Four touchdowns by Rookie Chase Clapul led the Steelers to a 38-29 victory over the Eagles. Clappool became Notre Dame’s second-round pick, becoming the first rookie in franchise history to make four touchdowns in the game, and the first Steeler to do so since Roy Jefferson in 1968. His final score, a 35-yard welcome with three minutes left, helped the Steels catch the Eagles, who cut Pittsburgh’s lead by two points after trailing 31-14 in the opening minutes of the second half.
Claypool’s two first-half touchdowns helped Pittsburgh take a 17-14 half-time lead. The Steelers scored first, after both teams traded the Punters off Claypool’s two-yard touchdown run with a 14-play drive. Less than a minute after Clapool’s score, the Eagles tied the game at Miles Sanders’ 74-yard innings, the longest run by an Eagles player in 20 years.
Clapul gave Pittsburgh a 14-7 lead after Ben Rothlisberger’s 32-yard pass was caught in the Steelers’ front possession. Philadelphia quickly tied the score on a one-yard touchdown run by Sanders, a native of the Pittsburgh area. Eric Ebro set up Chris Boswell’s 41-yard field goal after completing a 17-yard run from Bits Ben.
At the start of the third quarter, the 58-yard, powered by Ray-McCloud, set the third touchdown of the day at the five-yard reception. Steven Nelson scored James Connor’s one-yard touchdown after a momentary break, as Pittsburgh extended his lead to 17 points.
The Eagles didn’t go away, though, as Wentz knocked out Greg Ward for an eight-yard pass on the Eagles’ front possession. Philadelphia cut its losses further after hitting Wentz receiver John Hightower on a two-point conversion. Philadelphia then made it four points in the fourth quarter with a four-yard score of less than four minutes before Wentz beat Travis Fulgam. Fulgam, the sixth-round pick of 2019, who welcomed just two regular seasons before Sunday, caught 10 passes at 152 yards.
But after forcing a turnover on Pittsburgh’s forward possession, Philadelphia were unable to make money if Hade broke Wentz’s third down pass to Fulgam. Hayden’s breakup forced the Eagles to try a 57-yard field goal by Jack Elliott, whose kick widened with 3-10 remaining. Less than 20 seconds after the missed field goal, Rothlisberger got a huge open clap, which caught Big Ben’s pass for a 35-yard score. Pittsburgh then leveled the game while Nelson overcame Wentz’s frustration with more than two minutes left.
Pittsburgh is now 4-0 for the first time since 1979, while the Eagles are 1-3-1-1 by five games. To revive Sunday’s action in real time, check out our live blog below to see all the highlights and analysis from Steelers ’win.
