Eagles–Steelers rivalry

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The Eagles–Steelers rivalry is a National Football League (NFL) rivalry between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Unofficially nicknamed "The Battle of Pennsylvania",[1] this is an in-state, interconference rivalry between the two NFL teams located in the state of Pennsylvania. The two teams do not meet regularly, which has been cited as a reason for the rivalry's low intensity.[2]

Eagles–Steelers rivalry
Philadelphia Eagles
Pittsburgh Steelers
First meetingNovember 19, 1933
Eagles 25, Steelers 6
Latest meetingOctober 30, 2022
Eagles 35, Steelers 13
Next meetingDecember 15, 2024
Statistics
Meetings total81 meetings
All-time seriesEagles, 49–29–3
Current win streakEagles, 1 (2022–present)
Championship success
NFL Championships (10)

Conference Championships (12)

The rivalry is one of the oldest in the NFL, dating back to 1933.[3] During the first three decades of the rivalry, the Steelers and Eagles were in the NFL's Eastern Division and played twice annually. As a result of the AFL-NFL merger, the Steelers were placed in the AFC Central, while the Eagles were placed in the NFC East, resulting in infrequent meetings – The teams have only met 12 times since 1970. Under the current NFL scheduling formula, the teams play each other at least once every four years and once every eight seasons at each team's home stadium, when the AFC North and NFC East play one another. However, with a new 17-game schedule being introduced in 2021, it is now possible for the two teams to meet as often as every other year, depending on division placement and scheduling made two years ago.[4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] The teams last played in 2022, a 35–13 Eagles win in Philadelphia. They will next play in 2024, also in Philadelphia.

The rivalry is one of two the Steelers have with NFC East teams, the other being their rivalry with the Dallas Cowboys. Much like other rivalries between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, the rivalry is mostly fueled by the two cities being within Pennsylvania and their sociocultural differences, with Philadelphia and the neighboring Lehigh Valley and Wyoming Valley being part of the Northeast megalopolis while Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania in general being part of the Rust Belt and Appalachia.

The Eagles lead the all-time series 49–29–3.[13] The teams have met once in the playoffs, a 21–0 Eagles victory in the 1947 Eastern Division Playoff. As the two teams are in different conferences, the only way they can currently meet in the playoffs is if they both make it to the Super Bowl. While this has never occurred, both teams have made it to their respective Conference Championship Game in 2001, 2004, and 2008, with Philadelphia advancing to the Super Bowl in 2004 and Pittsburgh winning it in 2008.

History

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Early years

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Both teams were officially founded in 1933,[14] with the Steelers then being known as the Pittsburgh Pirates. However, their histories predate that, with the Steelers being known as the J.P. Rooneys dating to 1921 as a semipro team, while the Eagles are arguably descended from the Frankford Yellow Jackets based in Philadelphia's Frankford neighborhood dating to 1899. The NFL considers both teams having started in 1933 alongside the now-defunct Cincinnati Reds. Both teams took advantage of Pennsylvania relaxing their blue laws in 1933 that previously didn't allow sporting events on Sundays, when most NFL games took place. The blue laws, combined with general issues related to The Great Depression, were among the reasons the Yellow Jackets failed despite winning the NFL championship in 1926.

The first meeting between the teams was on November 19, with the Eagles winning, 25–6. The two teams would struggle their first decade in the NFL both on the field and financially, with the Steelers staying afloat mostly due to team founder Art Rooney's gambling habits. Eventually, in late 1940 Rooney sold the Steelers to Alexis Thompson, a 26-year-old steel heir from Boston frequently described in the press as "a well-heeled New York City playboy". Thompson planned to move the franchise to Boston and play games in Fenway Park. Eagles owner Bert Bell brokered the deal between Rooney and Thompson for $160,000, and Rooney used $80,000 of the proceeds to buy a partnership in the Eagles, which at the time was owned by Bell. The deal also involved the trade of several players between the two teams.

The two owners planned to field a combined Philadelphia-Pittsburgh team called the Pennsylvania Keystoners that would play home games in both cities. The original proposition was that Thompson would buy the franchise and take the Pittsburgh club to Boston and Bell and Rooney would pool their interests in the Eagles to form a Philadelphia-Pittsburgh club, splitting the home games between Forbes Field in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia's Municipal Stadium. Thompson, however, was unable to secure a place to play in Boston. After meeting with Rooney, plans changed whereby Thompson's club (ostensibly the former Steelers) would play in Philadelphia as the Eagles, while the Rooney-Bell owned team would play in Pittsburgh as the Steelers, effectively trading the two clubs between their cities.

Steagles and post-war activity

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The notion for a single team between the two cities was revived, when for one season in 1943, forced to do so by player shortfalls brought on by World War II, the two clubs temporarily merged as the Philadelphia-Pittsburgh "Steagles". The league only approved the merger for one year; Pittsburgh was willing to merge again for 1944 but not Philadelphia. This forced the Steelers to merge with the Chicago Cardinals (as Card-Pitt) for 1944.

Following the end of the war, both teams fortunes changed, with the Eagles and Steelers both clinching playoff spots in the late 1940s, including their only postseason meeting to date in 1947, when the Eagles shut out the Steelers 21–0 at Forbes Field. It would be the Steelers only playoff appearance until the Immaculate Reception 25 years later. The Eagles, under head coach Greasy Neale, won NFL championships in 1948 and 1949.

During the 1950s and 1960s, both teams success and failures would be relative to one another, to the point that both teams would be "competing" for the worst record in the NFL in 1968 and the chance to draft O. J. Simpson. Ultimately, the Atlanta Falcons had the NFL's worst record and the Buffalo Bills of the American Football League would win out on what was at that point the common draft. The Eagles, drafting third, would select Leroy Keyes while the Steelers, drafting fourth, would draft relative unknown Joe Greene. New Steelers head coach Chuck Noll would say later that the team would've drafted Greene even if it had the first overall pick, while Keyes (like Simpson a running back) was viewed by Eagles fans as more of a "consolation prize". Ultimately (Simpson's successful NFL career aside), Keyes lasted five years in the NFL; Greene would become a key member of the Steel Curtain defense and is now a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and one of two Steelers to have their number officially retired.

Results

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Philadelphia Eagles vs. Pittsburgh Steelers Season-by-Season Results
1930s (Steelers, 7–6)
Season Season series at Philadelphia Eagles at Pittsburgh Steelers/ Pirates Overall series Notes
1933 Eagles 1–0 Eagles
25–6
no game Eagles
1–0
1934 Tie 1–1 Pirates
9–7
Eagles
17–0
Eagles
2–1
1935 Tie 1–1 Pirates
17–7
Eagles
17–6
Eagles
3–2
1936 Pirates 2–0 Pirates
6–0
Pirates
17–0
Pirates
4–3
Eagles move to John F. Kennedy Stadium (then known as Philadelphia Municipal Stadium).
1937 Pirates 2–0 no games Pirates
27–14
Pirates
6–3
Pirates
16–7
1938 Eagles 2–0 Eagles
14–7
Eagles
27–7
Pirates
6–5
1939 Tie 1–1 Eagles
17–14
Pirates
24–12
Pirates
7–6
1940s (Eagles, 12–4–1)
Season Season series at Philadelphia Eagles at Pittsburgh Steelers Overall series Notes
1940 Tie 1–1 Eagles
7–0
Steelers
7–3
Steelers
8–7
Eagles move to Connie Mack Stadium.
1941 Eagles 1–0–1 Tie
7–7
Eagles
10–7
Tie
8–8–1
1942 Tie 1–1 Steelers
14–0
Eagles
24–14
Tie
9–9–1
1945 Eagles 2–0 Eagles
30–6
Eagles
45–3
Eagles
11–9–1
Eagles and Steelers did not meet head-to-head in 1943 and 1944 due to both teams losing players to World War II. The Steelers merged with the Eagles temporarily in 1943 as the "Steagles", and were temporarily merged with the Chicago Cardinals and were known as "Card-Pitt" in 1944, and were not scheduled to meet.
1946 Tie 1–1 Eagles
10–7
Steelers
10–7
Eagles
12–10–1
1947 Tie 1–1 Eagles
21–0
Steelers
35–24
Eagles
13–11–1
Eagles lose 1947 NFL Championship.
1947 playoffs Eagles 1–0 Eagles
21–0
Eagles
14–11–1
1947 Eastern Division Playoff. Only postseason meeting. First postseason game for both franchises.
1948 Eagles 2–0 Eagles
17–0
Eagles
34–7
Eagles
16–11–1
Eagles win 1948 NFL Championship.
1949 Eagles 2–0 Eagles
34–17
Eagles
38–7
Eagles
18–11–1
Eagles win 1949 NFL Championship.
1950s (Eagles, 12–8)
Season Season series at Philadelphia Eagles at Pittsburgh Steelers Overall series Notes
1950 Tie 1–1 Steelers
9–7
Eagles
17–10
Eagles
19–12–1
Eagles win seven straight meetings.
1951 Tie 1–1 Steelers
17–13
Eagles
34–13
Eagles
20–13–1
1952 Eagles 2–0 Eagles
26–21
Eagles
31–25
Eagles
22–13–1
1953 Eagles 2–0 Eagles
23–7
Eagles
35–7
Eagles
24–13–1
Eagles win seven straight road meetings.
1954 Tie 1–1 Eagles
24–22
Steelers
17–7
Eagles
25–14–1
1955 Tie 1–1 Eagles
24–0
Steelers
13–7
Eagles
26–15–1
1956 Eagles 2–0 Eagles
14–7
Eagles
35–21
Eagles
28–15–1
1957 Tie 1–1 Eagles
7–6
Steelers
6–0
Eagles
29–16–1
1958 Steelers 2–0 Steelers
26–24
Steelers
23–7
Eagles
29–18–1
Eagles move to Franklin Field. Steelers first season sweep over the Eagles since 1937.
1959 Tie 1–1 Eagles
28–24
Steelers
31–0
Eagles
30–19–1
1960s (Eagles, 10–5–2)
Season Season series at Philadelphia Eagles at Pittsburgh Steelers Overall series Notes
1960 Tie 1–1 Eagles
34–7
Steelers
27–21
Eagles
31–20–1
Eagles win 1960 NFL Championship.
1961 Eagles 2–0 Eagles
21–16
Eagles
35–24
Eagles
33–20–1
1962 Steelers 2–0 Steelers
26–17
Steelers
13–7
Eagles
33–22–1
1963 Tie 0–0–2 Tie
21–21
Tie
20–20
Eagles
33–22–3
1964 Eagles 2–0 Eagles
21–7
Eagles
34–10
Eagles
35–22–3
1965 Tie 1–1 Steelers
20–14
Eagles
47–13
Eagles
36–23–3
Steelers' last victory to date in Philadelphia.
1966 Eagles 2–0 Eagles
27–23
Eagles
31–14
Eagles
38–23–3
Last season in which both teams met twice annually.
1967 Eagles 1–0 Eagles
34–24
no game Eagles
39–23–3
1968 Steelers 1–0 no game Steelers
6–3
Eagles
39–24–3
1969 Eagles 1–0 Eagles
34–24
no game Eagles
40–24–3
1970s (Eagles, 2–1)
Season Results Location Overall series Notes
1970 Eagles
30–20
Franklin Field Eagles
41–24–3
Last NFL game at Franklin Field. Frenchy Fuqua rushes for 218 yards, a Steelers single game record which stood until 2006.
1974 Steelers
27–0
Three Rivers Stadium Eagles
41–25–3
Steelers win Super Bowl IX.
1979 Eagles
17–14
Veterans Stadium Eagles
42–25–3
Eagles end Steelers' 12 game winning streak dating back to the previous season. Steelers win Super Bowl XIV.
1980s (Eagles, 1–0)
Season Results Location Overall series Notes
1982 cancelled Three Rivers Stadium N/A Game cancelled due to NFL players' strike.
1988 Eagles
27–26
Three Rivers Stadium Eagles
43–25–3
1990s (Eagles, 2–1)
Season Results Location Overall series Notes
1991 Eagles
23–14
Veterans Stadium Eagles
44–25–3
1994 Steelers
14–3
Three Rivers Stadium Eagles
44–26–3
1997 Eagles
23–20
Veterans Stadium Eagles
45–26–3
2000s (Eagles, 2–1)
Season Results Location Overall series Notes
2000 Eagles
26–23(OT)
Three Rivers Stadium Eagles
46–26–3
First meeting to be decided in overtime. Eagles rally from a 10-point deficit in the final 2:36, which included the Eagles recovering an onside kick to drive for the game-tying field goal at the end of regulation, and the game-winning field goal during the first possession of overtime.
2004 Steelers
27–3
Heinz Field Eagles
46–27–3
Steelers hand the Eagles their first loss of the season after starting 7–0. Eagles lose Super Bowl XXXIX, while the Steelers lose AFC Championship Game preventing an all-Pennsylvania Super Bowl.
2008 Eagles
15–6
Lincoln Financial Field Eagles
47–27–3
Steelers win Super Bowl XLIII, while Eagles lose NFC Championship Game, preventing an all-Pennsylvania Super Bowl.
2010s (Tie, 1–1)
Season Results Location Overall series Notes
2012 Steelers
16–14
Heinz Field Eagles
47–28–3
2016 Eagles
34–3
Lincoln Financial Field Eagles
48–28–3
2020s (Tie, 1–1)
Season Results Location Overall series Notes
2020 Steelers
38–29
Heinz Field Eagles
48–29–3
2022 Eagles
35–13
Lincoln Financial Field Eagles
49–29–3
Eagles have won ten straight home meetings (1966–present). Eagles lose Super Bowl LVII.
Summary of Results
Season Season series at Philadelphia Eagles at Pittsburgh Steelers Notes
Regular season Eagles 48–29–3 Eagles 29–9–2 Steelers 20–19–1
Postseason Eagles 1–0 no games Eagles 1–0 1947 Eastern Division Playoff
Regular and postseason Eagles 49–29–3 Eagles 29–9–2 Tie 20–20–1

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "The Steelers' First Great Rivalry: Those Bloodbaths with the Eagles". Pittsburgh Quarterly. Retrieved 2024-02-09.
  2. ^ Rhoden, William C. (6 November 2004). "Little Rivalry Between These N.F.L. Siblings". The New York Times. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  3. ^ Frank, Reuben (2020-10-11). "10 wild and obscure facts from Eagles-Steelers history". NBC Sports Philadelphia. Retrieved 2024-02-09.
  4. ^ "Creating the NFL Schedule". Operations.NFL.com. NFL Enterprises, LLC. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  5. ^ Davis, Scott. "The NFL schedule is created with the help of a simple formula". Business Insider. Retrieved 2024-01-05.
  6. ^ "NFL gives East teams a break traveling West". ESPN.com. 2009-03-23. Retrieved 2024-01-05.
  7. ^ Trapasso, Chris. "How Is the NFL Schedule Created?". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2024-01-05.
  8. ^ "How Does Scheduling Work In The NFL? | Understanding NFL Scheduling Formula". www.sportskeeda.com. Retrieved 2024-01-05.
  9. ^ "NFL owners approve 17-game season for 2021". ESPN.com. 2021-03-30. Retrieved 2021-04-02.
  10. ^ "What you need to know about enhanced NFL schedule featuring 17 regular-season games per team". NFL.com. Retrieved 2023-12-15.
  11. ^ Graziano, Dan (2021-03-30). "The NFL's 17-game season is here: What you need to know, and how the money will work". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2024-01-03.
  12. ^ Breech, John (2021-03-30). "NFL 17-game schedule: Here's how the complicated scheduling formula will work with the extra game". CBSSports.com. Retrieved 2024-01-03.
  13. ^ "Philadelphia Eagles vs. Pittsburgh Steelers Results".
  14. ^ Dockett, Eric (5 July 2021). "Top 10 Pittsburgh Steelers Rivals of All Time". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2 February 2024.