Eagles at Steelers -- Week 5

Where: Heinz Field, Pittsburgh (turf, outdoors)

When: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET (Fox)

Spread: Steelers by 2.5

Forecast: Temperature in mid-40s; 40 percent chance of rain; wind, WSW at 9 mph.

Records: Eagles (Overall: 3-1; NFC East: 1-0); Steelers (Overall: 1-2; AFC North: 0-0)

Past results: Two most recent meetings -- Sept. 21, 2008: Eagles 15, Steelers 6; Nov. 7, 2004: Steelers 27, Eagles 3. Series record: Eagles lead 47-27-3.

What matters: The Eagles play their third game against an AFC North team and it’s a chance to put a little daylight between them and the rest of NFC East. The Eagles also need to prove they can beat a tough, physical team in an unfriendly stadium and they can beat the Steelers’ defensive scheme. The Steelers' scheme is the same one Arizona played against them two weeks ago and the Cardinals “D’’ dominated the game and didn’t allow a touchdown. The Eagles got lucky bounces in all three of their victories and now it’s time for them to prove that they can win without them.

Who matters: Last week’s victory over the Giants showed what the Eagles can do when they have a little balance in their offense, which means giving running back LeSean McCoy a chance to shine again. He carried the ball 23 times for 123 yards against New York and throughout McCoy’s career the Eagles have played better the more he carries it -- they’re 10-1 when McCoy gets 20 or more carries in a game. That would also take some of the heat off of QB Michael Vick and it’s not a coincidence that the Eagles ran the ball so much last week and Vick didn’t turn it over for the first time all season.

Key matchups: Eagles defensive ends vs. Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger. The Eagles want to pressure the QB, of course, but they also know they must keep Roethlisberger in the pocket because he’s most dangerous when he freelances and makes big plays after escaping the pass rush. Plus, the 6-5 QB is hard to bring down, so the Eagles’ rotating DEs -- Trent Cole, Jason Babin, Darryl Tapp, Brandon Graham and Phillip Hunt -- must keep him contained....McCoy and FB Stanley Havili vs. LB James Harrison. Teams have had success blitzing Vick and Harris is one of the best in the business. That means McCoy and Havili have to read this blitz and then pick it up to protect Vick. That’s easier said than done, but a necessity nonetheless.

Injuries of note: LB Akeem Jordan (hamstring) won’t play for the second straight week and again he’ll be replaced on the weak side by Jamar Chaney, who appears to have won the starting job in Jordan’s absence. T King Dunlap (hamstring) missed the last two games, but should suit up on Sunday, though Demetress Bell will start in his place again. DT Derek Landri also missed some practice time this week with a sore knee, but he should be ready to play on Sunday.

Inside stuff: The Eagles have been hurt by the blitz this season and the Steelers do that as well as any team in the NFL. So, expect the Eagles to try and take advantage of that with some screen passes to McCoy. The Eagles usually have one of the best screen games in the league, but they haven’t used it very much this season. That could change on Sunday, as they try to make the Steelers pay for their aggressiveness.

Connections: Eagles assistant coach Duce Staley played for the Steelers from 2004-2006 and won a Super Bowl ring with them in 2005. Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau got his first NFL coaching job with the Eagles from 1973-76, when he was special teams coordinator for head coach Mike McCormack.

Stats you should know: A key to any good defense is third-down efficiency and the Eagles have the third-best percentage in the NFL -- offenses have converted just 14 of 52 third downs, or 26.9 percent. Also, the Eagles have held opposing quarterbacks to a passer rating of 65.6, which also is the third-best mark in the NFL. The last time the Eagles finished a season holding QBs to a rating that low was in 1992 (64.8), when their defense was led by Pro Bowl players Reggie White, Seth Joyner, Eric Allen, Clyde Simmons, William Thomas and Wes Hopkins.

Bulletin board quote: Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown got things going this week when he called Eagles rookie cornerback Brandon Boykin “the candy bar.” Brown also said this about Boykin: “He’s given up a lot of plays. Whoever gets that guy definitely has to take advantage.” Boykin’s response: “I guess that’s an insult, huh? Maybe he really does feel that way about me. I really don’t know much about him, but I’m not going to let him get me out of my game, if that was his purpose. I’m just going to go out there and do my job, like I do every week.”

Looking ahead: The Eagles host Detroit at home next week before a Week 7 bye. 

Prediction: Steelers 23, Eagles 17

For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis on the Philadelphia Eagles from blogger Kevin Noonan, follow @CBSEagles.