Pittsburgh Steelers (0-2) +3, o/u 35 at Philadelphia Eagles (1-2), 8 p.m. Eastern Friday, ESPN
by Ultimatecapper.com Staff
The defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers continue their tuning up for a run at a repeat when they visit the Philadelphia Eagles in an NFL exhibition game Friday night at Lincoln Financial Field.
Pittsburgh began its pre-season by losing at Arizona two weeks ago 21-13, then fell at home to Minnesota last Saturday 17-10. Steelers starters played basically about three series vs. the Vikings; the offense, led by QB Ben Roethlisberger, drove for a touchdown on the opening possession, but the defense allowed Minnesota’s first-teamers to score 10 points in their first three drives.
Philadelphia opened its exhibition season by losing to Oakland at the Hall of Fame game 16-10. Since then the Eagles beat Cleveland 20-7 and then lost at Baltimore 20-10 last weekend.
Against the Ravens, Philly’s first-team offense scored 10 points on its first two drives. But after QB Donovan McNabb was pulled, the combination of back-ups Koy Detmer and Timmy Chang completed 12 of 27 pass attempts for 112 yards and no points.
Philly also signed Jeff Garcia during the off-season to back-up McNabb.
Thus far this pre-season, Pittsburgh has averaged 292 yards of offense per game, and 92 yards rushing at a 4.2 yards per carry clip. And the Steelers defense has held opponents to a 2.7 YPC average.
Roethlisberger has attempted only eight passes so far this pre-season, obviously in very limited action. Big Ben is backed up at QB by Charlie Batch (8-14-103, 1 INT vs. Minnesota last week), Omar Jacobs and Shane Boyd.
In three exhibition games so far, the Eagles are averaging 254 yards of offense and just 80 rushing yards at a 3.2 YPC clip.
These two teams have met each of the last three pre-seasons. Last year, Pittsburgh beat Philly 38-31. The Eagles outgained the Steelers by a 420-260 margin, but Pittsburgh returned an interception, a punt and a kickoff for TDs.
WR Hines Ward is probably out of Friday’s game with a bad wheel, as is Philly’s Brian Westbrook. But Eagles WR Todd Pinkston, who hasn’t played since the Super Bowl a couple of years ago after popping his Achilles tendon last year in training camp, is expected to see some field action.
Each of these team’s five pre-season games thus far this season have stayed under their posted totals.
Pittsburgh is 5-5 straight up over the last three pre-seasons, while Philadelphia is 9-10 SU over the last five exhibition seasons.
The Ultimatecapper Pick: Passing
