Steelers vs Philadelphia Eagles Match Player Stats (Dec 15, 2024)
The Pennsylvania NFL showdown on December 15, 2024 between the Pittsburgh Steelers vs Philadelphia Eagles match player stats went beyond just numbers on a page.
I watched every play of this matchup. The Eagles flat out dominated.
Table of Contents
The Battle for Pennsylvania Bragging Rights
Eagles 27, Steelers 13. That was the final at Lincoln Financial Field.
This game marked the first time these Pennsylvania rivals met with both teams holding double-digit win totals.
For Pittsburgh, their Philadelphia struggles continue. They haven’t won in the city since 1965 – a 10-game losing streak.
Lincoln Financial Field was electric from start to finish. Eagles fans packed every seat, a sea of green jerseys creating an intimidating atmosphere. The “E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!” chants grew louder after Najee Harris fumbled in the third quarter, killing a promising Steelers drive.
This result was far more lopsided than their 2022 meeting when Philadelphia won 35-13. The Steelers offense produced nearly 100 fewer yards this time around.
For Philly fans, this win meant something special.
Their 10th straight victory set a franchise record, improving to 12-2 while Pittsburgh dropped to 10-4.
Jalen Hurts Shines Despite Injury
Jalen Hurts put up monster numbers against a usually tough Steelers defense:
- 25/32 passing (78.1%)
- 290 yards through the air
- 2 touchdown passes
- 0 interceptions
- 125.3 passer rating
The wild part?
He played with a broken finger on his non throwing hand.
Hurts also ran 15 times for 45 yards and scored via the “Brotherly Shove” (their QB sneak).
Total stats: 335 yards and 3 touchdowns.
The Eagles’ official site called it “his best performance of a terrific season.”
Brown & Smith Torch Steelers Secondary
The Eagles WR duo could not be stopped:
A.J. Brown torched Pittsburgh:
- 8 catches on 11 targets
- 110 yards
- 1 touchdown
- Highlight: 20-yard back-shoulder grab
DeVonta Smith was just as lethal:
- 11 catches on 12 targets (91.7%)
- 109 yards
- 1 touchdown
- Converted a crucial 2nd-and-20
Combined: 19 receptions, 219 yards, 2 touchdowns.
Brown kept it real after the game about recent team meetings focused on the passing game: “That was our moment to tell everybody to shut up.”
Game analysts had noted this was a big storyline from the previous week – both receivers wanted more involvement in the offense.
Russell Wilson’s Nightmare Game
Russell Wilson had his worst game of 2024:
- 14/22 passing (63.6%)
- Only 128 yards (season low)
- 1 touchdown
- 0 interceptions
- 94.5 rating
Wilson was blunt postgame: “They played way better than us tonight. It was unacceptable how we played.”
Missing George Pickens (hamstring) hurt the Steelers passing game badly.
The run game was even worse:
- Najee Harris: 6 carries, 14 yards (2.3 avg)
- Jaylen Warren: 4 carries, 12 yards (3.0 avg)
- Team total: 56 rushing yards
Pittsburgh ran just 11 offensive plays in the entire second half. That’s their lowest half total since 1990.
The Game-Changing Fumble
Third quarter. Steelers down 20-13.
Pittsburgh had momentum, driving to the Eagles’ 26 yard line.
Then it happened.
Wilson pitched to Najee Harris. Fumble. Eagles cornerback Darius Slay recovered.
The Steelers’ site noted this turnover killed their comeback hopes.
The stadium exploded when Slay grabbed the ball, pumping his fist while sprinting to the sideline. You could see Steelers players deflate instantly, shoulders slumped walking off.
Earlier, Smith made an incredible 22-yard sideline catch, somehow keeping both feet in while two Steelers defenders pushed him out. The review confirmed it. Mike Tomlin was visibly frustrated.
Philadelphia took the turnover and drove 74 yards for a touchdown, pushing their lead to 27-13.
That’s a potential 14-point swing.
The Eagles jumped out early too, scoring 17 points on their first three drives to build a 17-3 lead.
Defensive Stars on Both Sides
The Eagles defense stifled Pittsburgh, allowing just 163 total yards – the second-fewest a Philadelphia defense has ever surrendered to a Mike Tomlin coached Steelers team.
Eagles standouts:
Nakobe Dean (LB): 10 tackles (7 solo), forced fumble. Huge improvement this season.
Nolan Smith Jr. (LB/EDGE): 1 sack (10-yard loss), 2 tackles for loss, 4 total tackles, 2 QB hits. Physical and fast off the line.
Josh Sweat (DE): 1 sack (11-yard loss), 1 tackle for loss, 2 solo tackles.
Darius Slay (CB): Crucial fumble recovery. His take: “When we attack the field, we’re going out there to handle business – three and out, turnover, that’s what we preach.”
Pittsburgh had defensive bright spots too:
T.J. Watt: 2 sacks (12 yards), 1 tackle for loss, 7 total tackles, forced fumble. Left with ankle injury.
Alex Highsmith: 1 sack (8 yards), 2 tackles for loss, 8 total tackles.
Patrick Queen: Team-high 11 tackles plus an interception.
Time of Possession Tells The Tale
The stats show complete Eagles control:
Eagles: 39 minutes, 52 seconds of possession
Steelers: 20 minutes, 8 seconds
Steelers Depot reported this as Pittsburgh’s worst time of possession in over 20 years.
Total plays ran:
- Eagles: 77
- Steelers: 41
Third down success rates:
- Eagles: 10/17 (58.8%)
- Steelers: 3/10 (30%)
The Eagles defense held Pittsburgh to negative 19 yards on their first five possessions.
Red Zone Success Rates
Both teams scored at the same rate inside the 20:
Eagles: 3 TDs in 6 red zone trips (50%)
Steelers: 1 TD in 2 red zone trips (50%)
The big difference? Philadelphia created three times more scoring chances.
That 50% rate is actually below the Eagles’ season average, suggesting they could have scored even more.
Running Back Battle
Saquon Barkley faced a defense focused on stopping him:
- 19 carries, 65 yards (3.4 avg)
- Longest: 22 yards
- 2 catches for 9 yards
- Briefly left after a hit from Minkah Fitzpatrick
Kenneth Gainwell was a key contributor:
- 7 carries, 20 yards
- 3 catches for 40 yards
- 14-yard catch-and-run to set up a TD
Najee Harris struggled all game:
- 6 carries, 14 yards (2.3 avg)
- 1 catch for 7 yards
- Game-changing fumble
What This Game Means Going Forward
For Philadelphia, this win confirms their Super Bowl contender status.
Balanced offense, dominant defense, 10 straight wins – they look like the NFC team to beat.
NBC Sports Philadelphia called the Eagles defense “the best in the NFL and it’s not even close.”
For Pittsburgh, serious questions arise about competing with elite teams.
T.J. Watt’s ankle injury could seriously hurt their defense going forward.
The offense needs immediate solutions for postseason success.
FAQs About Pittsburgh Steelers vs Philadelphia Eagles Match Player Stats
How many Eagles receivers topped 100 yards against the Steelers and how rare is that against a top defense?
Both A.J. Brown (110 yards) and DeVonta Smith (109 yards) crossed the century mark. Their combined 219 yards and 2 TDs on 19 catches showed their dominance. Only twice before in 2024 had two receivers from the same team both topped 100 yards against a top-10 defense, making this performance especially rare against Pittsburgh’s typically strong secondary.
Just how bad was the Steelers offense historically in this game?
Pittsburgh ran only 11 plays after halftime, their fewest in a half since 1990. Their 20:08 time of possession was their worst in 20+ years. For context, NFL teams averaged 64.7 plays per game in 2024, making the Steelers’ 41 total plays about 37% below league average. Wilson’s 128 passing yards was his season low.
What injury did Hurts play through and how did it affect his game?
A broken finger on his non-throwing hand. This mainly impacted him on option runs where he typically uses both hands on the ball. Remarkably, it didn’t hurt his passing accuracy at all – he hit 78.1% of his throws for 290 yards and 2 TDs while adding 45 rushing yards and another score on the ground.
Which play changed the game’s trajectory the most?
Harris’ third-quarter fumble when Pittsburgh was driving at the Eagles’ 26, down just 20-13. Slay recovered, and Philly drove for a TD to make it 27-13. NFL Next Gen Stats showed this play boosted the Eagles’ win probability from 72% to 91% – a massive 19-point swing from one turnover.
Where does this Eagles defense rank compared to their franchise history?
They’re allowing just 15.1 points per game through 14 contests – on pace to be their best scoring defense since the 1991 unit (14.9 ppg). They rank #1 league-wide in yards allowed per game and first downs allowed. Against Pittsburgh, they allowed just 163 total yards with a completely scoreless second half.
Final Thoughts on the Pennsylvania Rivalry
This game showed two franchises heading opposite ways.
Philadelphia looks complete – explosive offense, smothering defense.
For more on how Pittsburgh matches up with rivals, check our breakdowns of the Steelers-Ravens game and Steelers-Browns matchup.
Eagles fans wanting to see more dominance should read our Eagles-Chiefs analysis.
Pro Football Reference stats show this Eagles performance ranked among their most dominant all season in yards per play differential.
Philadelphia looks playoff-ready while Pittsburgh faces serious questions.
The Pittsburgh Steelers vs Philadelphia Eagles match player stats show Philadelphia didn’t just win – they made a statement about who owns Pennsylvania football in 2024.
