The Pittsburgh Steelers will travel to play the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 15 of the 2024 NFL season. While the two clubs play in different conferences, they are both very much in the playoff conversation, and the contest holds plenty of significance for the AFC and NFC postseason pictures alike. The two organizations still have opportunities to hold the number one overall seed, but winning their respective divisions is at the top of the to-do list. Going to the City of Brotherly Love is no easy task for any franchise, even if the fans from the Steel City travel in solid numbers to the hostile environment.
%202023%20Camp%20Final%20with%20Logos/2L9A7374-544x306.jpg "Steelers Mike Tomlin")
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Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin roams the grounds at St. Vincent College while his team practices during 2023 training camp in Latrobe, PA.
One of the biggest things to pay attention to ahead of any NFL game is the officiating crew assigned to each matchup. There are always small advantages and disadvantages that teams can find, depending on which group will be on the field. In Week 15, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia will get Alan Eck and co., which spells trouble for the Steelers for a couple of reasons.
While it is expected that home teams will consistently come away with victories each week at the professional level, organizations hosting contests are only winning at about a 52.4% clip in 2024, according to Pro Football Reference. Eck, however, is walking off the field each week and seeing the home squad win at nearly a 70% rate in his 13 officiated matchups.
The away teams have slightly more penalties called against them, as Pittsburgh experienced in Week 6 when Eck was on the call for a game against the Las Vegas Raiders. The Steelers are one of four franchises playing on the road to win when Eck's crew was in charge to this point in the season, but in Las Vegas, were called for three more penalties than the Raiders.
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Steelers quarterback Justin Fields runs off the playing surface following a Week 6 game against the Raiders at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, NV.
It's fair to note that back in early November, Eck and his team called a game in Philadelphia as the Eagles took down the Jacksonville Jaguars. For one of the few times this season, the home team in the Eagles were hammered with flags, having eight called against them compared to Jacksonville's four. Unfortunately, the law of averages suggest the Steelers might be in for a loss due to already beating the odds in 2024 by defeating the Raiders on the road with Eck officiating.
Another interesting trend for Eck and his crew has been unnecessary roughness. The unit has 11 of these calls, which ranks second in the NFL. Certain positions such as cornerback and the linemen on both sides of the ball will want to take note of this, as flags are more likely to be thrown after the whistle with this crew calling the game compared to others.
Pittsburgh has a record of 4-5 since 2016 with Eck as the head referee, which leads to a much lower winning percentage than the team's average in that timeframe. There are several reasons to look into officiating before each game, and Eck's tendency to favor the home team, as well as the Steelers losing more than winning with him on the field since 2016, is relatively concerning.
Eck and his team are also calling roughly 102 yards in infractions per contest, which is Eck's most since the 2020 campaign. His crew is evidently more willing to call penalties more so in 2024 than the last few seasons. Additionally, in 2023, games officiating by this group saw the home team win over 81% of the time. That trend has continued into 2024. Away teams have only won seven of the last 29 games with Eck on as the lead referee.
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Steelers special teams coordinator Danny Smith (left) and Head Coach Mike Tomlin (middle) speak with an official prior to a 2021 regular season game at then-Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, PA.
Steelers Can't Avoid Unforced Errors In Extremely Hostile Environment
Fans, players and coaches throughout the NFL know that Philadelphia is no easy place to play, especially when the Eagles are having a season like they are in 2024. Costly penalties could determine the outcome of the game, so despite the numbers suggesting that Eck's crew may have some bias, it will be pivotal to stay focused on the task at hand, avoid unnecessary roughness penalties, and remain calm in regards to the officiating throughout the matchup.
Are you worried about Eck's crew in Week 15? Let us know in the comments below!
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