Eagles look to ‘take it to another level’ vs. Steelers

Defensively, the Steelers have one of the game’s best safeties in Minkah Fitzpatrick and a sideline-to-sideline linebacker in Devin Bush and are hopeful that pass-rusher extraordinaire T.J. Watt is back soon (he returned from injury and practiced this week). The Eagles know that Pittsburgh is going to bring some unscouted looks as they throw a variety of things at Hurts and the offense.

“We have to be sharp, no doubt,” linebacker Haason Reddick. “They have weapons. Young guy at quarterback, but you can see the problems he presents and the talent that he has, so we can’t let him get hot against us.”

The goal here – and we’ve said it a lot already this season, but it bears repeating and repeating – is to keep building. To keep winning. To keep improving. Don’t take an eye off the prize.

“As long as we continue to grow and have the right focus and everything is trying to get better each and every day – we’re only six games into the season, seven weeks. Where we’re at right now is not going to be what matters,” center Jason Kelce said. “What matters is where we’re going to be in the next 12 to 15 weeks.”

Nothing has changed, then, with the obvious exception that the Eagles traded for veteran defensive end Robert Quinn and the team is “hopeful” that he will play on Sunday in certain packages after only a couple of days of practice at the NovaCare Complex. How much time will it take to knock off any rust from the bye week? What kind of urgency and intensity will the Eagles have at home in what is the toughest ticket of the season at a sold-out, sold-out, truly sold-out Lincoln Financial Field?

“In my mind, it’s not even about coming back with the same type of urgency, sharpness,” Hurts said. “I think it’s about taking it to another level. And that’s one thing that I’m personally challenging myself to do – take it to another level. Take your focus to another level. Take your preparation to another level. Take that step.

“I think the only direction is to rise. I’ve said that. I believe that. So, that’s the mentality.”

With that, Sunday just can’t get here fast enough.