Pittsburgh Steelers (10-3) at Philadelphia Eagles (11-2)
Sunday, 4:25 p.m., FOX
BetMGM NFL odds: Eagles by 4 1/2
Against the spread: Pittsburgh 10-3; Philadelphia 8-5
Series record: Eagles lead 48-29-3.
Last meeting: On October 30, 2022, in Philadelphia, Jalen Hurts threw for 285 yards and four touchdowns, leading the Eagles to a commanding 35-13 victory.
Last week: The Steelers triumphed over the Browns 27-14 in Pittsburgh, while the Eagles narrowly defeated the Panthers 22-16 at home.

Looking at the offensive rankings, the Steelers currently place 17th overall, 9th in rushing, 23rd in passing, and 10th in scoring. Defensively, they rank 7th overall, with 4th against the run, 17th against the pass, and 5th in scoring. The Eagles, meanwhile, hold an overall offensive ranking of 7th, with a dominant 1st place in rushing, but they sit low at 31st for passing and are 8th in scoring. Their defense is impressive as well, ranking 1st overall, 8th against the run, 2nd against the pass, and tied for 2nd in scoring.

In terms of turnovers, the Steelers boast a favorable plus-17 differential, while the Eagles sit at plus-4.

**Player to Watch: Pittsburgh Steelers**
Quarterback Russell Wilson has shown adaptability in recent games, throwing to eight different receivers in the win over the Browns last week, following a game against the Bengals where he hit 10 targets. This week he faces a significant challenge against the top-ranked defense. Unfortunately for Wilson, he may be without one of his primary weapons, wide receiver George Pickens, who is recovering from a hamstring injury and is likely to miss another game as advised by coach Mike Tomlin.

**Player to Watch: Philadelphia Eagles**
Wide receiver A.J. Brown caught four passes for 43 yards in the Eagles’ recent victory over Carolina; however, he expressed dissatisfaction with his limited involvement. Following the game, defensive end Brandon Graham hinted at possible discord between Brown and quarterback Jalen Hurts. As the team prepares for this week’s game, it remains to be seen whether Brown’s targets will increase, as Hurts and coach Nick Sirianni may need to adapt their strategy. Brown, however, downplayed Graham’s remarks, asserting that his relationship with Hurts is unaffected.

**Key Matchup**
The spotlight focuses on the Steelers’ defensive unit against standout running back Saquon Barkley. Pittsburgh has an impressive record against the run, ranking 4th in the league by allowing only 91.5 yards per game. However, they are set to face a formidable opponent in Barkley, who has recently established a single-season rushing record for the Eagles and is eyeing Eric Dickerson’s all-time record. Barkley stands as the league leader in rushing yards with 1,623, and Pittsburgh’s defense must step up if they hope to contain him effectively.

**Injury Report**
Aside from Pickens, defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi is grappling with a groin strain, resulting in his departure from last week’s game in the second quarter. Meanwhile, defensive tackle Montravius Adams, who has been sidelined since October due to a knee injury, may return, having participated fully in Wednesday’s practice. On the Eagles’ side, defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson is recovering from a concussion he sustained against Carolina and missed Wednesday’s practice.

**Series History**
The Steelers are facing a daunting record, having lost the last 10 encounters in Philadelphia, with their last victory dating back to 1965. Historically, the Eagles have performed well in playoff matches against the Steelers, defeating them 21-0 in their sole postseason meeting back in 1947.

**Miscellaneous Stats**
Pittsburgh’s defensive strength places them 7th overall, allowing 310.2 yards per game, supported by their remarkable turnover margin of plus-17. Notably, Chris Boswell shines as the league’s top scorer, amassing 137 points and successfully converting 36 of 39 field goals. Coach Mike Tomlin has guided the Steelers to at least 10 wins in 11 out of his 18 seasons, and while they have yet to secure a playoff spot, they possess a 99% probability of doing so according to NFL analysts. Conversely, Philadelphia has already clinched a playoff berth and leads the NFC East, with four of their remaining five games set to be played at home. Barkley is just 257 yards away from surpassing LeSean McCoy’s franchise record, while the Eagles’ passing game has struggled, placing them 31st in the league.

**Fantasy Consideration**
Fantasy managers may be tempted to bench A.J. Brown due to his recent performance dip, but doing so might be unwise. Brown continues to average 17.4 yards per reception, placing him at the top of the league among receivers with at least 40 catches. As the Eagles look to solidify their playoff prospects, it would be beneficial for both Hurts and coach Sirianni to actively involve Brown in the game plan against the Steelers.