Steelers vs Eagles Odds and Picks for Week 1 of NFL Preseason
- The Philadelphia Eagles are 1-point home favorites over the Pittsburgh Steelers in their Thursday, August 12 NFL preseason game at Lincoln Financial Field
- Pittsburgh downed the Dallas Cowboys 16-3 in last week’s Hall of Fame Game; Philly has not yet taken to the field
- See the odds, preview and a pick on the game below
The Pittsburgh Steelers are off to a winning start in the NFL preseason. Traveling for a meeting with their cross-state rivals the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday, oddsmakers aren’t envisioning Pittsburgh’s winning ways continuing. Bettors, though, appear to be of a different mind.
The Eagles are one-point home favorites in this preseason tilt. Philadelphia opened as a two-point favorite, so there’s evidently since been some betting action on the Steelers.
The total is also shortening for this game. It opened at 38.5 points. Currently, the over-under is at 34.5 points.
Steelers vs Eagles Odds
| Team | Moneyline | Runline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh Steelers | -105 | +1.0 (-115) | O 34.5 (-120) |
| Philadelphia Eagles | -115 | -1.0 (-105) | U 34.5 (+100) |
Odds as of August 11th at DraftKings
Kickoff for Thursday’s game at Lincoln Financial Field is set for 7:30pm ET. There is no national TV broadcast of the game.
Steelers Back at It
The NFL is reducing the preseason to three games thanks to the new 17-game regular-season slate. However, Pittsburgh still gets four preseason games. The Steelers beat the Dallas Cowboys 16-3 in last week’s NFL Hall of Fame Game.
If you were wondering whether football fans were missing the NFL, they answered in the affirmative. The Hall of Fame Game drew 7.326 million viewers on FOX. That ended up making it the most-watched NFL preseason game since 2017. The Steelers and Cowboys beat out the Olympics head-to-head in the ratings.
The @steelers take down the Cowboys to win the first NFL Preseason game of 2021! 💪 pic.twitter.com/9rpILpZWeh
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) August 6, 2021
However, what they got to see wasn’t the real Steelers. Pittsburgh opted to sit several starters. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and tight end Eric Ebron weren’t involved in the offense.
Of interest was the battle for #2 QB between Dwayne Haskins and Mason Rudolph. Haskins was 8-of-13 for 54 yards. Rudolph completed 6-of-9 for 84 yards. However it was Joshua Dobbs who threw Pittsburgh’s only TD pass.
First-round draft pick Najee Harris, listed first on the depth chart at running back, rushed seven times for 31 yards. That’s a 3.1 yards per carry average.
Hurts Not So Good
Reports out of the Eagles training camp are suggesting that the offense isn’t exactly clicking under newly-enshrined #1 QB Jalen Hurts. His passes have frequently been off target.
Jalen Hurts keeping the play alive, finds Travis Fulgham. #Eagles pic.twitter.com/9S6moATOPB
— Kris Thomas (@Kris_Thomas23) August 9, 2021
Might that be opening the door a crack for veteran #2 Joe Flacco? Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni is suggesting that Hurts needs to lay claim to the starting job during preseason.
It’s uncertain how much time Hurts will spend under center during this game. Basing on how Pittsburgh rested veterans in its opener, the odds would be that he won’t play much.
Roster Updates
Heisman Trophy winner and Eagles first-round pick DeVonta Smith is out with a mild MCL sprain. He was impressing people in camp up until he was injured. Fellow wide receiver John Hightower (groin) and linebacker JaCoby Stevens (hamstring) are listed as week to week.
Philadelphia guard Brandon Brooks (hamstring), defensive end Matt Leo (recovering from COVID-19), wide receiver Michael Walker (foot) and guard Isaac Seumalo (hamstring) were limited in practice this week. Day-to-day designations were given to safety Grayland Arnold (hamstring), tight end Jason Croom (knee), linebacker Genard Avery (groin), and cornerback Craig James (foot).
James Washington has NOT requested a trade from Steelers, according to multiple sources.
— Gerry Dulac (@gerrydulac) August 7, 2021
Steelers linebacker TJ Watt (contract negotiations) isn’t expected to play. Defensive end Stephon Truitt has also been utilized sparingly during training camp and is unlikely to see much playing time on Thursday.
Locked behind Smith-Schuster, Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool on the depth chart, there are conflicting reports as to whether Pittsburgh wideout James Washington is requesting a trade from the Steelers.
Go With Warmth
Pittsburgh and Philadelphia show five preseason meetings since 2011. The Eagles were winners in three of those games. However, the Steelers won the last meeting in 2018, a 31-14 verdict at Lincoln Financial Field. Four of those five games ended up exceeding the established total for this contest of 34.5 points.
Steelers defeat the Cowboys, 16-3, Thursday in Canton. pic.twitter.com/hTR78whKiw
— Matt Freed (@MattFreedPhoto) August 6, 2021
The Steelers have a preseason game under their belts. They’ve shaken off the rust. It’s probable that Pittsburgh’s starters will be seeing more playing time than the Philadelphia first stringers.
Take Pittsburgh straight up in the moneyline.
Pick: Pittsburgh Steelers (-105).
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
