Scouting the Eagles: Steelers, their next opponent can each clinch a playoff berth

SCOUTING THE EAGLES

Last meeting

The Eagles beat Steelers, 35-13, on Oct. 30, 2022, in Philadelphia

Key matchup

Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth vs. Eagles LB Nakobe Dean

With George Pickens out, Freiermuth is the Steelers’ top target in the passing game, and he has touchdowns each of the past two games and in three of his past five. The Eagles rank fifth in the league in fewest yards allowed to opposing tight ends (514) and tied for seventh in fewest catches allowed by tight ends (58).

But while Philadelphia allowed only one catch for 3 yards to tight ends in last week’s win in Carolina and only one catch for 10 yards to the Rams in Week 12, in between, the Ravens tight end duo of Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely combined for 12 catches for 105 yards and two touchdowns Dec. 1 in Baltimore. Dean is one of the most oft-deployed coverage linebackers in the NFL.

Series record

Eagles lead 48-29-3.

Series notes

This will be the Steelers’ 81st all-time game against the Eagles. They have faced only two teams (the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals) more often. … But since the NFL/AFL merger in 1970, there have been only 14 meetings. The Eagles have won nine of those. … The Steelers have lost 10 consecutive in Philadelphia, including all three games at Lincoln Financial Field. The Steelers have managed just 22 total points in those three games. The only touchdown the Steelers have scored at that 22-year-old facility was a 1-yard TD pass from wide receiver Chase Claypool to fullback Derek Watt in 2022. … The teams have met once in the postseason: the Eagles won 21-0 in the 1947 Eastern Division playoff at Forbes Field.

Notable

The Steelers (10-3) can clinch a playoff berth with a win (or tie). They also can clinch Sunday even with a loss if the Miami Dolphins do not beat the Houston Texans and the Indianapolis Colts do not beat the Denver Broncos. … The Eagles (11-2) clinch the NFC East if they win and the Washington Commanders lose or tie at the New Orleans Saints. They also could capture the division crown with a tie against the Steelers and a Washington loss. … According to Sharp Football Analysis, the Eagles have been the NFL’s fifth-worst first-quarter team at minus-42 points (59-17) but have the second-best point differential in the league between the second and fourth quarters (plus-150). … The Steelers can reach 11 wins in a season for the first time since 2020 and the second time since 2017. The Steelers have 18 seasons of 11 or more wins, all since 1972. … The Eagles can reach 12 wins in a season for the second time over the past three years but only the third time since 2004. Philadelphia has just six 12-win seasons.

Fantasy tip

In two career games against the Steelers — one as a member of the Tennessee Titans in 2020 — wide receiver A.J. Brown has 12 catches for 309 yards and four touchdowns. In those two games, he has seven receptions of 20 or more yards.