The challenge this week is to put a lid on a Philadelphia offense that's at least a three-headed monster.
There's running back Saquon Barkley, who is stalking the NFL's single-season rushing record with a franchise-record 1,623 yards on the ground through 13 games.
There's wide receiver A.J. Brown, who last played against the Steelers in October of 2022 and accounted for six catches, 156 receiving yards and three touchdowns.
And there's quarterback Jalen Hurts, whose rushing touchdown last Sunday against Carolina was the 54th of his five-year career (only Josh Allen, with 62, and Cam Newton, with 75, have produced more as quarterbacks in NFL history).
Steelers defensive coordinator Teryl Austin respects all of the above but at the same time has no issue identifying Job One this Sunday.
"If they're able to run the ball, whether it's Saquon or whether it's the quarterback scrambling or quarterback designed runs, it's gonna be a long day," Austin assessed.
No team in the NFL has attempted more runs than the Eagles' 36.4 per game (the Steelers are second at 33.7).
The Steelers prepare for the Week 15 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Brandon Johnson (89) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 15 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Jamal Agnew (17) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 15 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers tight end/fullback Connor Heyward (83) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 15 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers tight end MyCole Pruitt (81) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 15 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Brandon Johnson (89) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 15 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kyle Allen (4) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 15 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III (19) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 15 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 15 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Ben Skowronek (15) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 15 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth (88) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 15 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers guard Max Scharping (64) and Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Spencer Anderson (74) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 15 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson (3) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 15 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Matt Sokol (85) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 15 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson (3) and Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren (30) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 15 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Jamal Agnew (17) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 15 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields (2) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 15 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Brandon Johnson (89) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 15 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson (3) and Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren (30) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 15 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Ben Skowronek (15) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 15 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 15 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Quez Watkins (16) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 15 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Jamal Agnew (17) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 15 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Quez Watkins (16) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 15 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Jamal Agnew (17) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 15 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson (3) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 15 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Van Jefferson (11) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 15 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 15 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III (19) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 15 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III (19) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 15 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
The Eagles are first in the NFL in rushing yards per game (190.5).
Philadelphia's habit of running the ball out of three-wide receivers sets complicates defensive decision making regarding whether to play a base defense designed more to stop the run or a five- or six-defensive backs sub-package that's normally more effective against the pass.
But Austin maintained such dilemmas will sort themselves out as the game progresses.
"It's always a chess match but the first piece you put on the board is, 'Hey, what do I need to do to stop the run?'" Austin maintained. "That's the first piece so it's not really a big chess match. You gotta figure out what defenses you have that are really solid against the run whether it's three receivers or two receivers.
"They are playing out of a lot of three-receiver groupings and we gotta be able to stop the run. So we're gonna put groups out there we feel can stop the run."
The star power is an attention-getting element of the Eagles' offense, but that said the unit isn't unstoppable.
The Eagles will host the Steelers ranked seventh in the NFL in total offense (371.1 yards per game) and eighth in scoring offense (26.3 points per game), so somebody's slowing them down.
"The things that have given them pause, teams that have slowed the running game down, they have a chance," Austin said. "But the bottom line is if you don't slow that running game down, you have no chance."
Another component of the Philadelphia attack is the relentlessly effective "Brotherly Shove," a short-yardage sneak in which Hurts is assisted across the line to gain or the goal line by any means necessary.
That and the versatility and athleticism across the board along the Philadelphia offensive line make the Eagles distinctive as well as dangerous.
"They're unique in terms of their offensive line," Austin observed. "A lot of times you'll look at offensive lines and guys have certain specific jobs that they do. These guys seem to be able to kind of do it all. The center pulls, the guard pulls, the tackles pull, all of them. Most places you might say, 'OK, hey, the center might pull and this guard might pull a majority of times,' but not with these guys. It gives them maximum flexibility in their run game which is important, which I think is why they're good.
"We've gotta be able to handle that. We feel pretty good about our guys up front and being able to handle the different schemes that they'll give us. And then it just becomes a matter of executing and playing and playing at a high level."
