PITTSBURGH — The Steelers are hoping to get back in the win column in Week 15, but history has proven that will not be easy with a road matchup against the Eagles.
Pittsburgh has not won in Philadelphia since October 24, 1965. Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward doesn’t believe the team’s past should define this game, however.
“I think last time we were up there they won some critical, situational plays, but every game’s different,” Heyward said. “I don’t really like to play into trends of what’s happened in the past, but we got to go up there and answer the call.”
The Steelers last played the Eagles in Philadelphia on October 30, 2022. The Eagles won the game handily, 35-13.
There are several factors for the Eagles’ dominance in the last time meeting, but Heyward simply thinks the Steelers are an all-around better team this year.
“I think we were going through a tough stretch, but I think this team to that team, it’s apples to oranges,” Heyward said. “It’s a different year, different guys. I speak to the complementary football we’re playing now. I don’t know if we were consistent as we were back then, but we have new guys all over the place. It’d be a shame to compare that team to this year.”
Heyward has a point. The Steelers’ 2022 loss to the Eagles was their sixth in the first eight weeks of the season. The 2024 Steelers have half the amount of losses in almost double the number of weeks.
Another factor that has proven to be difficult for the rest of the league is overcoming the hostile environment created by Eagles fans. Heyward is confident in the Steelers’ ability to shut out the noise, though.
“Man, we’re in the AFC North. It’s always hostile,” Heyward said. “So I think that’s never a factor because we’re used to playing in hostile environments. Philly has a lot of really good players.”
One thing that isn’t going to change from 2022 to 2024 is that the game will be won and lost in the trenches. Both teams pride themselves on having dominant run games and playing a physical style of defense.
Heyward acknowledged just that on Thursday.
“Physicality plays a big part in this game,” Heyward said. “We have to make sure we win the line of scrimmage. In this type of game, everybody knows about the highfliers on both sides of the ball, but if you can’t win the line of scrimmage, you’re not gonna win this game.”