on two straight drives. The Eagles defense didn’t buckle. They held them to only 3 points on those two turnovers.
The Steelers had only 163 yards, most of which came on a 70-yard TD Drive. It’s their lowest yard total of the season. They were without George Pickens, which obviously hurt them, but this Eagles’ defense continues to dominate. They slowed down the Rams, Commanders, Ravens, and now the Steelers. They might be young, but they are one of the most dominant defenses in the NFL.
Special shoutout to Nolan Smith who has really come on after a disappointing rookie season, and a slow start to this year. He is up to 5.5 sacks now after getting to Russel Wilson this game. He also tipped a pass early in the game, and was getting pressure all game long.
Eagles Get Some Help From Around The NFL
The only team with a longer winning streak than the Eagles was the Lions. The Eagles hadn’t lost since week 4 but made up no ground for the 1-seed because the Lions just kept winning. But that finally ended. Josh Allen and the Bills tore the Lions’ injury-ridden defense apart and gave them their 2nd loss of the season.
The Eagles are still not the 1 seed though. The Lions, Vikings, and Eagles all have 2 losses now. But both hold the tiebreaker over the Eagles. They will need to not only win out but also have both those teams lose 1 more game.
The Lions still have to play the Bears, Niners, and Vikings. The Vikings have the Bears, Seahawks, Packers, and Lions. They play each other in the final week. So a loss from 1 of them is a lock. But whoever wins that game, would need to get a loss in one of their other games along the way if the Eagles are going to take over the 1-seed.
There is more hope for the 1 seed than there was before this week though. Not only because the Lions finally lost, but because the Eagles beat the toughest test left on their schedule. They get the Commanders next week, then the Cowboys, and close things out against the Giants who are down to their 4th QB.
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The All-Time Roster of Homegrown Philadelphia Eagles
Quarterback: Donovan McNabb
Randall Cunningham might have the most highlight-reel plays, but Donovan McNabb is the most accomplished quarterback in Eagles history. He was the centerpiece of the memorable period of sustained success and Super Bowl contention under Andy Reid in the early 2000s.
Athletes are not above criticism, and McNabb is far from an exception. However, it’s safe to say the Eagles nailed the second-overall pick in 1999, especially considering the underwhelming crop of quarterbacks in his draft class.
Running Back: Brian Westbrook
The Eagles executed one of the best drafts in their franchise history in 2002. They landed three quality defensive backs in the first two rounds, but their best selection came in the third round.
Brian Westbrook silenced the thought that he was only a third down back or a screen pass specialist. He developed into a feature back and the most consistent offensive weapon of the Andy Reid era.
It’s tough to find anyone in Philadelphia who doesn’t think highly of Westbrook. Wilbert Montgomery and LeSean McCoy deserve their accolades. However, they didn’t make the same contributions as number 36.
Fullback: Thomas Tapeh
The fullback might’ve faded from the modern NFL offense, but the position was a guarantee in past eras. The Eagles rotated a few notable free agent fullbacks like Leonard Weaver and Jon Ritchie, but they also drafted and developed Thomas Tapeh.
The fifth-rounder in 2004 spent three seasons with the Eagles and made 17 starts in 41 games.
Wide Receiver: Harold Carmichael
Hall of Fame wide receiver Harold Carmichael stood at 6-foot-7 with the ability to reach over helpless defensive backs. The Eagles landed an absolute steal in the seventh round of the 1971 NFL Draft.
He spent 13 seasons in Philadelphia and two games with the Dallas Cowboys. Carmichael famously retired because he couldn’t handle wearing a star on his helmet after so many years with the Eagles.
Wide Receiver: Mike Quick
The fight between Mike Quick and DeSean Jackson for the second wide receiver spot might’ve been the tightest on the list of homegrown Eagles.
Quick had more touchdowns. Jackson had more yards. Quick had more receptions. Jackson had more playoff games.
Five consecutive Pro Bowl appearances for Quick from 1983-1987 became the determining factor. DeSean Jackson had more memorable highlights, but he spent some of the best years of his career elsewhere and limited his own ceiling with cases of mismanaging his body.
Tight End: Zach Ertz
Pete Pihos certainly had a good enough career to land on the list of homegrown Eagles. However, Zach Ertz caught the game-winning touchdown in the franchise’s only Super Bowl. His fourth-down catch earlier in Super Bowl LII might have actually been a more impactful play too.
The Eagles drafted Ertz in the second round in 2013 after taking Lane Johnson in the first. He recovered from a questionable mistake in 2016 to earn the respect and admiration of Philadelphia fans forever.
Left Tackle: Tra Thomas
Tra Thomas anchored an offensive line that protected Donovan McNabb throughout one of the best eras in Eagles history. He made 165 starts in 11 seasons and earned three Pro Bowl nods.
He made it worthwhile for the Eagles to take the big left tackle out of Florida St. with the 11th-overall pick in 1998. He also did a heck of a job on 97.5 The Fanatic mornings after his playing career.
Left Guard: Todd Herremans
The Eagles spent a fourth-rounder in 2005 on a versatile offensive lineman from Saginaw Valley St. A lesser-known school didn’t stop Todd Herremans from making a name for himself.
He quickly pushed the Eagles to find a spot for him on their offensive line despite his lack of draft pedigree. He stuck around for excellent longevity with 124 starts over 10 seasons at multiple positions.
Center: Jason Kelce
Right Guard: Jermane Mayberry
Jon Runyan and Tra Thomas will always get most of the credit as the pillars of the offensive line in the early 2000s. However, Jermane Mayberry made plenty of contributions himself.
The Eagles spent the 26th-overall pick on a guard who gave them 112 games and 96 starts in nine seasons. Mayberry made his only career Pro Bowl in 2002.
Right Tackle: Lane Johnson
Three offensive tackles came off the board in the first four picks of the 2013 NFL Draft. The Eagles drafted Johnson behind Eric Fisher and Luke Joeckel but came away with exponentially more value.
Their incredible record with him in the lineup and mediocre record without him is no coincidence. Johnson is one of the toughest Eagles ever and arguably the best offensive lineman in franchise history.
Defensive Tackle: Fletcher Cox
Jason Kelce and Brandon Graham talked enough to control any spotlight. However, Fletcher Cox was the best player on the best team in franchise history.
The 2017 Eagles swallowed opponents who dared to try to run the ball. Fletcher Cox anchored the defensive front just like he did for most of his 12 NFL seasons, all spent in Midnight Green.
Cox made six Pro Bowls, and he’ll someday get his reward in Canton, Ohio.
Defensive Tackle: Jerome Brown
Reggie White and Jerome Brown might’ve formed the most fearsome pair of pass rushers in NFL history if tragedy didn’t cut Brown’s career short in 1992.
The Eagles drafted Brown with the ninth-overall pick in 1987. His raw talent helped him to two All-Pros in his final two seasons before his death at age 27.
The Gang Green defense still holds a special allure in the hearts of Eagles fans.
Defensive End: Brandon Graham
How do you choose between Trent Cole and Brandon Graham? Both edge rushers have landed toward the top of the franchise’s all-time sack leaders after prolonged careers in Philadelphia.
Cole edged the Super Bowl LII hero in sacks and earned two Pro Bowl selections. However, Graham was a heart and soul player for the Eagles in their only Super Bowl season and another appearance five years later.
Leaving either one of them off the list seemed unfair, but (former) noted draft bust Brandon Graham has one of the most admirable stories in Philadelphia sports history.
Left Outside Linebacker: Seth Joyner
Seth Joyner spent eight of his 13 NFL seasons in Philadelphia. He earned two of his three Pro Bowl nods in the early 1990s on the memorably feared defense under Bud Carson.
Only Brian Dawkins has ever forced more fumbles for the Eagles than Joyner. The former eighth-rounder (yes, there used to be more rounds) has the most sacks among linebackers in franchise history.
Middle Linebacker: Jeremiah Trotter
The Eagles regretted letting Jeremiah Trotter walk away when the 2002 and 2003 teams struggled with underwhelming linebacker play. They admitted it when they reunited with him in 2004.
Trotter developed into a star during his first four NFL seasons with the Eagles. He picked up where he left off with a Pro Bowl season in only nine starts for the NFC Champions in 2004.
The Axe Man never failed to fire up the Philadelphia crowd with his signature celebration.
Cornerback: Lito Sheppard
Troy Vincent and Bobby Taylor formed one of the NFL’s best cornerback duos of the early 2000s, but their time was running thin by 2002.
The Eagles drafted Lito Sheppard and Sheldon Brown to back up their previous duo. Both became valuable starters, but Sheppard separated himself with 18 interceptions and two Pro Bowl nods.
He famously picked off Drew Bledsoe and went the other way for 102 yards to seal the win against the Dallas Cowboys for revenge against Terrell Owens in his first game in Philadelphia with the arch-enemy.
Cornerback: Eric Allen
The Eagles selected Eric Allen with the 30th-overall pick in 1988. He became a key part of the feared Eagles defense of the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Allen’s name comes up annually as a notable Hall of Fame snub. However, he gets the honor of a starting job on the roster of homegrown Eagles.
Safety: Brian Dawkins
Philadelphia Eagles fans might never see another player with the stunning passion and heartfelt emotion of Brian Dawkins. Weapon X was one of the most feared hitters in the NFL. He earned nine Pro Bowl nods and four All-Pro selections that don’t even begin to describe his legacy.
His acceptance speech into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2018 revealed part of his life that drove his incredible passion.
Brian Dawkins is the most beloved Eagle in history. It’s safe to say he made a second-round pick in 1996 worthwhile.
