EAGLES VS. STEELERS: 3 STATS TO KNOW AHEAD OF THIS WEEKEND’S MATCHUP

[time2rock]

EAGLES VS. STEELERS: 3 STATS TO KNOW AHEAD OF THIS WEEKEND’S MATCHUP

By Brian Cass

October 29, 2022

 

For the first time since 2016, the Pittsburgh Steelers will travel across the state to face the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field this weekend.

Typically, this cross-state rivalry features two of the best teams in the NFL. This time around, only one team is riding high entering the second-half of the season. The Eagles enter Week 8 with a 6-0 record, while Pittsburgh has only two wins to their name thus far.

It’s easy to get wrapped up in all the storylines entering this weekend’s contest and what it means for this rivalry. Here are three key stats everyone needs to know before the Eagles and Steelers kickoff on Sunday.

---

Pittsburgh hasn’t won in Philadelphia since Oct. 24, 1965

It’s almost unimaginable, but it’s true. The Steelers haven’t beaten the Eagles in Philly since October 24, 1965. It’s been 20,824 days since then, to be exact.

Pittsburgh has an all-time record of 29-47-3 against the Eagles. 28 of those losses have come in Philly, where Pittsburgh posts a 9-28-2 record all-time.

Here are some important historical moments that have happened since the last time Pittsburgh won in Philadelphia:

• The USA put a man on the moon
• Woodstock
• The Watergate scandal
• The collapse of the Soviet Union
• The end of the Vietnam War
• The Iranian Hostage Crisis

In simple terms, a lot of important crap has happened since the Steelers won a game in Philadelphia.

Given the state of both franchises at the moment, it’s hard to envision this streak ending on Sunday.

The Eagles haven’t lost to a rookie QB since 2016

It’s been awhile since the Eagles have lost to a rookie signal caller. Not as long as the streak I mentioned above, but long enough to be noteworthy.

Over the last 10 games where Philadelphia has faced a rookie QB, they’ve posted a 9-0-1 record. The tie came against Joe Burrow and his Cincinnati Bengals back in 2020.

The last time the Eagles lost to a rookie quarterback was back in Week 8 of the 2016 season, when rookie Dak Prescott and his Dallas Cowboys pulled out an overtime victory over rookie Carson Wentz and his Eagles. It’s been even longer since the Eagles have dropped a game at home to a rookie quarterback. You’d have to go all the way back to the Chip Kelly era, when Jameis Winston tossed five touchdowns en route to a 45-17 victory.

While Kenny Pickett figures to be better competition than some of the rookie gunslingers the Eagles have faced over the past few years like Luke Falk, CJ Beathard, or Mitch Trubisky, he’s gotten off to a rough start this year.

In three starts thus far, Pickett has posted a 1-2 record while throwing just two touchdowns to seven interceptions and posting a passer rating of 66.7. His 64.5 PFF offensive grade ranks 24th out of 36 qualifying quarterbacks.

Whenever a team is facing a rookie quarterback, one that was a first-round selection, you always have to be conscious of a potential coming out party in any given week. Facing an Eagles defense that ranks fifth in passing yards per game, second in completion percentage allowed, and first in passer rating allowed, it’s hard to imagine a Pickett coming out party coming to fruition this weekend.

The Eagles are 6-6 following their bye week since 2010

Once upon a time, the Eagles were the best team in the NFL coming off a bye week. During the Andy Reid era, the Eagles only lost one game following a bye week.

In the post-Reid era, the team been pretty inconsistent coming off a bye week. They hold a 6-6 record following the bye since 2010.

Nick Sirianni has only been the Eagles head coach for a little over a year now, but it’s worth noting that he won his first post-bye week game last year, beating Washington at home.

The dominance following the bye week was one of the many trademarks of the Reid era here in Philly. If Sirianni can notch another W this week, perhaps he’ll be able to return that post-bye week dominance to this franchise.

https://thelibertyline.com/2022/10/29/eagles-steelers-3-stats-to-know/