If you were looking for a high-scoring shootout in South Philly on December 15, you probably left disappointed. But if you wanted to see a physical, grind-it-out masterclass in how to close a game, the eagles steelers game 2024 delivered exactly that. It was the kind of afternoon where the stats don't quite capture the exhaustion you could see on the defensive linemen’s faces by the fourth quarter.
Philadelphia walked away with a 27-13 win.
Honestly, the score makes it look a little more comfortable than it felt for most of the afternoon at Lincoln Financial Field. For a solid chunk of the first half, it felt like the Steelers might actually pull off one of those classic "Mike Tomlin specials" where they hang around just long enough to break your heart in the final two minutes. But Jalen Hurts and a relentless Eagles offensive line had other plans.
The Dominance of the 10th Straight Win
This wasn't just another win. This victory marked a franchise-record 10th consecutive win for the Philadelphia Eagles. Think about that for a second. In a league designed for parity, winning ten in a row is basically like trying to walk through a rainstorm without getting wet. You’re not supposed to be able to do it.
Jalen Hurts was efficient. That’s the best word for it.
He finished 25-of-32 for 290 yards and two touchdowns through the air. He also added a rushing score because, well, that's just what he does.
What stood out most was how the Eagles' receivers just... existed in spaces where no Steelers defender could reach them. A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith both went over 100 yards. When you have two guys playing like that at the same time, defensive coordinators start looking for the nearest exit. Brown had 8 catches for 110 yards and a score, while Smith hauled in 11 for 109 and a touchdown. It was a "pick your poison" scenario that Pittsburgh never really solved.
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Why the Eagles Steelers Game 2024 Was Won in the Trenches
Pittsburgh’s defense is usually the stuff of nightmares. T.J. Watt is a human wrecking ball, and he did his usual thing—forcing a fumble and recording two sacks early on. But football is a four-quarter game, and the Eagles' offensive line eventually just wore them down.
By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, the Eagles did something you almost never see in the modern NFL. They took the ball with over ten minutes left on the clock and just... kept it.
The final drive was a 21-play soul-crusher.
They moved the ball 88 yards from their own 3-yard line all the way to the Pittsburgh 8. They converted four third and fourth downs. They didn't even score on that drive, but it didn't matter. They literally ran out the clock. The Steelers' offense never saw the ball again. If you’re a fan of "old school" football, that drive was basically art.
- Total Yards: PHI 401, PIT 163
- Time of Possession: PHI 39:52, PIT 20:08
- First Downs: PHI 24, PIT 10
You can't win games when the other team has the ball for nearly 40 minutes. It's physically impossible. Russell Wilson was held to just 128 passing yards. Najee Harris couldn't find any room to breathe, finishing with only 14 yards on 6 carries. It was a total defensive lockdown by Vic Fangio’s unit.
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The Turning Points and Key Moments
The first half was actually pretty tight. After the Eagles jumped out to a 17-3 lead, the Steelers fought back. Pat Freiermuth caught a 9-yard touchdown pass from Wilson, and Chris Boswell nailed a 49-yard field goal right before the half to make it 17-13.
The Linc got a little quiet. People were nervous.
Then came the third quarter. Najee Harris fumbled at the Philadelphia 34-yard line. Darius Slay, who always seems to be in the right place at the right time, jumped on it. That mistake effectively killed Pittsburgh's momentum. The Eagles turned that into points, and the Steelers' offense went cold for the rest of the night.
What This Means for Both Teams
For the Eagles, this moved them to 12-2. It cemented them as the team to beat in the NFC. They proved they could handle a physical AFC North opponent without losing their cool.
The Steelers fell to 10-4. Despite the loss, they actually clinched a playoff berth that weekend thanks to other results around the league. But the concerns were real—specifically the lack of a vertical threat with George Pickens sidelined. The offense looked stagnant, and the defense, while talented, looked exhausted by the end of the game.
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One thing people don't talk about enough is how this "rivalry" is basically the "Battle of Pennsylvania." They don't play often because they're in different conferences, but when they do, it’s usually a physical mess. This game was no different.
If you're looking at the big picture, the eagles steelers game 2024 showed us two things. One: The Eagles have a level of ball control that is borderline unfair. Two: The Steelers' defense is elite, but even they have a breaking point when they're on the field for 40 minutes.
Moving forward, the best thing you can do is keep an eye on the injury reports for both squads. T.J. Watt leaving the game late with a lower-leg injury was a massive story that could impact Pittsburgh's playoff run. For the Eagles, it's all about health and maintaining that 10-game rhythm as they head toward January.
To truly understand this game’s impact, you should re-watch that final 10-minute drive. It is a clinic on offensive line chemistry and clock management. If you want to dive deeper into the nuances of the NFC playoff race, checking out the updated tiebreaker scenarios between the Eagles and the Lions is your next logical step.