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Pittsburgh Steelers at Philadelphia Eagles 8:00 PM ET
Pittsburgh Steelers +3.5 (2 Units)
This is the week where the starters see the most playing time of the entire preseason but it will be interesting to see if that will be the case for the Eagles. They are killed right now by injuries and taking too many chances with their first team might not be the call here. As the Eagles approach their third preseason game, they are already down three offensive players for the season - running backs Correll Buckhalter and Bruce Perry, and offensive lineman Jamaal Jackson. Another dozen players are sidelined with injuries and unable to practice. Things are not good for the defense, where the Eagles have also lost defensive end N.D. Kalu for the season to a torn ACL. Adding to Philly’s woes for Thursday’s game, six defenders (including free safety Brian Dawkins) are definitely out, DT Corey Simon is doubtful with a lingering foot injury, and another seven are listed as questionable. Even with Nate Wayne back, the Eagles will be very thin at linebacker against the Steelers, with only six in uniform.
With their thin defense, the Eagles should have trouble with the Steelers strength so far in the preseason – running the ball. The Steelers have 378 yards rushing in two preseason games. Head coach Bill Cowher and coordinator Ken Whisenhunt have put more emphasis on their ground game after it slid to a No. 31 ranking in the NFL last season, their lowest ever. They will continue to do that on Thursday as well. Pittsburgh is averaging 4.7 ypc through their first two games, third in the league, while the Eagles are allowing 4.9 ypc, second worst in the league. Even though a knee injury has ended the season of right guard Kendall Simmons, the offensive line has blocked effectively. Keydrick Vincent, about to enter his first season as a starter, will do fine as Simmons' replacement. Tommy Maddox has been nearly flawless in camp and in games. He led Pittsburgh to touchdowns on two of three drives against Houston Saturday night
Offensively, Philadelphia has not shown much. Besides an 81-yard pass play on the first play from scrimmage, the Eagles mustered only 201 yards of offense in their last game against the Ravens. They gained just 217 yards in their opener against New England. The loss of Buckhalter is huge for the Eagles, who signed veteran Dorsey Levens this week to fill the void. Pittsburgh has not played the greatest of offenses yet but they are allowing opponents just 235 ypg. They are giving up 2.9 ypc on the ground and if not for a 28-yard run by the Texans, that number drops to 2.4 ypc.
The first units for Pittsburgh will stay in at least through the first half. "I feel like a full half at this point is important," Cowher said. "I want them to get [used] to playing. At the same time, I'm not so much worried about injuries, but we need to evaluate some of the other guys." Duce Staley will return to Philadelphia for the first time since signing with Pittsburgh in the offseason. The Eagles are notoriously a bad team when laying chalk, going 12-20 ATS including 2-6 ATS as a favorite their last 8. They are also 2-6 ATS as a favorite against .500 teams or better.
Pittsburgh Steelers +3.5 (2 Units)
This is the week where the starters see the most playing time of the entire preseason but it will be interesting to see if that will be the case for the Eagles. They are killed right now by injuries and taking too many chances with their first team might not be the call here. As the Eagles approach their third preseason game, they are already down three offensive players for the season - running backs Correll Buckhalter and Bruce Perry, and offensive lineman Jamaal Jackson. Another dozen players are sidelined with injuries and unable to practice. Things are not good for the defense, where the Eagles have also lost defensive end N.D. Kalu for the season to a torn ACL. Adding to Philly’s woes for Thursday’s game, six defenders (including free safety Brian Dawkins) are definitely out, DT Corey Simon is doubtful with a lingering foot injury, and another seven are listed as questionable. Even with Nate Wayne back, the Eagles will be very thin at linebacker against the Steelers, with only six in uniform.
With their thin defense, the Eagles should have trouble with the Steelers strength so far in the preseason – running the ball. The Steelers have 378 yards rushing in two preseason games. Head coach Bill Cowher and coordinator Ken Whisenhunt have put more emphasis on their ground game after it slid to a No. 31 ranking in the NFL last season, their lowest ever. They will continue to do that on Thursday as well. Pittsburgh is averaging 4.7 ypc through their first two games, third in the league, while the Eagles are allowing 4.9 ypc, second worst in the league. Even though a knee injury has ended the season of right guard Kendall Simmons, the offensive line has blocked effectively. Keydrick Vincent, about to enter his first season as a starter, will do fine as Simmons' replacement. Tommy Maddox has been nearly flawless in camp and in games. He led Pittsburgh to touchdowns on two of three drives against Houston Saturday night
Offensively, Philadelphia has not shown much. Besides an 81-yard pass play on the first play from scrimmage, the Eagles mustered only 201 yards of offense in their last game against the Ravens. They gained just 217 yards in their opener against New England. The loss of Buckhalter is huge for the Eagles, who signed veteran Dorsey Levens this week to fill the void. Pittsburgh has not played the greatest of offenses yet but they are allowing opponents just 235 ypg. They are giving up 2.9 ypc on the ground and if not for a 28-yard run by the Texans, that number drops to 2.4 ypc.
The first units for Pittsburgh will stay in at least through the first half. "I feel like a full half at this point is important," Cowher said. "I want them to get [used] to playing. At the same time, I'm not so much worried about injuries, but we need to evaluate some of the other guys." Duce Staley will return to Philadelphia for the first time since signing with Pittsburgh in the offseason. The Eagles are notoriously a bad team when laying chalk, going 12-20 ATS including 2-6 ATS as a favorite their last 8. They are also 2-6 ATS as a favorite against .500 teams or better.