The Steelers head into Week 3 with a divisional test that already feels different from the first two games. Pittsburgh is 1-1 after last week’s 20-6 loss to the Patriots, while Cincinnati arrives at 2-0 after beating the Texans 20-6. That’s reflected in the betting line too, with FanDuel Sportsbook listing the Bengals as 3.5-point favorites.
Division games can get weird fast, especially this early in the year, and Sunday has the ingredients for exactly that. Still, a few matchups stand out as the most likely swing points.
Pat Freiermuth looks set up for another busy afternoon. Cincinnati has had trouble handling tight ends to start the season, with Houston’s Dalton Schultz and Foster Moreau combining for 14 catches and 174 yards against the Bengals last week.
Freiermuth has done damage in this matchup before, averaging more than 70 receiving yards in his last four games against Cincinnati. He’s also been heavily involved right away this season, already leading the Steelers with nine receptions through two weeks, a bigger role than he had in 2025.
All of that points toward another productive day for Pittsburgh’s tight end.
The Steelers’ defense may be the unit most likely to feel the pressure. Through two weeks, it has been one of the league’s better groups, ranking in the top 10 in both yards and points allowed per game.
But the first two opponents weren’t exactly a full-speed stress test. Pittsburgh got a favorable draw against the Falcons with Cooper Rush at quarterback in Week 1, then handled the Patriots well enough in Week 2, though New England was without A.J.
Brown. Cincinnati is a different animal.
Joe Burrow is the centerpiece, and he has Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins working behind him. Pittsburgh showed some cracks in coverage and tackling last week, especially at safety, and those issues are likely to get exposed more often on Sunday.
Joey Porter Jr. would be a welcome boost if he can go, but he’d be walking into a tough spot after being limited or absent from practice since the summer. The Steelers’ No. 3 pass defense through two weeks looks impressive on paper, but that number may not survive this matchup.
Jaylen Warren is another player who should see plenty of action, though not necessarily on the ground. With Rico Dowdle out against the Bengals, Pittsburgh should lean on Warren heavily at running back, and Warren is questionable but appears likely to play.
The problem is the run game hasn’t been clean through two weeks, and the offensive line may be in line for a shuffle before Sunday. Cincinnati’s run defense has been stout, ranking third in the league through two weeks, thanks in large part to Dexter Lawrence clogging things up in the middle.
That could push the Steelers toward using Warren more as a receiver out of the backfield, especially with Aaron Rodgers getting the ball out quickly against a Bengals pass rush that has improved this year. Warren has only 89 rushing yards and 61 receiving yards so far, but he already ranks third on the team in catches and looks due for a bigger role in the passing game this week.
In Other News...
Steelers Suddenly Have A QB Trade Chip Worth Watching
The Steelers suddenly have a quarterback situation worth monitoring as Will Howard emerges as a name that could appeal to the Giants. New Yorks need for depth has grown after the injury to Jaxson Dart, and Howards profile is easy to understand from afar. He won at the college level and arrived in the NFL with some intrigue, even if the transition has brought its share of early challenges.
For Pittsburgh, the idea of moving Howard is less about giving up on a player than about weighing roster value and timing. For the Giants, it would be a chance to add another arm to a room that could use it. Nothing official is in place, but the possibility alone gives the Steelers another subplot to track as they continue sorting out their quarterback room. [Read more 🡒]
Jordan Rodgers Just Reignited The Steelers Aaron Rodgers Debate
Jordan Rodgers stepped onto ESPNs First Take and did what brothers often do when the spotlight turns harsh: he went to bat for Aaron Rodgers. With the Steelers coming off a Week 2 loss to the New England Patriots, Jordan pointed to the throws Aaron did make and argued that the quarterbacks night was shaped as much by drops and missed calls as anything else. It was a familiar kind of defense, but one that landed with extra weight because Aaron is now in his second season in Pittsburgh.
The timing only sharpened the conversation around the Steelers offense, especially with the Rodgers family relationship back in the public eye after years of estrangement. Jordan and Aaron have recently reconciled, and now the debate around Aarons play is being filtered through that renewed bond. For Pittsburgh, it adds another layer to an already watched quarterback situation, with outside voices quick to either excuse the loss or use it as another reminder that the offense still has questions to answer. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Backfield Plan Just Got More Interesting For Bengals Game
A week after shuffling bodies in the backfield, the Steelers added another layer to their running back situation ahead of their Week 3 matchup with the Bengals. Pittsburgh elevated Lew Nichols from the practice squad on Saturday because of Rico Dowdles toe injury, a move that comes after Travis Homer was already elevated and then signed to the 53-man roster when Gennings Dunker landed on injured reserve.
Doneiko Slaughter was also brought up again, marking his third elevation and using up his practice squad call-up limit. For a team trying to keep its roster flexible this early in the season, the additions suggest Pittsburgh is still sorting out who will be available and how it wants to manage depth heading into a division game that could demand more from the backfield than originally expected. [Read more 🡒]