Handing out 10 awards from the Eagles-Steelers game

In Week 15, the Philadelphia Eagles won their tenth straight game against the tough and rugged Pittsburgh Steelers. As always, win, lose, or tie, we hand out 10 awards.

1) The Suffocation Award 😵: The Eagles' second half offense

The Eagles only had three drives in the second half. They were as follows:

1. 13 plays, 47 yards, 7:08, FG.
2. 13 plays, 74 yards, 6:33, TD.
3. 21 plays, 88 yards, 10:29, end of game.

That would be 47 plays, 209 yards, 24:10.

The Steelers only had two possessions.

1. 4 plays, 38 yards, 2:02, fumble.
2. 7 plays, 24 yards, 3:48, punt.

That would be 11 plays, 62 yards, 5:50.

The Eagles have been choking teams out in the fourth quarter with game-sealing drives all season, but this one was a little different in that they weren't punctuated by long Saquon Barkley TD runs.

"It wasn't pretty," Lane Johnson said. "It wasn't super explosive in the run game, but we kept attacking.

"I know [the last drive] started at the f***ing three yard line. We had a pass play [to start it off] and I was thinking, 'Do not let this guy f***ing sack Jalen.' So that's all I was thinking. It wasn't pretty but we ended up making plays, keeping drives alive. I'm exhausted. It was a tough game."

The final drive of the game ate up the entire rest of the clock (10:26 in game time), plus all three of the Steelers' timeouts, plus the two-minute warning.

"It felt like a year," Cam Jurgens said. "I don't care how many plays it was. It felt longer.

"I just think this team in general thrives in situations like that, where you can hang your hat and say, 'We're the tougher team. We're the grittier team.' We got a motto. Anyone can be the tougher player for one rep, but can you be the tougher player longer? Who's tougher longer? That's the team that's gonna win."

That's not the only motto the offensive line has. When hearing that the final drive was 21 plays, Jordan Mailata said, "Tough. Detailed. Together."

"I'm serious," Mailata said. "Tough. Detailed. Together."

Mekhi Becton, eavesdropping in the background added his own "Tough. Detailed. Together."

"That's grit," Mailata said. "That's grit. That's 'want to.' That's what it tells me about this team."

2) The 'Best Friends Again' Award 💘: Jalen Hurts and A.J. Brown

A week after A.J. Brown said that "passing" was what the offense needed to improve on, and Brandon Graham's subsequent comments that Brown's relationship with Jalen Hurts had changed, Brown and Hurts made sure to let everyone know that they're still the bestest of friends ever by doing the "Kid and Play" after a TD.

Hurts targeted Brown 11 times, eight of which he caught for 110 yards and a TD. So that's the end of the Hurts-Brown drama, for now.

3) The 'Also Cool With Jalen, Still' Award 🤝: DeVonta Smith

Smith had 11 catches on 12 targets for 109 yards and a TD.

That was the first time Smith has gone over 100 yards in a game this season.

4) The 'Back On Track' Award 🛤️: The Eagles' passing game

The Steelers sought to pack the box and slow down Saquon Barkley, which they mostly did, daring the Eagles to beat them through the air. Hurts responded by finishing 25 of 32 for 290 yards, 2 TDs, and 0 INTs. 

• MORE EAGLES
• Eagles win, Lions loss gives Eagles share of the best record in the NFC
  
• Eagles stock watch: The demise of the passing game has been greatly exaggerated
  
• Final observations: Eagles nab 10th-straight win with revitalized passing offense
  

The Eagles have relied on their run game recently, because, I mean, why not with the way Barkley has been running it? 

But the passing game also just felt off. It was on today.

"It's what we needed to do to win this football game," Nick Sirianni said.

5) The 'Thank You' Award 🙏: Mike Tomlin

Facing a 4th and 7 down 14 from the Eagles' 46 yard line with 10:40 to play, Mike Tomlin and the Steelers incomprehensibly punted.

The Steelers hang their hat on forcing turnovers, and perhaps Tomlin trusted his defense to make a big play more than he trusted his offense, but, uhhhh, nope. He never got the ball back again.

6) The 'Lucky As Hell' Award 🍀: Jalen Carter

Jalen Carter lost his damn mind on the aforementioned punt and was flagged for an unnecessary roughness call, for doing this: 

Lol. The Steelers were initially awarded a first down on that penalty, but it was eventually called a post-possession foul, which merely moved the ball from where it was downed at the 6 yard line half the distance to the 3.

Carter was extremely lucky that he didn't give the Steelers a new set of downs.

Big Dom and defensive line coach Clint Hurtt had to step in between Carter and a livid Nick Sirianni after the play.

Carter is a terrific player, but that can't happen.

7) The 'Surprise Hero' Award 🦸‍♂️: Kenny Gainwell

Gainwell had 7 carries for 20 yards, as well as 3 catches on 3 targets for 40 yards. Those numbers don't sound super impressive, but all 3 of his receptions were clutch plays on third downs.

He even had this highlight reel spin move:

Gainwell has quietly had a nice season as the RB2.