PHILADELPHIA – The Steelers had every reason to fear the worst. TJ Watts’ pursuit of Jalen Hurts ended with the star linebacker skipping briefly before falling to the ground clutching his left ankle in the fourth quarter against the Eagles.

A highly anticipated state matchup against Philadelphia had already turned into a deadlock for Pittsburgh on Sunday.

Losing Watt for an extended period of time with the AFC North still on the line would have been a brutal blow – especially with a matchup against division rival Baltimore looming next weekend.

Watt said after the game that he was in “wait and see” mode for this game. The 30-year-old former Defensive Player of the Year suffered a sprained ankle that he didn’t necessarily think was a serious injury.

Watt, who leads the Steelers with 11 1/2 sacks, was checked out in the medical tent and did not return.

Watt and the rest of the Steelers defense couldn’t put enough pressure on Hurts or slow down DeVonta Smith and AJ Brown – each of whom tallied more than 100 yards – in a 27-13 loss to the Eagles.

The Steelers (10-4) secured a playoff spot thanks to losses to Indianapolis and Miami.

“No consolation,” Watt said.

The Ravens are one game behind their division rivals and the teams play in Baltimore on Saturday.

Russell Wilson led the Steelers to the top of the league, thanks in part to six wins against teams that currently have a losing record.

The schedule gets tighter as time goes on and the first test was a disaster.

“We have to find ways to get off the field,” Watt said. “We’ve been pretty good all year on three-and-outs and getting off the field on third downs. We weren’t good enough today. There were a lot of long, endurance rides.”

Wilson threw for a season-low 128 yards in a 6-1 loss to the Eagles. After the game against the Ravens, the Steelers host Kansas City and end the season at home against Cincinnati.

Playoff berths and a division title remain in limbo.

“It’s a loss. I mean, let’s not be dramatic,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said.

But it wasn’t pretty.

Wilson botched a pitch to Najee Harris in the third quarter and the Eagles recovered. That led to Hurts scoring a 1-yard tush push for a 27-13 lead.

“That was the play we played. “Unfortunately it didn’t work out,” Wilson said.

It was clear that the Steelers missed receiver George Pickens, who leads the team in receptions (55) and receiving yards (850) by a wide margin. He missed the second game in a row due to a hamstring injury.

“Having George Pickens out there on the field is a good thing for the Pittsburgh Steelers,” Wilson said. “But either way, we still have to react and find ways to make plays.”

The Steelers also lost backup quarterback Justin Fields when he took a hard hit to the stomach from safety Reed Blankenship, and cornerback Donte Jackson suffered a back injury.

The injuries made it difficult for some Steelers – like Watt – to appreciate making the playoffs. However, the team’s fourth playoff appearances in the last five seasons calmed some feelings in the locker room.

“This is a great thing for us. That’s our expectation,” Wilson said. “But we want to win this division, that’s our goal. Our first goal is to win the division. We have to do it. We have to do it. We have this. “We have to find a way in Baltimore that we know is going to be a great football game.”

It would be better for the Steelers if Watt and Pickens were there.