The Steelers are heading into Week 3 with their offense under real pressure, and the list of problems is already long. Pittsburgh put up just 13 points against the Falcons in Week 1, then followed that with an even rougher outing against the Patriots, managing only three points.
Nothing has been smooth so far. The offensive line has struggled to hold up, the run game hasn’t found traction, Aaron Rodgers hasn’t played well, and the wide receivers haven’t consistently separated from coverage.
On top of that, No. 1 receiver DK Metcalf has had trouble making the catchable plays. Through two weeks, it’s been a little bit of everything going wrong.
That’s what makes the coming stretch so important for Pittsburgh. The first half of the schedule matters, and the Steelers need wins stacked early before they hit a tougher run later in the year. If this offense keeps sputtering, the season could turn in a hurry.
Now comes a Bengals team that enters Week 3 at 2-0 and has shown defensive improvement. Cincinnati won’t be the easy matchup Pittsburgh has enjoyed against the Bengals in past seasons, which only raises the urgency for the Steelers to find a functional answer on offense.
One place to look is Pat Freiermuth. With so many other parts of the offense stuck in neutral, the tight end could be the piece that helps get things moving. Pittsburgh may need to lean on him more heavily in the passing game, especially if it wants any kind of rhythm against Cincinnati.
The Bengals’ defensive line has gotten much better after the addition of Dexter Lawrence and the free-agent signings of Boye Mafe and Jonathan Allen. Through two games, opposing offenses haven’t had much success running the ball against them, which could push the Steelers toward other ways of attacking.
That may open the door for Freiermuth and Darnell Washington. Cincinnati’s inside linebackers, Barrett Carter and Demetrius Knight, both had rookie growing pains last season and still have spots the Steelers can target.
Coverage is one of their weaker areas, and Houston showed that last week. Dalton Schultz torched that space for 12 catches and 140 yards, a clear reminder of how soft the middle of the defense can be against tight ends.
For a receiver group that has had trouble creating separation and making consistent plays, this feels like a game where the tight ends need to carry more of the load. Freiermuth, especially, could give Aaron Rodgers a dependable option over the middle and provide the passing game with something it has lacked through the first two weeks.
If Pittsburgh is going to get its passing attack moving in the right direction, the tight ends may be the key to making that happen against Cincinnati.
In Other News...
Joey Porter Jr. Just Sparked A Steelers Debate He Can't Win
Joey Porter Jr. has only been in the league a short time, but he already knows what comes with a Steelers-Bengals week: every comment gets measured against the tape. After recent remarks suggesting he has never really had trouble with Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, the discussion around his matchup work has only grown louder, because Pittsburgh fans know Cincinnatis top receivers have been central figures in this rivalry for years.
The numbers behind those games paint a more complicated picture for Porter and the Steelers. Across the past three seasons, Chase and Higgins have consistently found production when Porter has been on the field, while his own coverage grades against Cincinnati have bounced around from game to game. It leaves Porter in a familiar spot for a young corner in a division that never lets anyone off the hook: the debate is already bigger than the quote, and the next meeting is the only place he can really settle it. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Suddenly Have A Guard Problem Before Bengals Week
The Steelers found themselves sorting through a new interior line concern this week as rookie guard Gennings Dunker popped up on the injury report with a knee issue ahead of Week 3. Spencer Anderson is still working through a bone break in his leg, though he has been able to practice fully this week, leaving Pittsburgh with a thinner-than-expected group at a spot that usually needs steady rotation and depth.
For now, Brock Hoffman is the only fully healthy guard on the roster, which makes the upcoming matchup with Cincinnati a little more complicated than the Steelers likely wanted. Even with Anderson on the field, the groups availability is suddenly a real storyline heading into a divisional game, and Pittsburgh will be watching closely to see how much it can trust its interior options when the game plan starts to take shape. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Backfield Decision Just Got A Lot More Serious Before Bengals
The Steelers backfield picture got a little murkier this week with Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle both limited or missing practice because of injuries, leaving Pittsburgh with fewer clean answers as it prepares for Cincinnati. It is the kind of late-week development that can change how an offense is built, especially when the running game already has to absorb the ripple effects of a crowded injury report.
Pittsburgh has other players showing up as limited or absent, but the running back situation is the one demanding the most attention heading into the Bengals game. Depending on Dowdles availability, the Steelers may need to turn to the practice squad to add depth at the position, which would make Fridays final injury updates especially important. [Read more 🡒]