Eagles Take On Steelers In Battle Of Pennsylvania: Week 5 Preview

PENNSYLVANIA — Pennsylvania pride is on the line this week as the Eagles and Steelers will battle before a live crowd in Pittsburgh. It'll be the first time fans have been allowed inside a stadium for an NFL game in the 2020 season, after Gov. Wolf announced an easing of restrictions on occupancy limits earlier this week.

The game represents perhaps the Eagles greatest challenge yet in this topsy-turvy, pandemic-addled season. The Steelers are undefeated this year at 3-0, and are coming fresh off an impromptu bye week after their scheduled opponents last week, the Tennessee Titans, had to postpone the game due to several positive coronavirus tests among players and staff.

But perhaps that's good news for the Eagles: they've arguably played their best football this season when facing superior opponents. Their 1-2-1 record this year includes an excruciating blown-lead loss during their season opener to the Washington Redskins, as well as a tie to the Cincinnati Bengals chock-full of blown opportunities.

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Yet when faced with the defending NFC Champion San Francisco 49ers — albeit, minus their starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo — last week on Sunday Night Football, the Eagles pulled out their first win of the season.

That win was part of a balanced attack. Carson Wentz didn't dominate the game, but he executed when the Eagles needed him to. He rushed for 37 yards. The defense grabbed a pair of key interceptions. Receive Travid Fulgham stepped up with a pair of huge catches for 57 total yards.

The Eagles will need all that and more to keep up with the Steelers on Sunday. Pittsburgh has one of the most potent defenses in the NFL, which has been particularly effective in their opening three weeks at stopping the passing attack. The Birds could lean heavy on Miles Sanders again, who ran for 47 yards off 13 carries in Week 4.

The Birds will have to do it without linebacker T.J. Edwards and safety Rudy Ford, both of whom were placed on the injured reserve list Thursday. Receiver Alshon Jeffery and cornerback Avonte Maddox are also out. DeSean Jackson, Lane Johnson, and Rodney McLeod all had limited participation in practice Thursday, and are questionable for Sunday.

Sunday will be the first time Pennsylvania's two NFL teams have met in more than five years. The Eagles came out on top in that matchup in Sept. 2016, 34-3. And despite Pittsburgh's storied Super Bowl past and seven championships, the Birds own a decisive 48-28-3 record against their cross-state rivals.

While a limited number of spectators will be in attendance in Pittsburgh on Sunday, the Eagles and the city of Philadelphia have not yet confirmed that the maximum 7,500 fans will be allowed to attend the next Eagles home game, which is Oct. 18 against the Baltimore Ravens. The city said that they would review health and safety plans and make a final determination by next Tuesday, Oct. 13.

Kickoff is at 1 p.m. Sunday in Pittsburgh.