Subscribe
Follow Us
The Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles will kick off the first full week of the NFL preseason on Thursday night. It's time to continue to our NFL odds series and make a Steelers-Eagles prediction and pick.
Pittsburgh has already won one preseason game, winning the Hall of Fame Game against the Dallas Cowboys by multiple scores. The Eagles are entering a season filled with questions, with roster spots up for grabs up and down the roster. This game should help shake out some of those roster questions for both squads.
Here's how the bookmakers have set the lines for Thursday's game.
NFL Odds: Steelers-Eagles Odds
Pittsburgh Steelers ML (-105)
Philadelphia Eagles ML (-120)
Over 35 points (-110)
Under 35 points (-110)
*Watch NFL games LIVE with fuboTV (Click for free trial)*
Why The Steelers Could Win
Pittsburgh showed the strength of its defensive depth in the Hall of Fame Game. Their defense allowed only three points, racked up four sacks, and forced three turnovers. The Steelers have an exciting mix of grizzled veterans and flashy rookies filling out their depth chart, making this defense a dangerous one even when there are only backups on the field. Rookie edge rusher Quincy Roche and second-year player Jamir Jones both flashed their ability last week, leading a strong defensive second unit.
In the NFL, the offense is usually only as good as its quarterback. Luckily for the Steelers, they have some of the most impressive quarterback depth in football. Mason Rudolph has extended starting experience, and the same can be said about Dwayne Haskins. Third string signal-caller Joshua Dobbs is entering his sixth year in the league, nearly all of them coming in a Steelers uniform. These quarterbacks are good enough to run the offense with some competency, and that's pretty much all you can ask for in the preseason.
Why The Eagles Could Win
The Eagles will get their first taste of live football in this one, but many of the reserves who will play in this game have plenty of regular-season experience. This is especially true for the Philadelphia offensive line, where their entire second unit has seem some starting action in a real NFL game. That experience is invaluable, and it's fair to expect the Eagles to keep their quarterback clean throughout this game because of it.
Philadelphia is another team with great quarterback depth. It has already been announced that Jalen Hurts will see the field, but that should only be for a couple of drives. Joe Flacco and Nick Mullens will see the bulk of the work throughout the game. Flacco spent last season with the New York Jets and actually played some decent football considering what he had to work with. Mullens has appeared in a total of 19 regular-season games with the San Francisco 49ers, playing at a fairly high level when called upon. These quarterbacks will not struggle nearly as much as the Cowboys' group did against this Pittsburgh defense.
The Eagles also have solid depth throughout their defensive line, which should allow them to pressure whoever is playing quarterback with consistency. Exciting rookie defensive tackles Milton Williams and Marlon Tuipulotu should see plenty of snaps here, and they should get the best of Pittsburgh's offensive line with consistency.
Final Steelers-Eagles Prediction & Pick
The Steelers proved that decent quarterback play is all it takes to win in the preseason. For that reason, the Steelers are the pick here. They have signal-callers who should take care of the football and make the smart plays, and Pittsburgh shouldn't need anything more. With a strong defense behind them, a couple of scores should be enough for the Steelers to remain undefeated in the preseason.
FINAL PICK: Pittsburgh Steelers ML (-105)
