Steelers vs Eagles Free Pick, NFL Free Picks, NFL Predictions 12/15/24

Pittsburgh vs Philadelphia (PHI -5.5, 43.5)

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Steelers vs Eagles Free Pick, NFL Free Picks, NFL Predictions 12/15/24

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Philadelphia Eagles | Sunday, December 15, 2024

The Week 15 slate will feature the battle for Pennsylvania, which also happens to be one of two potential Super Bowl matchups on the docket (the other being Lions vs Bills). Both teams enter this weekend’s fixture coming off of wins, but they came in very different fashions. Pittsburgh managed to get one back on their rival Cleveland Browns with a very good performance in the second half, whereas the Philadelphia Eagles were lucky not to fall to an embarrassing defeat to the Carolina Panthers.

Despite being on a 9-game winning streak, the vibes in the Eagles camp seem a bit off with both of their star wide receivers expressing frustration at the lack of production in the passing game. To be fair, they have a point, with Philly posting the second-fewest passing yards per game, with 180.6. That is not where you expect to be with AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith in the lineup.

Unfortunately for those two, this doesn’t stand out as a great matchup for a get-right performance. The Pittsburgh Steelers are giving up the second-fewest points, with 18.3, and the seventh-fewest yards, with 310.2. Quarterbacks are completing 62.3% of their passes against the unit, which is also seventh-best in the NFL, and they rank third with 15 interceptions. They are a talented and very well-coached defense, which is not good news for a Philly passing attack that is trying to find form.

One thing that might force production to AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith, though, is the Pittsburgh run defense, which is conceding the fourth fewest yards per game on the ground, with 91.5. This is where the Eagles like to attack their opponents, as they lead the entire NFL with 190.5 rushing yards per game. It is a real strength-on-strength matchup, and potentially a huge week in the race for the MVP, with Saquon Barkley trying to become the first non-QB to win the award since 2012.

The biggest concern for Pittsburgh’s offense is the health status of George Pickens who is considered doubtful for this game. Russell Wilson and company have played well ever since the former Bronco entered the lineup, but this is a sparse wide receiver room once you take Pickens out. The Steelers rank 23rd with 206 passing yards per game, and it doesn’t get much tougher than facing off against a Vic Fangio-run Philly defense that is conceding the second-fewest passing yards per game, with 178.5. Add in the fact that Pickens is likely to miss, and this could be a tricky situation for Pitt to work their way out of.

To counteract the injury, perhaps we should expect the Steelers to focus on the run, which is something they like to do anyway. They have the second-highest amount of carries on the year, producing 132 rushing yards per game, which is 10th best in the NFL. Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren are a very effective one-two punch, but they will have to be at their very best to get through a Philly defensive line that ranks fourth best in yards conceded.

This is a battle between two very good teams at the top of their respective divisions, and it promises to be edge-of-your-seat stuff.

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