Rookie quarterback Carson Wentz completed 23 of 31 passes for 301 yards and two touchdowns, as he and the rest of the Philadelphia Eagles outclassed the Pittsburgh Steelers in every facet of the game in a 34-3 beat-down, Sunday evening at Lincoln Financial Field.
- The loss dropped Pittsburgh to 2-1 and was the worst defeat for the franchise since a 51-0 loss to the Browns at Three Rivers Stadium in opening day 1 of the 1989 season.
Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger completed 24 of 44 passes for 257 yards, an interception and a lost fumble in one of his worst performances since the last time he played at Lincoln Financial Field back in Week 3 of the 2008 season. Much like that day eight years ago, when Roethlisberger’s sacks (eight) outnumbered Pittsburgh’s points (six), No. 7 was taken to the turf four times on Sunday, as he and the offensive line had trouble with the Eagles fierce and dominant front-seven.
Rodney McLeod rips away a would-be touchdown pass from Darrius Heyward-Bey as Eagles spank Steelers. Photo Credit: David Maialetti, Philadelphia Inquirer
In-addition to the struggles in the passing game (222 yards after deducting the four sacks), the running back merely generated 29 yards on the day, led by DeAngelo Williams, who carried eight times for 21 yards.
- For the day, the Eagles out-gained the Steelers, 426-251, and gained 21 first downs to Pittsburgh’s 13.
The defense, which excelled over the first two weeks at bending but not breaking, had no answers for Philadelphia on the day. The Eagles scored on six of their first seven offensive possessions and enjoyed their 34-3 margin before the start of the fourth quarter.
- The only bright spot on the day was the play of receiver Antonio Brown, who caught 12 passes for 140 yards.
However, the rest of the Steelers receiving corps struggled, as Markus Wheaton dropped at least three passes, including one for a touchdown and another that could have converted a first down. Darrius Heyward-Bey also failed to secure a touchdown pass which Rodney McLeod ripped away for an interception.
In-addition to the overall dominance at the hands of the Eagles, Pittsburgh suffered some key injuries on the day, specifically inside linebacker Lawrence Timmons, who left the game in the first half with a shin injury and was rushed to a hospital at halftime. Robert Golden and Michael Mitchell were also listed as injured by head coach Mike Tomlin.
Receiver Eli Rogers also left Sunday’s game with a toe injury and didn’t return, while linebacker Ryan Shazier was in and out of the lineup all day battling various injuries.
For the Steelers, a team with huge Super Bowl aspirations, Week 3 was a huge dose of reality.
