Mark Madden: Steelers' humbling loss to Eagles revealed certain truths

The Pittsburgh Steelers’ 27-13 loss Sunday at Philadelphia seemed a declaration that they are a tier below the host Eagles and, indeed, several other top-echelon NFL teams.

The Steelers might have stolen a victory had Najee Harris not fumbled away a potential game-tying drive in the third quarter with the Steelers at Philadelphia’s 26-yard line.

But that might have just masked the obvious: This was a reckoning.

The Steelers were outplayed badly. Bullied physically. The Eagles trounced the Steelers at their own game, possessing the ball for 40 minutes.

The Steelers’ first five possessions netted minus-19 yards.

The Steelers ran just 11 offensive plays in the second half. Philadelphia had drives of 13, 13 and 21 plays in the final 30 minutes. At the end, the Eagles were toying with the Steelers.

Here are some truths that are self-evident:

• The Steelers’ offensive line isn’t very good.

• The Steelers’ running game isn’t very good.

• Russell Wilson is their best option at quarterback but not worth the $30 million per year he’ll want to re-up at season’s end. (Disclaimer: Wilson is doing OK despite lack of weaponry. But he had Kenny Pickett-level stats at Philadelphia: 128 yards passing.)

• As predicted, George Pickens’ absence left the Steelers’ receiving corps bereft of any serious threat. Philadelphia’s defense was able to play close and aggressive.

• The defense isn’t elite. It’s pretty good but got overwhelmed by the Eagles’ offensive power. (It would help if the defense didn’t have to play 40 minutes.)

What’s all that add up to?

Victory at Baltimore on Saturday doesn’t seem likely, except the Steelers have won eight of the last nine meetings with the Ravens and are clearly Lamar Jackson’s bogey team.

If the Steelers lose, they would be tied with Baltimore atop the AFC North, with tiebreakers lining up even and everything to play for in the season’s final two weeks. Dropping to a wild card would feel like the beginning of the all-too-familiar, one-way trip to Palookaville.

This could be mere overreaction to one loss. Or it could be legit reaction to the Steelers finding their level.

All of the negative doubles down if Pickens continues to be sidelined and/or T.J. Watt’s ankle injury turns out to be serious.

If you want to stay positive, don’t rewatch the loss at Philadelphia. Or look at the stats.

The Steelers were overwhelmed on both sides of the line of scrimmage. The Steelers got outgained 401-163.

It’s difficult to come up with any areas of the game where the Steelers weren’t below average.

They did OK containing Philadelphia running back Saquon Barkley, impeding his quest for the NFL’s single-season rushing record by limiting him to 65 yards on 19 carries. (Barkley got banged up.)

But the Eagles’ squeaky wheel got greased: Complaining diva wideout A.J. Brown had eight catches for 110 yards and a touchdown. Bet he won’t be grousing this week.

QB Jalen Hurts had his second-best passing game of the season, throwing for 290 yards and two touchdowns.

For a while, the Eagles wanted to lose. They fumbled the ball away twice in the first half. But the Steelers converted those into a meager three points.

Tight end Darnell Washington and wideout Calvin Austin III took unsportsmanlike conduct flags on the same skirmish, taking the Steelers from second down at Philly’s 4-yard line to second down at the 19.

There should have been offsetting flags. Eagles cornerback Darius Slay clearly threw punches. But Washington initiated the silliness by blocking Slay through the end zone and almost into the stands, which was unnecessary.

Use your head, especially when you have a rare opportunity against a superior team. (By the way, you can still score a touchdown from the 19. It’s in the same ZIP code as the 4.)

Tomlin’s Steelers have been known to indulge the occasional late-season disintegration:

• Went from 7-2-1 to 9-6-1 in 2018, missing the playoffs.

• Went from 8-5 to 8-8 in 2019, missing the playoffs.

• Started 11-0 in 2020, then lost five of their last six, including their wild-card playoff game at home to Cleveland.

No collapses since, though. Don’t worry about it. Have some Fritos.