On the receiving side of the offense, 15 different players caught passes to record 309 receiving yards on the night. But, as fluid as the offense looked, there was still the Maclin scare. Coming off of ACL surgery that saw him miss the entire 2013 NFL season, Maclin went down awkwardly in the second quarter, holding his right knee. However, he was able to walk off the field on his own strength and get back in the game later on. Losing Maclin again would have been a crushing blow to the Eagles' offense, but he and McCoy are fine and ready to go week 1.
The first two preseason games were tough for the Eagles' defense, as the Bears and Patriots combined for 76 points in the two contests. However, the Eagles' defense looked spectacular again the Steelers last night, as Roethlisberger and the gang were unable to get anything going for the first three quarters. Nolan Carroll picked off an arrant Roethlisberger throw early on, and the birds kept getting after him, with both Vinny Curry and Brandon Graham recording a sack. The Eagles' depth on the defensive end showed and for the first time this preseason, worked cohesively as a unit. Every Eagles opponent this preseason is a potential playoff contender. So for the Eagles to keep the losses close and contain a veteran QB such as Roethlisberger, it's a sign that bodes well for the upcoming season.
Obviously individuals will have a bad game here and there, but as a team, the Eagles have looked sharp as they prepare for their final preseason game against the Jets at home next Thursday. The Jets have one of the best defensive lines in the NFl, so it will be a really good test for the Eagles' offensive lines to keep the pressure off of Foles, Sanchez and Barkley.
Next Game: Thursday, August 28th 7pm vs. New York Jets
By: Dan Goggin