Moore: Undermanned offensive line holds up reasonably well for the Eagles

The Eagles’ makeshift offensive line realized what was coming.

The blitz-happy Steelers must have been licking their chops entering Sunday afternoon’s game, knowing they would be going up against a unit of Jordan Mailata, Nate Herbig, Jason Kelce, Matt Pryor and Lane Johnson.

Only Kelce and Johnson would’ve been starters on Jeff Stoutland’s line if everybody had been healthy. Andre Dillard (left tackle), Jason Peters (right guard/replacement left tackle), Isaac Seumalo (left guard) and Brandon Brooks (right guard) are injured.

To make matters worse, Johnson left with a recurring ankle issue midway through the third quarter, with rookie Jack Driscoll taking his spot.

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The line acquitted itself fairly well, but the defense didn’t hold up their end of the bargain in the Birds’ 38-29 loss at Heinz Field.

Pittsburgh tends to take a somewhat unique approach by blitzing more than twice as much on first down (39%) and second down (40%) than third down (18%) through the first three games of the 2020 season, and that trend continued Sunday.

Doug Pederson went to more three-step drops for quarterback Carson Wentz and regularly kept a back in to help block in an effort to combat the Steelers’ potent pass rush. It worked reasonably well under the circumstances, as Wentz ended up being sacked five times.

“I’m sure there were times where you can get the ball out of your hand (to avoid a sack),” Pederson said. “There were times when guys were covered up (and) some pressure sacks. It’s a little bit of everything.”

Pittsburgh outside linebacker T.J. Watt sacked Wentz, who had enough time to get rid of the ball but apparently couldn’t find an open receiver, on the Eagles’ third play from scrimmage.

In the second quarter, defensive tackle Cameron Heyward recorded the Steelers’ second sack on another play in which Wentz should’ve thrown it away.

Pittsburgh got to Wentz a third time on a first-down blitz in which cornerback Mike Hilton came off the edge in the third period, then again in the fourth quarter when end Stephon Tuitt beat left tackle Mailata to drop Wentz.

Outside linebacker Bud Dupree made it five sacks for the 4-0 Steelers after they regained a two-score lead with less than three minutes remaining and the 1-3-1 Eagles had no choice to pass the ball.

The Steelers had 15 sacks in only three games prior to Sunday, while the Eagles were tied for the league lead with 17 in four contests.

“We knew going in this is a pressure team,” Pederson said. “They’ve got five guys (that can get to the QB). I really thought, overall, the guys played well — really right up until the end where Bud Dupree came around the left side and got the sack. They held up nice.”

The line permitted Wentz to lead the offense on a pair of long second-half scoring drives to close within 31-29. He repeatedly found unheralded receiver Travis Fulgham (10 catches for 152 yards) open downfield for considerable gains.

Tight end Zach Ertz, normally Wentz's favorite target, had just one reception (on six targets) for 6 yards.

“We asked a lot of the offensive line,” Wentz said. “… We’ve been depleted with injuries up front and at receiver, and some of these guys have really stepped up.”

Wentz and Fulgham were the only players on offense available to the media afterward.

Wentz finished 20-of-35 passing for 258 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions for the fourth consecutive game. Wentz’s passer rating of 75.7 was his highest figure since an 81.4 in the season-opening loss to Washington.

Compounding the offensive line’s degree of difficulty was that they couldn’t run the ball. Other than Miles Sanders’ 74-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, the Eagles managed just 20 yards on 15 carries. Only four of the Birds’ 20 first downs came on the ground.

“It’s a great run defense,” said Pederson of the Steelers. “To run the ball (against them) is tough.”

The result was a great deal of drop-back passes, permitting the Steelers to do what they do best — get after the quarterback.

Tom Moore: tmoore@couriertimes.com; @TomMoorePhilly