The Eagles and Steelers play another installment of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Bowl this Sunday at 1PM EST, on what is expected to be a cold and rainy afternoon.
The Birds got their first win of the season over the 49ers last week in a Sunday Night Football upset. That victory brought Philadelphia all the way to the top of the abysmal NFC East. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh remains undefeated coming off of their unscheduled bye last week due to Titans players testing positive for COVID. The Steelers stand ahead of the Browns and Ravens by a half game in their division.
So let’s get into how these teams will battle in this week 5 bout to keep a hold on first place.
Can the Injured Eagles Cover the Spread?
I have absolutely zero faith in Philly to win this game, so the real question lies in if they cover the spread?
The Eagles have significant injuries to say the least. All-pro tackle Lane Johnson is questionable, their top DB Darius Slay is also questionable, and that doesn’t even scratch the surface of how depleted the Philly offense is as a whole.
The Steelers pass rush ranks among the best in the league, and should have a field day blitzing QB Carson Wentz and his thin WR core. Last week the Eagles barely beat out a 49ers team that was almost as injured as they are. I do not see Philadelphia winning against a healthy and rested Steelers team, barring an absolute dud from the home team.
Can Pittsburgh Somehow Blow This?
The NFL can certainly be a crazy league, as evidenced by the Eagles going out West to beat San Francisco last week in a prime time game.
One thing going against the Steelers on Sunday is that their undefeated record is against very soft teams. Not saying Philly isn’t also an easy matchup, but I’d say they will be more challenging than the winless Texans or the hopeless Broncos and Giants.
If the Steelers come out flat-footed after the bye, this game could be closer than one would think. Pittsburgh is no question the better team in this game, and should have no trouble shutting down the Eagles battered offense. If Slay sits, expect big things from Ben Roethlisberger and JuJu Smith-Schuster.
Eagles vs. Steelers Betting Preview
Pittsburgh is favored by 7 points in this game, and the over/under sits at 44.5 in most sportsbooks. If you’re looking for the safest bet of all time bet the Steelers moneyline (-325) and enjoy what couple bucks you make off of that. However, I will also be taking the Steelers -7.
I said earlier that I have no faith in the Eagles to win this game, and I’d be surprised if they put up more than 20 points against this potent Steelers defense.
I would say that Philly has a chance at covering this spread if Wentz can carry the team’s entire offense, but he is in the middle of what looks like his worst season yet. If anything, covering this 7 point spread is in head coach Doug Pederson’s hands.
My prediction for the final score is: Eagles – 15 Steelers – 27
The Pick: Steelers (-7)
