The city of Philadelphia has not been kind to the Pittsburgh Steelers over the years. It’s a place that they haven’t won in since 1965, a span of 10 games. And the losses in recent history have been brutal.
The Steelers have been out-scored 84-22 in their last three meetings in the City of Brotherly Love. The losses at Lincoln Financial Field in 2008, 2016 and 2022 were all bloodbaths.
In 2008, Ben Roethlisberger got sacked a career-high nine times in a 15-6 loss to the Eagles. Defensive coordinator Jim Johnson masterminded a perfect defensive game plan, as the Eagles held the Steelers to only 14 first downs and 180 total yards of offense. The Steelers were also an abysmal 2 of 13 on third down.
In 2016, rookie quarterback Carson Wentz led the Eagles to a 34-3 win over the Steelers. At the time, the 31-point loss was the largest defeat in the Mike Tomlin era. Wentz completed 23 of 31 passes (74.2%) for 301 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions, and a quarterback rating of 125.9. In contrast, Roethlisberger had a dreadful performance, completing 24 of 44 passes (54.5%) for 257 yards, no touchdowns, one interception, and a quarterback rating of 62.4.
A.J. Brown went off in the last Steelers-Eagles meeting in 2022, recording six receptions for 156 yards (26.0 average) and three touchdowns in a 35-13 Philadelphia win. Jalen Hurts completed 67.8% of his passes for 285 yards and four touchdowns. On the defensive side of the ball, the Eagles created havoc for Kenny Pickett all afternoon, sacking the rookie six times.
The Steelers lost to the Eagles at Veterans Stadium in 1997, 1991 and 1979. Their last win in Philadelphia occurred on Oct. 24, 1965. It was a 20-14 win for Pittsburgh at Franklin Field.
The most notorious game that displayed the Steelers’ frustrations in Philadelphia came in 1969. It was Joe Greene’s first loss of his career, and he was livid about it. With the Steelers losing by a couple of touchdowns late in the fourth quarter, Greene became so frustrated that the officials weren’t calling any holding penalties against Philadelphia that he grabbed the ball before the Eagles’ center could snap it, threw it into the stands, and stomped off the field. At that moment, Dan Rooney, the son of Steelers founder Art Rooney, knew they had something special in Greene.
“I said to my father, ‘This guy is special. If he’s that intense that he’s going to do something like that, we’ve got a guy that we want,’” Rooney said.
The Steelers return to Philadelphia on Sunday, and it for sure will be a hostile environment. It won’t be a Steelers Nation takeover like in other cities. The Eagles (11-2) are playing elite football, winning a franchise-record nine in a row and they have a league MVP candidate in running back Saquon Barkley who is on track to break the NFL single-season rushing record. He needs 483 yards in the final four games to break the record.
The Eagles struggled with the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, eking out a 22-16 victory. Hurts threw for only 108 yards, and Brown expressed frustration for only receiving four targets. Nevertheless, the Eagles are a pretty complete team across the board.
The Eagles are allowing only 18.0 points per game, which is tied for second-best in the NFL. Overall, the Eagles rank No. 1 in yards allowed, surrendering only 284.2 yards per game.
The secondary has really shined with rookie cornerbacks Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean playing at a high level. The Eagles rank second in pass defense, allowing only 178.5 yards per game. That could not bode well for the Steelers, especially if star wide receiver George Pickens (hamstring) does not play.
According to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in an appearance on the DVE Morning Show on Monday, Pickens suffered a Grade 2 hamstring strain in the week leading up the Cleveland game, and his status for Sunday’s game in Philadelphia remains up in the air. Pickens was held out of Sunday’s 27-14 win over the Browns.
Below are the 10 consecutive losses by the Steelers in the regular season in Philadelphia.
Dec. 4, 1966: 27-23 loss at Franklin Field
Oct. 1, 1967: 34-24 loss at Franklin Field
Sept. 28, 1969: 34-24 loss at Franklin Field
Dec. 20, 1970: 30-20 loss at Franklin Field
Sept. 30, 1979: 17-14 loss at Veterans Stadium
Sept 22, 1991: 23-14 loss at Veterans Stadium
Sept 21, 2008: 15-6 loss at Lincoln Financial Field
Sept. 25, 2016: 34-3 loss at Lincoln Financial Field
Oct. 30, 2022: 35-13 at Lincoln Financial Field