The Philadelphia Eagles will seek the first 10-game winning streak in the franchise’s 92-year history when they host the Keystone State rival Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.
The Eagles (11-2), despite being unbeaten since September, enter this colossal clash under a cloud of controversy regarding an allegedly deteriorating relationship between quarterback Jalen Hurts and star receiver A.J. Brown.
There’s little margin for error against a rejuvenated Russell Wilson and the Steelers (10-3), who have won seven of their last eight games. The only loss in that stretch was by five points at snowy Cleveland in Week 12.
The Eagles spent part of the week doing damage control after captain Brandon Graham told a podcast that Hurts and Brown were no longer friends. Graham later apologized for his remarks, which came after Hurts threw for a season-low 108 yards in last weekend’s 22-16 win against the Carolina Panthers.
Brown caught four passes for 43 yards in that tougher-than-expected contest and has only one touchdown catch in his last seven games. When Brown was asked after the Carolina game what the offense needed to improve on, he replied: “Passing.”
Philadelphia coach Nick Sirianni said Brown wasn’t pointing fingers at Hurts with that answer.
“I took it as we want to get better as a passing attack. A.J. is part of the passing attack. And so, we all want to be better at it,” Sirianni said in his weekly appearance Tuesday with 94 WIP.
“Jalen and A.J. are both really outstanding people, and both really outstanding players. I love that our players are wanting to get better and desire to get better, and that’s what we talk about all of the time — is how we get better and be able to do things that are special.”
The Steelers, meanwhile, have continued to get better since Wilson became the starter in Week 7. Pittsburgh can join the Eagles in the playoff field with a win in Philadelphia.
A nine-time Pro Bowl selection and postseason regular during his decade with the Seattle Seahawks, Wilson is 6-1 this season after compiling an 11-19 record in two years with the Denver Broncos. He is averaging 254.9 passing yards per game with 12 touchdown passes and just three interceptions.
Wilson avenged the Steelers’ earlier loss to the Browns by tossing two second-half touchdown passes in a 27-14 win in last weekend’s rematch in Pittsburgh.
Starting with Philadelphia, the Steelers will play three games in 11 days against teams with a combined 31-8 record. They will play in Baltimore on Dec. 21 and will host Kansas City on Dec. 25.
“I’m really just focused on Philadelphia. I don’t care what’s on the other side of it,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday.
“… We’ve got a task this week. We’ve got a job to do. We’ve got a finite amount of time and materials and talent and manpower, as do they. And so, with that in mind, we’re going to prepare and focus our energies on winning this game.”
Pittsburgh’s manpower may not include No. 1 receiver George Pickens, whom Tomlin said is doubtful to play due to a hamstring injury. In addition to Pickens, safety DeShon Elliott (hamstring) and defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi (groin) also missed practice Wednesday.
Safety Sydney Brown (knee) was the only member of the Eagles who did not practice Wednesday due to injury. Safety Reed Blankenship (concussion), defensive tackle Jalen Carter (shoulder) and receiver/returner Britain Covey (neck) were limited participants.
The Eagles lead 49-29-3 in the battle of Pennsylvania. The Steelers are 0-3 at Lincoln Financial Field and have not won in Philadelphia since 1965.
