The Eagles will catch the Steelers coming off the bye week this Sunday and it came at a perfect time for the team on the other side of the State of Pennsylvania.
All-Pro linebacker James Harrison, All-Pro safety Troy Polamalu and running back Rashard Mendenhall are likely to be back in the starting lineup for the 1-2 Steelers.
"Based on what I am looking at on how we worked (Monday) I think that is a safe assessment," Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said per Steelers.com. "We will watch these guys as we proceed throughout the week. All guys have performed well and were able to get through practice and we're optimistic that they're going to be full participants."
While the Steelers rank fifth in the league in yards allowed per game, they have allowed an average of 25.0 points per contest which currently ranks 21st in the NFL.
Harrison has not played yet this season after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery back in August. Chris Carter and Jason Worilds have filled in at the right outside linebacker spot for Pittsburgh in place of Harrison.
Polamalu has missed the past two games with a calf injury that he suffered against the Broncos in the season opener. Ryan Mundy has paired up with Ryan Clark in the past two contests in Polamalu's place.
The Steelers have been able to get by without their defensive stalwarts, but the rushing game has struggled to get going in 2012 without their former first-round pick in Mendenhall. Pittsburgh ranks 31st in the league averaging 65.0 rushing yards per game.
Mendenhall has been sidelined as he recovers from ACL surgery that took place in January. Isaac Redman and Jonathan Dwyer have combined for 142 yards on 56 carries (2.53 yards per attempt). Mendenhall has rushed for 3,309 yards and 29 touchdowns in the past three seasons.
This is the first of three straight games for the Eagles against a team coming off a bye week. The Lions and the Falcons will also face the Eagles after their bye week, although the Falcons game is after the Eagles' bye as well. This does not count the fact that the Giants had a 10-day layoff following their Thursday night game in Week 3.
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