Steelers: Ben Roethlisberger is second in the league in passing and first in third-down passing. One third down, he's got a .750 completion percentage and is averaging 9.83 yards per attempt. His protection has been inconsistent, but he's one of the best at extending plays. He's thrown just one interception.
Pick: Steelers
Running back
Eagles: After struggling to run the in the first half vs. Giants, the Eagles went to more two-back sets in the second half, using a fullback on 24 of 37 second-half plays. LeSean McCoy rushed for 121 yards on 17 carries in the final two quarters. Whether they'll use as much two-back vs. Steelers' 3-4 front remains to be seen.
Steelers: The Steelers' ground game has been non-existent. They are 31st in rushing yards per game and 32nd in yards per attempt. Isaac Redman is averaging 2.3 yards per carry and Jonathan Dwyer 2.9. They're hoping to get Rashard Mendenhal back this week. He hasn't played since tearing his ACL in the last game last season.
Pick: Eagles
Receiver
Eagles: Michael Vick's two favorite targets have been WR DeSean Jackson and TE Brent Celek. Jackson already has been targeted a team-high 38 times and has 20 catches, putting him on pace for 80. Celek, who has 18 catches, leads all NFL TEs in yards per catch (17.5). Eleven of his 18 receptions have been for 17 yards or better.
Steelers: Mike Wallace is one of the game's most dangerous vertical threats. He averaged 18.7 yards per catch his first three seasons. But protection problems have forced the Steelers to focus more on intermediate throws. Focus on the short passing game has increased the role of TE Heath Miller (4 TDs) as a receiver.
Pick: Even
Offensive line
Eagles: Athleticism is the key with a Howard Mudd line, and the Eagles are trying to survive without their two most athletic linemen, LT Jason Peters and C Jason Kelce. The Steelers don't have the kind of front-seven speed the Cardinals' 3-4 did, but coordinator Dick LeBeau knows how to exploit weaknesses.
Steelers: LG Willie Colon and two-time Pro Bowl C Maurkice Pouncey give the Steelers a very good inside tandem. But the rest of the line is shaky. LT Max Starks is coming off January ACL surgery and isn't 100 percent. No. 1 pick David DeCastro was supposed to man the RG spot, but is out with a knee injury.
Pick: Steelers
DEFENSE
Eagles: 298.3 yards per game (6th)
Steelers: 291.3 yards per game (5th)
Defensive line
Eagles: The Eagles have relied almost exclusively on their front four to get pressure on the QB. They've blitzed just 30 times in the first four games. Giants slowed down the ends by chipping them with RB, FB and TE. But the Eagles have been getting good push up the middle from their tackles.
Steelers: Age is catching up with this unit. NT Casey Hampton is 35 and coming off ACL surgery. He's now splitting time with fourth-year man Steve McLendon. LE Brett Keisel is 34, but still is a pretty good 3-4 pass-rusher. RE Ziggy Hood has gotten stronger each season, and is a solid run defender.
Pick: Eagles
Linebacker
Eagles: No one is talking anymore about the wide-nine being an impediment to stopping the run. Since giving up a 43-yard run to the Ravens' Ray Rice early in the second half in Week 2, the Eagles have held opponents to just 3.0 yards per carry. In the last two games, they've held opponents to 3 yards or less on 33 of 53 runs.
Steelers: This unit has sorely missed James Harrison, who may return this week after missing the first three games. Without Harrison, the Steelers' blitz has been largely ineffective. Opponents have a 120.6 passer rating against the blitz. LOLB LaMarr Woodley has two sacks and a team-high seven quarterback pressures.
Pick: Steelers
Secondary
Eagles: The three corners will face another major test. With the exception of the Arizona game, they have done a good job against the pass on third down. But Ben Roethlisberger leads the league in third-down passing with a 145.1 rating. SS Kurt Coleman continues to bite too often on play fakes.
Steelers: Another aging unit. Safeties Ryan Clark and Troy Polamalu are 33 and 31, respectively. CB Ike Taylor is 32. Polamalu, who has missed the last two games with a calf strain, is expected back this week. But he isn't making the big plays he's made in the past. Taylor and Keenan Lewis are better tacklers than cover men.
Pick: Eagles
Special teams
Eagles: The special teams have not been very good. They are 31st in the league in punt and kickoff returns and are 29th in kickoff coverage and 31st in opponent average drive start after kickoffs. Last week, they gave up 5 KRs of 36 yards or more. Alex Henery isn't helping matters; he has a league-low four touchbacks.
Steelers: The kickoff coverage has been as bad as the Eagles'. They've allowed 33.2 yards per return and are 26th in opponent drive start after kickoffs (23.6). PK Shaun Suisham missed eight of 31 FG attempts last season, but is 5-for-5 this year. Antonio Brown is a dangerous PR. He is averaging 11.0 yards per return.
Pick: Steelers
DOMO'S PREDICTION: EAGLES 27, STEELERS 24
KEY MATCHUPS
1. Eagles LT Demetress Bell vs. Steelers ROLB James Harrison: Harrison missed the first three games after getting his knee scoped in mid-August. If he plays, he probably won't be 100 percent, which is a break for Bell. Advantage: Steelers
2. Eagles WR DeSean Jackson vs. Steelers CB Ike Taylor: Taylor is no match for Jackson in coverage. He'll need help. And a potent pass-rush. Advantage: Eagles
3. Eagles LDE Jason Babin vs. Steelers RT Marcus Gilbert: Babin has a team-high 2 1/2 sacks and is tied for the team lead in hurries (17). Gilbert is a 330-pound big body who could have problems out on an island dealing with the wide-nine. Advantage: Eagles
HOT AND NOT
Hot
Eagles: RB LeSean McCoy. After being held to 2 yards on 6 carries in the first half vs. Giants, he rushed for 121 yards on 17 carries in the second half.
Steelers: QB Ben Roethlisberger. Threw for 384 yards and four touchdowns in a win over the Raiders before the bye.
Not
Eagles: WR Jeremy Maclin. Had just one reception for 7 yards against the Giants after sitting out the previous game with a hip injury.
Steelers: RB Isaac Redman. Is averaging just 2.3 yards per carry. Rushed for just 27 yards in win over Raiders before the bye.
