The Steelers and Eagles will meet later this afternoon, with kickoff at 4:25 p.m., and Jim Nantz and Phil Simms will be calling the action for CBS.
Simms, who played 14 seasons in the NFL before stepping into the broadcast booth, took time out to talk about the Steelers and what he sees from the team so far this year.
"They have to be happy, to win two different ways," said Simms. "What really impressed me the most was last week against Cincinnati in the rain, you are playing a really good defense, a lot of talent so it really limits your passing game. To line up the way they did with the tight ends out there and to be a power offense and win, that was pretty impressive."
One thing in particular that has impressed Simms early on, but not fully surprised him, is the play of running back Le'Veon Bell, who needs just needs 63 yards rushing this week to pass Walter Payton as the oldest player in NFL history to rush for 300 or more yards combined in his team's first three regular season games.
"A lot of things catch my eye whenever I do the Steelers (games)," said Simms. "The athletic ability of the defense, Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown, and all of that. DeAngelo Williams running was just outstanding. He looks faster and quicker now than he did three years ago. It's a credit to him. He makes the right decisions. He is making people miss. He is getting around the edges. He is doing it all. What a backup to have on a team."
Simms also weighed in a few other topics:
On if the combination of Roethlisberger and Brown are a quarterback-receiver combination that has reach the top level:
"Every team has a plan now for Antonio Brown and it's going to be more than they ever had before just because of the constant success that he has had. The problem with all of that is there are so many other weapons on the offense. Once Le'Veon Bell gets back there that is going to change things, Markus Wheaton (getting back). We just can't sit there and say we are going to double Antonio Brown and let all of these other guys go one-on-one. You are going to lose that battle. This offense, once everybody gets healthy, they all get back on the field, it's going to be fun television."
On if Carson Wentz should expect a lot of dropping into coverage and disguising things or blitz the house:
"People kind of get it wrong sometimes. If you blitz a young quarterback, that is the easy thing for him. He is trained, 'Oh they blitz, I am going to look to this guy and throw it to him.' It's really a quick read. When you drop back in zones and make him hold the ball, make a decision, throw it into tight coverage, I think that is tough. I think Carson Wentz is going to find out, and I am anxious to see, I am not taking anything away from Cleveland and Chicago, but the Steelers athletically are a different team. He is going to see real NFL big time speed. This is going to be fun to watch."
