Philadelphia Eagles vs Pittsburgh Steelers Picks and Predictions December 15th 2024

Philadelphia Eagles vs Pittsburgh Steelers December 15th 2024

The Eagles are favored at -232 on the money line as they host the Steelers at 4:25 ET on Sunday, December 15th at Lincoln Financial Field. On TV, this week 15 non-conference matchup is being aired on FOX. The Eagles are -4.5 point favorites, and the over/under line is set at 43 points.

Pittsburgh vs. Philadelphia Key Information

The Steelers bounced back from their week 12 loss to the Browns with two straight wins, including a 27-14 victory over Cleveland in week 14. This puts Pittsburgh at 10-3, giving them a 79.6% chance of winning the AFC North and a 100% chance of making the playoffs. They currently rank 9th in our NFL power rankings.

Against the spread, the Steelers are 10-3 this season, with a +6.5 scoring margin. They’ve covered in two straight games, including a 6-point win over the Bengals in week 13, where they were 3-point underdogs. In week 14, they covered as 6-point favorites against the Browns.

Russell Wilson has posted passer ratings of 101, 126, and 116 over his last three games, with a 158-yard, 2-touchdown performance in week 14. Before that, he threw for 414 yards and 3 touchdowns in week 13. Pittsburgh’s offense is 16th in our power rankings and 10th in points per game, averaging 24.8. They rank 17th in yards per game with 338.1.

The Steelers are 22nd in passing yards per game, with 206, and 28th in passing attempts. However, they are 2nd in rushing attempts and 9th in rushing yards per game, averaging 132.1. Pittsburgh ranks 11th in 3rd-down conversions and 16th in red zone conversion percentage.

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In their 27-14 win over the Browns, the Steelers’ defense allowed just a 15.4% third down conversion rate. They also came up with two interceptions and had three sacks. Despite giving up two passing touchdowns, the Steelers limited the Browns to 196 passing yards on 24 completions, and they defended the run well, allowing just 104 yards on 25 attempts.

Pittsburgh’s defense held Cleveland to 300 total yards and a 58.5% completion rate. The Browns were unable to establish a consistent running game, averaging only 4.2 yards per attempt.

With their 22-16 win over the Panthers in week 14, the Eagles extended their winning streak to nine games and improved to 11-2. This run includes a 28-point win over the Cowboys in week 10 and a 17-point victory over the Rams in week 12. Philadelphia is now 8-5 against the spread this season, and they have covered in three straight games as underdogs, including a 24-19 win over the Ravens in week 13.

Heading into week 15, the Eagles rank 5th in our NFL power rankings and have a 98% chance of winning the NFC East. They are 3-0 in division games and 7-2 in conference play, and they are 5-1 at home and 6-1 on the road. Their O/U record is 5-8, and the under has hit in their last two games.

Heading into week 15, the Eagles are leaning heavily on their run game, leading the NFL in rushing attempts (36.4) and rushing yards per game (190.5). Saquon Barkley has been a key part of this, with 124 yards on 20 carries in week 14. Jalen Hurts has also been solid, posting a passer rating of 110 against the Panthers, with 108 yards and 2 touchdowns on 14/21 passing.

Philadelphia ranks 8th in the NFL in points per game, averaging 26.3, and they are 7th in yards per game with 371.1. However, they have struggled early in games, ranking 26th in 1st quarter scoring. They are 24th in the league in red zone conversion percentage, despite being 5th in red zone attempts.

In their most recent game, the Eagles’ defense came up with one interception and held the Panthers to just 43.8% on third down conversions. They allowed only 184 passing yards on 19 completions and forced Carolina to rely on the running game, as they finished with 118 yards on 34 attempts. Philadelphia gave up just one touchdown in their 22-16 win, and the Eagles’ defense also recorded one sack.

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Philadelphia’s defense was effective in limiting big plays, as they held the Panthers to just 5.4 yards per attempt in the passing game. The Eagles also won the QB hit and tackles for loss differentials in this one.

• Through their last three games, the Eagles have a record of 3-0. Against the spread, they have gone 1-2 and logged an over-under record of 1-2 in these games.
• Philadelphia has put together a record of 7-3 in their last ten games (regular season). This includes going 3-7 vs. the spread along with an over-under mark of 6-4.

Our pick vs. the spread in this Steelers vs. Eagles week 15 matchup is to take the Steelers to cover as road underdogs. Right now, the point spread lines have the Eagles at -4.5, and with our projected final score being 21-16 in favor of the Steelers, we really like them to cover at +4.5.

As for the over/under, with the line sitting at just 43 points, we are leaning towards taking the under, with a projected combined score of 37 points.

Eagles Aim for Historic Streak, Steelers Look to Spoil the Party

The Philadelphia Eagles (11-2) are seeking their first-ever 10-game winning streak as they host the Pittsburgh Steelers (10-3) in a high-stakes clash between Pennsylvania rivals on Sunday. Both teams are eyeing the playoffs, but the Eagles will also have to navigate controversy surrounding their star duo, Jalen Hurts and A.J. Brown, while the Steelers hope to continue their resurgence behind veteran quarterback Russell Wilson.

Eagles Look to Quiet Controversy

Despite their impressive record, the Eagles have faced internal distractions this week. Comments from team captain Brandon Graham on a podcast hinted at a strained relationship between quarterback Jalen Hurts and wide receiver A.J. Brown. Graham later apologized, but the remarks raised questions following Hurts’ season-low 108-yard passing performance in last week’s 22-16 win over the Carolina Panthers.

Brown, who has just one touchdown in his last seven games, fueled speculation with a postgame comment about improving the passing game. Head coach Nick Sirianni, however, downplayed the tension.

“Jalen and A.J. are both really outstanding people, and both really outstanding players,” Sirianni said. “I love that our players are wanting to get better and desire to get better.”

The Eagles will need Hurts and Brown at their best against a Steelers defense that has been formidable during their seven wins in the last eight games.

Steelers Riding Wilson’s Resurgence

Since Russell Wilson took over as starting quarterback in Week 7, the Steelers have gone 6-1. The nine-time Pro Bowler has looked rejuvenated, averaging 254.9 passing yards per game with 12 touchdowns and just three interceptions this season. Wilson led Pittsburgh to a 27-14 victory over the Cleveland Browns last week, avenging an earlier loss.

The Steelers can secure a playoff spot with a win in Philadelphia, but their path gets tougher after Sunday with matchups against Baltimore and Kansas City looming.

Head coach Mike Tomlin is keeping the team’s focus on the task at hand. “I’m really just focused on Philadelphia. I don’t care what’s on the other side of it,” Tomlin said. “We’ve got a job to do.”

Key Matchups

• Eagles’ Offense vs. Steelers’ Defense: Philadelphia’s high-powered offense, led by Hurts and running back D’Andre Swift, will face a Steelers defense that could be without key players, including defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi (groin) and safety DeShon Elliott (hamstring).
• Russell Wilson vs. Eagles’ Secondary: Wilson’s efficiency will be tested against an Eagles secondary that has battled injuries but remains opportunistic. Safeties Sydney Brown (knee) and Reed Blankenship (concussion) could be key figures.
• A.J. Brown vs. Steelers’ Secondary: Brown’s ability to create big plays may determine whether Philadelphia can avoid offensive stagnation against a disciplined Pittsburgh defense.

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Injury Updates

The Steelers may be without top receiver George Pickens (hamstring), a significant blow to their passing attack. Defensive lineman Larry Ogunjobi and safety DeShon Elliott also missed practice this week.

For the Eagles, safety Sydney Brown (knee) sat out practice, while Blankenship, defensive tackle Jalen Carter (shoulder), and receiver Britain Covey (neck) were limited participants.

What to Watch

• Historic Streak: Can the Eagles set a franchise record with their 10th consecutive win, or will the Steelers play spoiler?
• Wilson’s Revival: Wilson’s resurgence has been pivotal to Pittsburgh’s playoff push. Will he continue his strong form against a tough Eagles defense?
• Playoff Implications: Both teams are in the playoff hunt, and this game could have significant implications for seeding and momentum heading into the final stretch of the season.

Outlook

The Eagles are favorites at home, but the Steelers have the talent and momentum to make this a competitive game. Philadelphia’s ability to silence the noise around Hurts and Brown, coupled with their defensive play, will likely decide the outcome. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh will look to capitalize on any cracks in the Eagles’ armor as they push for a playoff spot of their own. Expect a physical, hard-fought battle in this latest installment of the Keystone State rivalry.