Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers need a reset, and Week 3 offers a tougher test than the record might suggest.
Pittsburgh is coming off that ugly 20-3 loss to the New England Patriots, a game where almost nothing went right on offense. Rodgers managed just 187 yards, threw no touchdowns and had an interception on 39 pass attempts.
The line didn’t do him any favors either, with four sacks and 13 pressures allowed per Pro Football Focus. He looked much sharper in the opener against the Atlanta Falcons, but against New England, the whole operation stalled.
Now comes Cincinnati, and this is no soft landing. The Bengals’ defense has been one of the early surprises of the season, tied for the second-best EPA per play allowed at -0.26, according to Next Gen Stats, while also sharing the league lead with eight sacks.
They’re also the only team that hasn’t allowed a passing touchdown yet. That streak, though, looks vulnerable here, and the expectation is that Rodgers helps end it with two passing scores.
That doesn’t mean Pittsburgh is in for a track meet. Cincinnati’s offense still brings serious firepower with Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Chase Brown, but the Steelers’ defense has been just as impressive in its own right.
Under Patrick Graham, Pittsburgh has forced four turnovers and sits tied for fourth in EPA per play allowed at -0.25, while the pass rush led by T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith has made life difficult for opposing quarterbacks.
That combination sets up a game where Burrow gets picked off and the Bengals are held to around 275 yards of offense.
There’s been plenty of noise around the Steelers after the Patriots loss, and for good reason. It was one of the worst offensive showings this team has had in a long time. Still, the defense held up, and with possible offensive line changes coming, there’s at least a path toward improvement.
Cincinnati looks like an early contender in the AFC North and beyond, but this won’t be a runaway. The Steelers should keep it close at Acrisure Stadium before turning around for another division game against the Cleveland Browns on Thursday Night Football in Week 4. The final call here: Bengals 21, Steelers 14.
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 🡒]