Steelers Stumble In Philly: National Reaction To Blowout Loss

PITTSBURGH, PA — The Steelers managed to clinch a playoff spot on Sunday, but that was the only bright spot of the day in an utterly unimpressive 27-13 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Here are the impressions of the game from writers around the country:

• John Breech, CBS Sports: "The Steelers haven't won a game in Philadelphia since 1965 and their nightmare continued Sunday. Going up against a Super Bowl contender, the Steelers got punched in the mouth and didn't respond. The offense couldn't move the ball on the ground or through air. When that happens, the Steelers defense can usually keep things close, but on Sunday, the defense got torched for more than 400 yards."

• Matt Verdermane, Sports Illustrated: "Without George Pickens, Pittsburgh doesn’t have a functional passing attack. The leading receiver was Calvin Austin III with five catches for 65 yards. Nobody else had 25 yards."

• Reuben Frank, NBC Sports: "This was a masterpiece by the Eagles defense. Sure, the Steelers were undermanned, missing George Pickens, but that’s a Hall of Fame quarterback on the other side of the line of scrimmage with a three-time 1,000-yard rusher running the ball, and the Eagles held them to 163 yards, 10 first downs, 3.3 yards per rushing attempt and 107 net passing yards."

• Ben Arthur, Fox Sports: "The biggest thing we learned about the Steelers is how important George Pickens is to them. Pittsburgh's leading receiver, Pickens' ability to stretch a defense vertically helps Russell Wilson and the passing game get into a rhythm — a rhythm that was nonexistent against the Eagles, who held the Steelers to 107 net passing yards."

• Eric Edholm, NFL.com: "For the Steelers, their season arc will center on next week’s critical matchup against the Ravens in Baltimore. Win that one, and the AFC North runs through Pittsburgh. But that’s clearly no easy task, with the Steelers barely beating them last time and the Ravens remaining a very dangerous opponent."