Skip to content
Eagles
Link copied to clipboard

Steelers' Antonio Brown: 'We got our butt kicked'

S OME OF THE Pittsburgh Steelers' praise for the Eagles after Sunday's 34-3 Eagles victory sounded a bit grudging, but the guys from the other end of the state knew they had to give credit.

Some of the Pittsburgh Steelers' praise for the home team after Sunday's 34-3 Eagles victory sounded a bit grudging, but the guys from the other end of the state knew they had to give credit.

"Their screen game was exceptional. I think he threw for (301) yards but I imagine 150 of it were screens to backs and tight ends," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said of Eagles rookie quarterback Carson Wentz, after Tomlin's team, widely considered a strong Super Bowl contender, slipped to 2-1 in its most lopsided loss since 1989.

"Well, we got our butt kicked," wideout Antonio Brown said. "We couldn't put any points up. Couldn't get any stops. We have to find a way to get back."

The Steelers still haven't won in Philadelphia since 1965, a streak that reached nine games Sunday.

"We allowed some drives to continue there in the early portions of the game, either through mis-tackling or penalties," Tomlin said. "Once it became a multiple-score game, they were just free-wheeling, and they were able to spin the dial a little bit, and we couldn't find a rhythm."

Tomlin didn't declare Wentz a future Hall of Famer or nominate Doug Pederson for coach of the year, but he did say: "They outcoached us, they outplayed us, they were better fundamentally, tackling and so forth. We were highly penalized (seven for 77 yards vs. the Eagles 10 for 99). We didn't get it done today and they did. I would be remiss if I didn't acknowledge that as a big element of it."

The Steelers lost linebacker Ryan Shazier to an aggravated MCL injury, safety Robert Golden to a hamstring pull, guard Ramon Foster to chest and elbow injuries, and linebacker Lawrence Timmons had to get a shin injury evaluated at a hospital.

Wideout Markus Wheaton blamed his early end-zone drop for helping set the tone. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said he didn't want any finger-pointing at Wheaton or anyone else.

"I thought he played great," Roethlisberger said of Wentz, who is 66 for 102 (64.7 percent) for 769 yards, with five touchdown passes and no interceptions, for a 103.7 passer rating, three games into his career. "He won the game. He managed the game, he makes throws, he does the checks and audibles. I'm not sure how much freedom he has, but just look at the score."

Pederson called the win "a good benchmark" for his emerging team. "The Steelers are a great football team, they're going to be there at the end, they always are," Pederson said. He used misdirection to perfection against what he called a "fast-flow" Pittsburgh defense.

"There's an art to calling a great game, and I think he's called three really good games," Eagles offensive coordinator Frank Reich said of Pederson. "It's a fun place to work, and he's a fun coach to work with. He has a clear vision, yet he accepts a lot of input."

BIRDSEED

Donnie Jones didn't have to punt until there were 38 seconds left in the first half … Fifth-round rookie Wendell Smallwood looked quick and decisive in gaining 79 yards on 17 carries and scoring his first touchdown. Smallwood said he didn't think he'd get the ball again after being stuffed for no gain on first and goal from the Steelers' 1, but he did, and scored easily … Ryan Mathews didn't play after the first quarter, presumably because of injury, but Doug Pederson didn't have an update … Carson Wentz said he will do some hunting during his bye week … Wentz and the Vikings' Sam Bradford are the quarterbacks of the NFC's only two 3-0 teams ... Eagles opponents are 0-for-5 on fourth down this season … In going 3-0, the Eagles have scored 92 points and allowed 27, the league's largest average margin of victory ... Kenjon Barner scored his first NFL touchdown, in his fourth season.

@LesBowen

Blog: philly.com/Eaglesblog