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Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III (19) gestures for a first down while playing the Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Philadelphia.
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Steelers brought the fight in Philadelphia with memories of 2 years ago top of mind

Benjamin B. Braun/Post-Gazette

Steelers brought the fight in Philadelphia with memories of 2 years ago top of mind

In 2022, the Eagles punked Pittsburgh 35-13. The Steelers remembered it even if they didn't win Sunday

PHILADELPHIA — Beads of sweat dripping off his brow and chin, massive Steelers tight end Darnell Washington was like a partition between their locker room and the exit tunnel.

You won't find his name in the box score of Sunday’s 27-13 loss to the Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field, but his impact was felt. In one sense, it was good. Washington blocked feisty Eagles cornerback Darius Slay Jr. out of the end zone and up against the wall on a catch and run by Najee Harris. In another sense, it was not so good. Washington was flagged for unnecessary roughness, costing the Steelers 15 yards after they were inside the Eagles 5.

“I was just doing my assignment, doing my job,” Washington said. “I thought I just played through the whistle, man. I guess you can say I kind of went overboard if you want to. But at the end of the day, I felt like I ain’t do nothing crazy. Just blocking him and held it a little bit longer than I should have.”

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But that’s exactly what the Steelers want to be. It’s exactly what they weren't last time they came to this building two years ago, when the Eagles thrashed them 35-13 with six sacks, A.J. Brown pointed at the defenders he caught a touchdown on top of and Jason Kelce wore a Batman mask on the sideline while he rested alongside Jalen Hurts with the game wrapped up midway through the fourth quarter.

Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin looks up while playing the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Philadelphia, Pa. The Philadelphia Eagles won 27-13.
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After that miserable game and that 9-8 season, general manager Omar Khan and assistant GM Andy Weidl, who came from Philadelphia, set out to make the Steelers tougher, more physical and better, particularly in the trenches. Two years later, the Steelers still didn’t do enough to prove they’re in the same class as the Eagles, but they weren’t going to get punked.

“We lost both times, so it don’t really matter,” Harris said.

But in a different universe, Washington and Slay incur offsetting penalties, the Steelers punch in a touchdown from the 4-yard line rather than settle for a field goal and the momentum shifts their way. Instead, the officials didn’t see Slay throw a punch at Washington, but they caught Calvin Austin III running in with a shove on cornerback Quinyon Mitchell, who was coming to Slay’s aid on Washington. Mitchell hit back at Austin.

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And yet, the only personal fouls called were on Washington and Austin, to which Steelers coach Mike Tomlin appeared to be in total disagreement on the sideline when he was informed of the adjudication. He called the explanation he got “not sufficient,” and neither Washington nor Austin understood why their names were the only ones called.

“If I see plenty of Eagles come up and surround him, yeah, I’m gonna come in and help my dog,” Austin said. “But I guess being the biggest guy out there, I’m gonna get a flag thrown on me.”

That was sarcasm from the smallest player on the offense coming to the defense of the biggest. Head referee Alan Eck told a pool reporter he observed Washington and Austin “committing unsportsmanlike conduct after the play was over,” which drew the flags. And “since we had flags down, it gave [the league office in] New York an opportunity to review the play as well; there was no video evidence of punches observed by the Philadelphia Eagles.”

Slay “kind of got crazy,” as Washington put it. He felt Slay pull away and swing at him, so he tried to leave his left arm extended so he could keep his distance. Washington acknowledged he wasn’t part of the embarrassing loss to the Eagles in 2022, but it was mentioned throughout the week and physicality was an emphasis.

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown (11) pulls in the ball for a touchdown in front of Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Donte Jackson (26) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Philadelphia.
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“We didn't come out with the win,” right tackle Broderick Jones said. “For me, we weren't physical enough if we aren’t coming out with the win.”

That may be, but the image of Washington, Austin and Jones going toe to toe with one of the foremost bullies of the NFC will be a lasting one if the Steelers can get George Pickens and DeShon Elliott back from their hamstring injuries, then go on a run down the stretch into the postseason. There’s work to be done, and the foundation is there — one that’s been established in the span of their most recent trips across the state.

“It just shows you what type of culture we have as a team,” Jones added on the brawl. “No matter how big, how small, you’ve got to have your brother’s back at the end of the day. I feel like that’s what makes us jell as a team — that every individual in the locker room knows that if something goes down, the whole sideline’s got your back, even all the way down to ‘Coach T.’ We’ve just got to keep going with it.”

Indeed, this is one the Steelers can flush quickly and turn the page to Baltimore feeling just fine about their mentality, if not the way they put their identity into action. The fight was there — ironically, maybe a bit too much of it — but the margin for error was missing as they continue building a team befitting of the impose-our-will attitude.

“We approached this game with the right mindset,” Austin said. “But at the end of the day, you can have the right mindset, but when the details, execution and focus doesn't match, your intensity and mindset doesn't even matter at that point.”

First Published: December 16, 2024, 2:50 a.m.

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