After a shaky showing against New England, the Steelers are trying to get themselves back on track at home against the Bengals in Week 3. The offense managed only three points in the loss to the Patriots, and now Aaron Rodgers gets another shot to answer the bell against a Cincinnati team that is still unbeaten.
The big question hanging over Pittsburgh is simple: can this group show some consistency when the lights are on? That starts with Rodgers, but it doesn’t stop there. The Steelers have a few obvious pressure points heading into this one, and they’ll need cleaner play across the board if they want to bounce back.
DK Metcalf is at the center of it. The Steelers haven’t had a problem finding him; they’ve had a problem finishing the job.
He was targeted 10 times in Week 1 against the Falcons and came away with four catches for 40 yards. Against the Patriots, he was targeted nine times and finished with four receptions for 27 yards.
New England’s Christian Gonzalez helped keep him bottled up, limiting him to two receiving yards before the fourth quarter. That’s not the kind of return Pittsburgh had in mind after giving Metcalf a multi-year extension.
Rodgers is likely going to keep looking his way, but Metcalf has to start making the most of those chances.
The offensive line is another area under the microscope. Pittsburgh’s defense has been the steady part of this franchise for years; the front in front of Rodgers has not inspired that same confidence. The Patriots got pressure on the 42-year-old quarterback in Week 2, and Rodgers was clear afterward that it has to improve.
"They only got me once, I think, but there was definitely - the pocket wasn't as stable, but they brought a lot of six-man pressure," Rodgers said postgame via Heavy.
If the line can take even a small step forward and cut down the heat on Rodgers, that alone would change the feel of the offense.
There’s also a chance for the ground game to finally give Pittsburgh something to build on. The Steelers are averaging 74.5 rushing yards per game, which ranks fourth-least in the league, and the Bengals are allowing 74.5 per game, which ranks third-least.
Jaylen Warren leads the team with 89 rushing yards, and Rico Dowdle is right behind him, though his health is in question. That leaves Warren with a bigger burden in this matchup.
If he can create some movement against Demetrius Knight, Barrett Carter, and the rest of the Bengals’ front, it could be the kind of spark Pittsburgh has been waiting for.
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 🡒]