The Bengals walk into Sunday’s AFC North opener with a real chance to do something they haven’t done in the Joe Burrow era: start 3-0. That alone gives this Week 3 trip to Pittsburgh some extra juice. And while the Steelers’ defense is still doing its part, the rest of the setup feels tilted toward Cincinnati.
Aaron Rodgers is another year older, and he’s doing it behind a shaky offensive line. That’s a rough spot to be in against a Bengals team that, for once, has an actual defense. Dexter Lawrence has been a huge reason for that shift, and Cincinnati’s run defense has looked much sturdier because of it.
Even with all that said, divisional games are never safe. The Steelers can still make life messy. But this one has a different feel than the usual AFC North grind.
Injury-wise, Pittsburgh has some real problems. Rico Dowdle is out, while Jaylen Warren is questionable, which leaves the backfield looking thin. The Steelers would like to keep Warren’s workload down because of a shoulder injury, especially with Dowdle unavailable.
Rodgers may also be missing a key target, with Michael Pittman Jr. dealing with a foot issue and logging limited practice time all week. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Pittman and Warren are expected to play.
The secondary could be another issue for Pittsburgh. Cornerbacks Joey Porter Jr. and Jamel Dean are both questionable, with Porter listed for conditioning and Dean dealing with an ankle injury. That opens the door for this to get ugly fast for the home team.
Cincinnati has a few concerns of its own. Wide receiver Andrei Iosivas is on injured reserve after thumb surgery, and veteran defensive tackle B.J.
Hill is doubtful and expected to miss his second straight game. Still, the Bengals have depth at both spots.
There’s also the question of how much punishment Burrow can take. Last week’s audio from the field in Week 2 revealed that Will Anderson Jr.’s hit on him popped Burrow’s rib back into place. That’s not exactly comforting, especially after Orlando Brown Jr. had a rough time against Anderson and Danielle Hunter in Houston.
This week won’t be any easier for Brown. He’ll have to deal with some mix of T.J.
Watt, Alex Highsmith, and Nick Herbig, while Cam Heyward brings his usual problems in the middle. The Steelers still have edge talent that can wreck a game if Cincinnati isn’t sharp.
But the Bengals may be able to offset some of that pressure by attacking a banged-up Pittsburgh secondary. Ja’Marr Chase looks poised for another big day after his two-touchdown performance last week, including what will go down as one of the catches of the year.
There’s still going to be some skepticism around Cincinnati’s defense until it proves this level is real. But the confidence here is hard to ignore. The Bengals already started 2-0 last season before collapsing to 6-11, and this year feels different because Burrow is healthy and the defense looks legitimate.
Final score prediction: it’s gonna get ugly. Aaron Rodgers is washed.
Joe Burrow is shaking off his typical early-season rust. The Bengals have a real defense.
This has blowout written all over it.
In Other News...
Aaron Rodgers Just Put Bengals Pass Rush In Steelers Spotlight
Cincinnatis 2-0 start has come with the kind of defensive edge that can travel, and it was on display again in the win over Houston. Now the Bengals turn their attention to Pittsburgh, where the matchup is already tilting toward their front seven after the Steelers have stumbled through two games on offense and enter a week that looks like a stress test for their blocking.
Aaron Rodgers added to the intrigue by praising Bengals defensive standout Dexter Lawrence ahead of the matchup, a nod to just how disruptive Cincinnati can be when its pass rush is rolling. For a Steelers line already dealing with pressure, that kind of recognition only sharpens the spotlight on what awaits Sunday. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals May Already Have An Answer To Their Joe Burrow Problem
The Bengals are off to a 2-0 start, and Joe Burrow has been a major reason why the offense has looked so sharp out of the gate. Even with the quarterback doing his part, the bigger picture still points to the same old concern in Cincinnati: keeping him clean long enough for the attack to stay on schedule. The offensive line has held up well so far, which has helped ease some of that burden, but the team has also been looking for ways to make Burrows life a little less hectic on obvious passing downs.
One possible answer is already on the roster in Samaje Perine, whose value goes beyond what he does with the ball in his hands. His reputation as a reliable pass blocker makes him a useful option when the Bengals want to give Burrow extra support against pressure, especially in situations where protection matters most. If Cincinnati leans on him more in those spots, it could be a simple way to protect its quarterback without changing the shape of the offense too much. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Nearly Made A Rival AFC North Choice On Defense
When the Bengals went looking for a new defensive coordinator after firing their former one, they did not limit themselves to familiar names inside the building. Zac Taylor brought in Patrick Graham for an interview, a reminder that Cincinnati was weighing a coach with broad NFL experience and a rsum that stretches from the Patriots to the Giants and Raiders before the team ultimately chose Al Golden.
Graham now runs the Steelers defense, which only adds another layer to the AFC North backdrop around the decision. He also brings connections to players such as Maxx Crosby and Dexter Lawrence, and his current job in Pittsburgh gives the Bengals another face to track in a division where coaching moves can matter just as much as personnel ones. The interview itself did not change Cincinnatis hire, but it shows how close the team came to taking a different defensive path inside its biggest rivalry. [Read more 🡒]