THE STEELERS at THE EAGLES

Coming off their previous Sunday’s win over the Redskins, and facing the Eagles for their week 7 game, confidence was high in the Steelers camp. Having already beaten their opponents 24-3 in Pittsburgh, another victory was expected against their state rivals.

Although the Steelers rushing attack was finally gaining pace through Tom Tracy, an aerial battle was forecast for the game. The two touchdown passes Bobby Layne threw against Washington reinforced the view that rather than a war of attrition on the ground, the main battle would be fought in the air.

The Eagles’ Norm Van Brocklin ranked only 16th in the NFL’s quarterback ratings, but is way ahead of any other with 216 attempts. Van Brocklin has great faith in his primary receiver, Pete Retzlaff, who caught 5 passes for 55 yards in the previous meeting with the Steelers.

At the halfway point in the season, Retzlaff was the top receiver in the NFL and Van Brocklin made it clear in the build-up to the game that he expected his receiver to finish the season with the receiving title.

Van Brocklin threw 37 times in the teams’ previous meeting, completing 15 for 148 yards. During the week’s training, Coach Parker had his team concentrating on pass defense and was confident his secondary would stand up to the anticipated aerial bombardment. Dick Alban, Gary Glick, Dean Derby, Jack Butler and Richie McCabe were expected to be busy defending passes.

The Steelers were once again the underdogs with the Eagles being favoured by 2.5 points. 

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1958 WEEK 7 - THE STEELERS (2-4) at THE EAGLES (1-4-1)

In the autumn sunshine, the Eagles took the opening kickoff and drove to the Steelers 21 before Pittsburgh’s defense dug in. On a fourth a one, Philadelphia attempted a field goal, but Ray Barnes fumbled and Ray Campbell recovered on the 18 for the Steelers.

The Steelers first score came after a 65-yard Tom Tracy pass completion to Ray Mathews that put the ball on the Eagle 18. When Pittsburgh only picked up seven yards on three carries, they brought on Tom Miner to kick the field goal that put the Steelers 3-0 in front.

Late in the opening quarter, an errant Bobby Layne pass was collected by the Eagles Bob Pellegrini and carried to the Steelers 5, setting up an Eagles touchdown catch by the league’s leading receiver, Pete Retzlaff. Bob Walston converted.

The second quarter saw the Steelers start to control the game. Layne finished an eight play, 48-yard drive with a 13-yard touchdown completion to Tracy to kick start their dominance.

Dick Alban set up the Steelers second touchdown with his recovery of a Barnes fumble that Alban returned 17 yards to the opponents’ 25. Layne repeated his earlier touchdown completion to Tracy to put the Steelers ahead 17-7.

The Eagles attempted a comeback before the intermission with a long drive, but were forced to settle for a 16-yard field goal.

As the third quarter began, the Eagles’ Bell intercepted Layne’s pass intended for Orr and ran back 33 yards to the Steeler 42. Seven plays later, the Eagles scored with a 3-yard off tackle run by Barnes, bringing the score level at 17-17.

The Steelers retaliated with a ten play, 78-yard drive of their own.  Another Layne touchdown pass to Mathew, this time a 34-yard catch, completed the drive.

Still in the third quarter, the Steelers extended their lead on their next possession, driving 59 yards in five plays that finished with Layne waiting patiently until Tracy found himself free before collecting a perfect 40-yard touchdown pass. The Steelers 31, the Eagles 17.

The Eagles scored a consolation touchdown in the final quarter to complete the scoring and the Steelers third victory for the 1958 season had been posted.

THE PITTSBURGH STEELERS 31 at THE PHILADELPHIA EAGLES 24
Franklin Field, Sunday November 9th, 1.30 pm 1958
26,306 in attendance

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