It will be the battle of Pennsylvania on Sunday when the Steelers take on the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Fields.
Coach Mike Tomlin has dubbed it the 'Pennsylvania State Championship."
"Excited about representing the WPIAL in this," said Tomlin. "I was just joking we could play this game in Breezewood. That'd be awesome.
"They're a really good football team. They need no endorsement from me. They're the winners of nine straight. When you look at the tape, man, you see exactly why."
The Eagles share a similar sentiment about the Steelers and the way they are playing.
"They've got good players, they've got good coaches, and you can see the culture they have is outstanding," said Eagles Coach Nick Sirianni.
The Eagles weighed in on Sunday's game, talking about Russell Wilson, Danny Smith, the defense and more.
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Head Coach Nick Sirianni on what has allowed the Steelers to have such an impressive turnover ratio:
"Those defensive ends they have, that defensive line that they have is special, with (T.J.) Watt, (Nate) Herbig, (Alex) Highsmith, (Cameron) Heyward, those guys are outstanding. They've got a lot of really good guys there.
"I think Coach Tomlin has done a good job there. This is who they've been, and the physicality of a team coming after the football and protecting the football, running the football well. I've got a lot of respect for Coach Tomlin and how he's done it, the consistency over this time for this many years.
"And then they've got good players in the secondary and at linebacker. Minkah (Fitzpatrick) is an outstanding player that has a knack for the football.
"What I always tell these guys is, I want the opposing teams to see how we take the football away and how we take care of the football with our fundamentals. That's important to me. You definitely can see that on the Pittsburgh Steelers. That's always on their mind. They've got good players, they've got good coaches, and you can see the culture they have is outstanding."
Special teams coordinator Michael Clay on what the Steelers do well on special teams:
"Danny (Smith), been in the league for a long time. I think this is his 12th year with Pittsburgh. You see they play hard for him. They rush extremely hard. You've got (Miles) Killebrew, who's been doing it for a long time, (Nick) Herbig.
"They rush really hard, and they play hard for Danny. They do a great job in terms of their scheme and their rushing and believing they can change the course of a game. This is going to be a very, very good test for us going forward.
"I always respected Danny. Danny had (49ers Special Teams Coordinator Richard) Hightower when he was at Washington, and I was under Hightower at San Francisco. So just that kind of connection. Danny is one of those legends in the special teams community that gets all these guys to play hard, play relentless, play fast.
"They've got great players. Calvin Austin is a great punt returner. They've got Cordarrelle (Patterson), Killebrew. The list could go on. They've always done a great job. It's going to test us this week to be prepared and be on our Ps and Qs.
"It's going to be a physical game, and it's going to be one of those very similar to Baltimore where it's going to be coming down to maybe special teams having a huge impact on the game."
Left tackle Jordan Mailata on the Steelers edge rushers:
"It's going to be a great game. It's going to be a great matchup. The depth that they have, the Steelers d-line, credit to them for building that. We have depth too. We have a great five up front. It's going to be a battle for sure."
Sirianni on what he is seeing differently from Russell Wilson this year vs. his time in Denver:
"We didn't play Denver the last two years, so that's something I can't answer. I just know that he's been good for a really long time. He's playing really good football right now.
"I don't remember the last time that I have been on a team that's gotten ready to play him. I don't think I've been on a team here that has played Russell Wilson.
"You see him sometimes on crossover tape, but that's not how you're watching. Go back. If the Denver Broncos were playing the Kansas City Chiefs and we were getting ready for the Chiefs, I'm watching the Chiefs defense. I'm not necessarily watching Russell Wilson.
"But, man, good player who has been a good player for a very long time. A lot of respect. A lot of respect for him."
Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio on how to balance putting pressure on Wilson vs. trying to protect against him in pass coverage:
"It's always a delicate balance. Ideally, you want to get good pass rush with the four and be able to play the coverages you like. Sometimes with these mobile quarterbacks, that's not always possible. You may have to add a guy or two.
"He's mobile still. Really playing good. It will be a challenge. It will be very similar to what we just had a couple days ago."
Quarterback Jalen Hurts on the Steelers defense:
"They've got a great player over there in T.J. Watt and then Minkah (Fitzpatrick), all-around safety, all-around defensive back. The culture they have, you feel it. Their coach is amazing. He does what he does and leads. It will be a battle. Playing that division is definitely a challenge. They have a lot of great teams, a lot of talent. We just have to be ready."
Fangio on if George Pickens is one of the most dangerous receivers they could face:
"Yeah, because a lot of his catches are down the field. And he's really good at those throws, and he's also good catching short and running after the catch. Yeah, he's one of the top receivers in the league for sure."
Mailata on the Steelers run defense:
"Well disciplined. You can tell they are very well coached up front. They all apply the same technique. Very Army type. They all look very uniform."
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