Eagles Throttle Steelers, Remain Unbeaten
PHILADELPHIA – On a sun-dappled late October day in South Philly, the Eagles shined brightly once more.
They got career days from Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown, and Javon Hargrave in throttling the Pittsburgh Steelers, 35-13, before another raucous crowd at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday afternoon.
It was the most points the Eagles scored on offense this season with A.J. Brown accounting for three touchdowns with grabs of 39, 27, and 29 yards in that order. Those three scores represented a career-high for the receiver as did his 156 yards receiving on six receptions.
He became the first Eagles WR to have three TDs in one game since Riley Cooper did it on Nov. 3, 2013, against the Raiders in Oakland. In that game, Nick Foles tied an NFL record with seven touchdown throws.
"It’s fun," said Brown, who has five TDs this season. "We out there doing celebrations and everything. It’s fun. There’s nothing like it. Not to throw bad blood on anyone, but we are having fun – this offense, this team, we’re enjoying everyone."
Current Eagles QB Jalen Hurts had four touchdown passes, which was a career-high.
He didn’t play the final 9:24 after the Eagles opened a 35-13 lead. Gardner Minshew took over and got his first snaps of the season as head coach Nick Sirianni inserted all his second-team players in the blowout triumph.
Hurts ended his day 19-for-28 with 285 yards and four TDs – giving him 10 this season plus six more rushing. He had a passer rating of 140.6.
“I guess I was in the zone," he said. "I feel like I could have done more. You look at the third quarter, I think there was an opportunity to make some plays. ...it’s a testament to the receivers we have (and) the protection we had all day.
"We were unwavering. I think we kept focused on playing to the standard and chasing that. Hell of a game by A.J. making big-time plays. I know he wants some back for sure but hell of a game by him.”
In addition to Brown's three TD grabs, Zach Pascal scored his first as an Eagle, finding himself wide open for a 34-yard strike in the second half.
"It’s super fun," said Pascal who had two catches for 54 yards. "You remember games like this. You and your teammates in the end zone, dancing and having fun, putting up a Dub, going crazy. Elite teams move on and get ready for the next one. We got another one Thursday, so we gotta put this to bed."
Defensive tackle Javon Hargrave, playing against his former team, tied his career high in sacks with two, one of which forced a fumble from Steelers rookie QB Kenny Pickett.
"It’s just nice to go against the other team," said Hargrave, who had eight tackles "It’s a little different urgency. I can’t lie. I can’t get ready for every game the same but this game kind of was a little bigger spark."
Added DT Fletcher Cox: "He was really good. He came out and he attacked the day. He was probably extra amped up to play Pittsburgh. ...he flew around and had a big game and made some plays. I’m excited for him.”
The Eagles also got an interception from Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, his team-high fourth of the season and fourth in three games. He also had one of six sacks by the Eagles.
It is a new career-high for the safety after he picked three with the Saints a season ago.
“It is about playing good football, putting your eyes in the right spot, and doing what coach tells you to do," said Gardner-Johnson, who added eight tackles. "I feel like as a whole, we are playing off of each other with (Darius) Slay and James (Bradberry) playing well. Avonte (Maddox) is playing well.
"Myself and (Marcus) Epps have to continue to protect those guys over the top and do what we have to do to catch a ball, overthrown balls, balls that the quarterback knows he can’t make, and the throws they can’t make.”
In addition to Hargrave’s two sacks and Gardner-Johnson’s one, Haason Reddick, Marlon Tuipulotu, and Milton Williams each had one. Reddick now has 5.5 this season.
The Eagles have forced 16 turnovers this year and are now plus-14 in the turnover ratio, far and away the best in the NFL.
Right now, they look like the best team in the league, though Kansas City and Buffalo could make a strong case for that title as well.
The Eagles, though, are the only unbeaten.
At 7-0, they will play again in just four days when they travel to Houston to play the Texans on Thursday night.
The Steelers will head into their bye week at 2-6 and staring straight into the face of Mike Tomlin’s first losing season after 15 years as their head coach. They were no match for the Eagles' offense, both through the air and on the ground.
After Hargrave forced Pickett’s fumble, Hurts hit A.J. Brown for a 43-yard gain to the 11. From there, Miles Sanders ran in for his fifth rushing score of the season and the rout was on at 35-13. Sanders finished with nine runs for 78 yards.
Once again, the Eagles charged to a first-half lead.
They haven’t trailed at the intermission in all seven games this year, and Sunday was no different with them taking a 21-10 lead.
The second quarter was once again their dynamite, igniting another 14 points in that quarter. They now have 126 points in the second quarter in seven games. The Steelers have scored 120 points total in eight games.
Ed Kracz is the publisher of SI.com’s Fan Nation Eagles Today and co-host of the Eagles Unfiltered Podcast. Check out the latest Eagles news at www.SI.com/NFL/Eagles or www.eaglesmaven.com and please follow him on Twitter: @kracze.
