As far as measuring sticks go, this ought to be a pretty good one.
Over the first two weeks of the season, the Eagles have beaten the Cleveland Browns and the Chicago Bears. It’s not their fault the schedule lined up two of the NFL’s worst teams to start the season. And they did what they needed to, beating bad teams.
But the Steelers are a different animal. They might be the best team in the entire league.
Here’s a look at five important matchups for Sunday’s game.
Antonio Brown vs. Jalen Mills
Against Alshon Jeffery, the rookie seventh-rounder gave up one big play, but then actually held his own. A new week brings a new challenge for the rookie.
With Leodis McKelvin still out with a hamstring injury, the Eagles will go with Nolan Carroll, Mills and Ron Brooks. With a future Hall of Fame quarterback in Ben Roethlisberger, Mills should expect to be tested early and often, especially if he’s on Brown.
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How good is Brown?
Well, since 2013, he leads the league with 387 receptions and 5,196 yards. The next closest player in both categories is Demaryius Thomas with 317 catches and 4,491 yards.
Brown’s worst season in the last three came in 2013, when he caught 110 passes for 1,499 yards. The Eagles have never had a receiver put up those numbers in a season. In fact, Brown has three of the 21 such seasons in NFL history.
Good luck, rookie.
Ben Roethlisberger vs. Eagles' D-line
Jay Cutler is a pretty good NFL quarterback. Roethlisberger is going to be a Hall of Famer one day.
Roethlisberger can carve up a secondary, but a lot of that is because of his ability to extend plays in the pocket. No one moves better in the pocket or is harder to bring down than Big Ben.
While Roethlisberger is tough to bring down, he does get sacked quite a bit. His 441 sacks rank him eighth all time. But last year, he had his lowest number ever at just 20 sacks and he's been taken down just twice in two games in 2016.
The key for the Eagles' defensive linemen is to be aware that a leg tackle isn't going to stop Big Ben. They have to go at his torso to bring him down and it won't be easy.
DeAngelo Williams vs. Eagles' D
Plenty of people thought the Eagles were getting a break by avoiding Le’Veon Bell because of his suspension. While Bell might be the best back in the league, his backup DeAngelo Williams is leading the league in rushing at 33 years old.
The one thing that stands out about Williams is his patience. The key for the Eagles to stop him will be discipline staying in their gaps.
Kenjon Barner, who was a teammate of Williams’ in Carolina, remembered a saying Williams used often: “Slow to, fast through.” That’s the way Williams runs … slow to the hole, then he explodes. The Eagles have to be there to stop him.
Carson Wentz vs. Ryan Shazier
Through two games and 71 pass attempts, Wentz hasn’t thrown an interception. It’s a huge reason why the Eagles are 2-0.
The rookie has to be mindful of Steelers middle linebacker Ryan Shazier on Sunday afternoon. Shazier is deceptively fast in coverage. It might not look like he’s going to make a play, then he’ll undercut a route for a pass breakup or an interception. Wentz would be wise to know where he is.
Cameron Heyward vs. Allen Barbre
Heyward is probably one of the more underrated members of the Steelers. He’s a former first-round pick who has never made a Pro Bowl, but is very disruptive.
Heyward had seven sacks in 2015 and was tied among all 3-4 defensive ends with 44 quarterback hurries, according to ProFootballFocus. He already has seven QB hurries in 2016.
Through the first two games, Heyward has primarily lined up on the right side of the line, which means Barbre will be the guy responsible for him Sunday afternoon. Barbre has played pretty well through two weeks of the 2016 season.
