All eyes on Eagles QB Jalen Hurts against Steelers

He’s not wrong. Brown didn’t see a target until late in the second quarter against the Panthers and finished the day with four catches for 43 yards. Hurts went 14-of-21 for 108 yards. It was the sixth time Hurts threw for less than 200 yards this season and his lowest yardage total since completing seven passes for 55 yards during a brief appearance in last year’s regular-season finale.

At the moment, Hurts is the NFL’s 20th-leading passer with 2,602 yards, behind rookie quarterbacks like Bo Nix (2,842), Jayden Daniels (2,819) and Caleb Williams (2,746). As a result, Philadelphia’s passing offense ranks 31st with 180.6 yards per game, just ahead of the Patriots, who average 171.5 pass yards per contest.

This week, the Eagles welcome the Steelers to Lincoln Financial Field. Philadelphia may have the league’s best defense, but Pittsburgh’s unit is also outstanding, allowing the seventh-fewest yards (310.2) and fifth-fewest points (18.3) per game. 

Unfortunately for Philadelphia, the Steelers have been particularly stingy against the run, allowing the fourth-fewest yards per game (91.5) on the ground. No team runs the ball more often (473 attempts) or better (190.5 yards per game) than the Eagles, but to win this game, they’ll have to throw the ball.

Hurts went 19-of-28 for 285 yards in a 35-13 victory over the Steelers in 2022, and more importantly, he threw four touchdown passes, one of only two career games he’s thrown for four or more scores.

His recent numbers may say otherwise, but Hurts could have similar success against an average Pittsburgh secondary that’s allowed 218.6 yards per game this season.

Sunday’s game will be a big test for Hurts and easily the most difficult game left on the Eagles’ regular-season schedule, with their final three games coming against NFC East opponents.