Steelers

The Ultimate Steelers – Bengals Game Day Preview

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Steeler Nation doesn’t just reside in the surrounding areas of Western Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia. It is a world-wide army that lives and dies with the NFL franchise that calls Pittsburgh it’s home. The six-time Super Bowl champions are a team that always strives for excellence, and their fans expect nothing less in return. This is the ultimate Steelers Game Day Preview that all followers of the black and gold come to find everything they need to know about the Pittsburgh Steelers and their upcoming opponent! Mike Drakulich (@PghSportsNation), who covers both Pitt football and the Steelers for NGSC Sports, brings you inside the huddle for both teams with a weekly game story, the Steelers offensive and defensive game plans for success, prediction, game day information, a detailed breakdown of each team, and an up to date team injury report. Heck, you’ll even know the weather at kickoff. The only thing you’re missing is a game uniform.

 

Steelers search for offense vs Bengals

After all the good feelings gained from their opening week victory on the road in Buffalo, the Pittsburgh Steelers (1-1) took a huge step backwards last week in their stunning home loss to the Raiders.

The offensive line was horrible, providing no time for Ben Roethlisberger to throw, and zero running room for Najee Harris to perform.

The offense had zero flow, and too many times Roethlisberger missed open receivers, or had his passes dropped when they did hit the mark. Hardly ever are their passes caught while in stride. Never do you see a completion in the middle of the field past ten yards.

Then the defense played equally as bad, never coming up with a big stop, or any turnovers at all. Derek Carr shredded the secondary for 382 yards.

It was ugly.

Despite the brutal game, and the team ranking dead last in rush yards, Najee Harris believes both he and the offense will find success on the ground, sooner rather than later.

“It might not seem like a lot to fans,” Harris said of any improvement in the run game, “but when we watch film, it’s a lot. And as long as we keep improving and keep getting better, we are going to find our identity. And then we are going to capitalize on that.”

From his lips to God’s ears, Steelers fans everywhere are hoping Harris is right, as averaging just 57 yards per game on the ground is unacceptable.

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin sees a breakout game coming in Harris’ future, especially seeing the dedication Harris’ puts forth during the work week.

“He’s gaining an understanding about what the (preparation) process does in terms of setting (a player) up for performance, and, thus, it should put him in position to let his natural talents come out in play,” Tomlin said. “I’m expecting him to get routinely better with each outing and excited about that.”

Harris, like anyone who expects to provide results, knows the hard work will produce the numbers they expect.

“You want immediate results, especially being a rookie, and me, personally, I want to try to find a way to impact the game and the team,” Harris said. “But you’ve got to realize that it takes time because you just are new at something, so you just are really learning the small steps that you need to know to make those big plays to be that type of person that you want to be.”

Harris learned, even at Alabama, where championships are expected every year, that adversity is part of the game, and in life.

“When I walked away from Week 1 against the Bills, I set that in my head: to improve in Week 2,” Harris said. “You want to do something so bad, but at the same time, you have to realize it is a learning process and you have got to go through certain stages before you get there.

“I think every great player has had those times of adversity that they face, but for me, my freshman year at Alabama, there was a lot of stuff that I didn’t know about the college level coming from high school, and then now there is a lot of stuff I didn’t know at the NFL level. The only time you can practice it is in the game. At the level. We are going to get there, though.”

For the game, WR Diontae Johnson is out, along with LB Alex Highsmith. Linebacker T.J. Watt is listed as questionable.

“I felt like I did a good amount this week,” Watt said Friday after practice, “to leave the door open for Sunday.”

The Cincinnati Bengals (1-1) come into this game after dropping a close game to the Bears 20-17.

QB Joe Burrow is slowly making progress returning from a bad knee injury that ended his season in 2020.

Rookie WR Ja’Marr Chase is becoming the go to guy for Burrow, and will see plenty of action, along with Pittsburgh native Tyler Boyd, with fellow wideout Tee Higgins likely missing Sunday’s game at Heinz field.

 

Steelers Game Plan for Success

Offense

  1. Offensive line: This line needs to step up their play and soon. Ben Roethlisberger has taken way too many hits, and the running game is basically nonexistent.
  2. Hit receivers in stride: I don’t know if it is Big Ben or just the way the play calling is, but #7 and Matt Canada need to find a way for throws to hit receivers while in stride. Also, how about some receptions down the middle of the field past ten yards???

Defense

  1. Bury Joe Burrow: Burrow has an awful offensive line protecting him, so the defense has to get back to punishing the quarterback every time he drops back to throw.
  2. Stop splash plays: Too many big plays given up last week vs Raiders… The secondary had better keep tabs on Ja’Marr Chase.

 

Prediction

It’s only the third game of the season, but this is a must win game for the Steelers. This team needs to find out what it’s identity is going to be, and that is both offensively and defensively.

It’s the Bengals, and honestly, it doesn’t matter who is out for this game, this is a team the Steelers own, especially at home. It’s time for the offensive line to step up their game, provide some time for Ben Roethlisberger to throw, and to open up some running lanes for Najee Harris.

Guys like Chase Claypool need to step up as well. No more dropped passes, no matter how hard you get hit… it’s time to make some plays and get this offense headed in the direction is capable of in attaining success. Roethlisberger and Matt Canada need to get on the same page, too. Where are the throws hitting receivers in stride? Is it illegal to complete a pass in the middle of the field more than 15 yards downfield?

It will likely be ugly, as all Steelers games are, but in the end Pittsburgh should pull away in the 4th quarter and get back some momentum lost from last week… Steelers 23 Bengals 14

 

Game Day Information

Pittsburgh Steelers vs Cincinnati Bengals

  • Vegas line: Pittsburgh -3.5

Venue: Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, PA.

  • Field: Kentucky Blue Grass

Game-time: Sunday, September 26th at 1:00 pm

TV: CBS (Local on KDKA-TV)

  • Announcers: Kevin Harlan (play-by-play) Trent Green (analyst) | Melanie Collins (reporter)

Local radio: Pittsburgh- 102.5 WDVE-FM & 970 WBGG-AM

  • Announcers: Bill Hillgrove (play-by-play) Craig Wolfley (analyst) | Max Starks (sideline) Missi Matthews (sideline)

Internet broadcast: Steelers Nation Radio (SNR) on Steelers.com

Weather at kickoff: 67 and sunny.  Winds out of the West at 11 mph.

NFL Links

 

Steelers vs Bengals History

Series History: Began in 1970

Overall Record: 67-36

  • Home: 35-16
  • Away: 32-20
  • Postseason: 2-0

Streak: Bengals won the last game.

Last regular-season meeting:Bengals Win, 27-17 (Dec. 21, 2020)

Last postseason meeting: Steelers Win, 18-16 (Jan. 9, 2016)

 

Scouting the Pittsburgh Steelers

Overall record: 1-1 (Tied-1st in AFC North)

Last game: Raiders 26 Steelers 17

Head Coach: Mike Tomlin (14th Season with Steelers)

  • Overall regular-season record: 146-79-1
  • Playoff record: 8-8 (Qualified for playoffs 9 times)

Links

 

Steelers Offense

Strengths: Is there one? Can this offense start finding any consistency at all?

Weaknesses: Offensive line and the complete lack of any type of rushing attack.

Offensive Stats

  • Points per game: 20
  • Total yards per game: 298.5
  • Passing yards per game: 241.5
  • Rushing yards per game: 57

 

Starting Quarterback: Ben Roethlisberger | Back-up: Mason Rudolph

  • Ben Roethlisberger has some misfires in his first few games, and last week was never given much time to throw. Hopefully these issues will be rectified this week. Overall, Big Ben had 483 yards passing with two touchdowns and one interception. He has been sacked four times.

Starting Running Back: Najee Harris | Back-up: Benny Snell, Jr. and Kalen Ballage.

  • Rookie Najee Harris has managed just 83 tough yards in his young career. Harris also has six catches for 47 yards and a score.

Wide Receivers: Diontae Johnson*, Chase Claypool, Juju Smith-Schuster, James Washington, and Ray-Ray McCloud.

  • Diontae Johnson leads the team with 14 catches for 141 yards and a touchdown, but is out this week. Chase Claypool has been up and down and has six receptions for 115 yards. Juju Smith-Schuster has 93 yards receiving off of 10 catches.  James Washington has recorded two catches for 10 yards and will see an uptick in play with Johnson out this week.

Tight Ends: Eric Ebron, Pat Friermuth, and Zach Gentry.

  • Eric Ebron has one catch for 19 yards, while rookie Pat Friermuth also has five receptions for 60 yards. Both will see more throws in their direction as Roethlisberger utilizes his tight ends often.

Placekicker: Chris Boswell

Extra Points: 4-4

Field Goals: 4-4

  • 1-19 yards: 0-0
  • 20-29 yards: 2-2
  • 30-39 yards: 0-0
  • 40-49 yards: 1-1
  • 50+ yards: 1-1

*Injured/Out

 

Steelers Defense (Base 3-4)

Strengths: Great pass rush that limits opposing run game as well. That’s IF T.J. Watt is active…

Weaknesses: DE Stephon Tuitt will be out for at least one more week. Bad tackling and lack of turnovers caused is not helping matters much this season. The defense never came through when counted upon last week vs the Raiders, despite zero run game from them.

Defensive Stats

  • Points per game allowed: 21
  • Total offense yards per game allowed: 398
  • Passing yards allowed: 313.5
  • Rushing yards allowed: 84.5
  • Sacks: 5
  • Interceptions: 0

 

Defensive Line: Cam Heyward, Tyson Alualu, and Chris Wormley.

  • Cam Heyward and Chris Wormley bookend Tyson Alualu in the middle. Wormley will be in for starter Stephon Tuitt who is out for a minimum of one more week. Heyward has a sack and a fumble recovery.

Linebackers: T.J. Watt, Devin Bush, Joe Schobert, and Melvin Ingram/Alex Highsmith.

  • Defensive Player of the Year candidate  T.J. Watt leads a solid linebacker corps alongside Devin Bush, who returns from a knee injury in 2020, Joe Schobert, a Pro Bowler acquired from Jacksonville, and Alex Highsmith. Expect to see plenty of time for Melvin Ingram, another former Pro Bowl player who began his career with the Chargers. Watt has three sacks so far, but may be out or hampered by a groin injury suffered vs Las Vegas. Bush had ten tackles in his first game back. Schobert co-leads the team with 16 tackles with safety Minkah Fitzpatrick.

Secondary: Joe Haden, Terrell Edmunds, Minkah Fitzpatrick, and Cameron Sutton.

  • Joe Haden and Cameron Sutton will be at the corners with Minkah Fitzpatrick at free safety and Terrell Edmunds at strong safety. CB James Pierre will see plenty of field time in the nickle.

Steelers Special Teams

Punter: Pressley Harvin III

Kickoff Returners: Ray-Ray McCloud

Punt Returner: Ray-Ray McCloud

Scouting report: McCloud is averaging 23.0 yard per kickoff return and 8.7 yards per punt return.

 

Scouting the Cincinnati Bengals

Overall record: 1-1 (Tied-1st in AFC North)

Last game: Bears 20 Bengals 17

Head coach: Zac Taylor (3rd season with Cincinnati)

  • Overall regular-season record: 7-26 | 7-26 with Cincinnati

Links

 

Bengals Offense

Strengths: Ja’Marr Chase is a special receiver and is living up to expectations.

Weaknesses: Horrible offensive line that is going to get Joe Burrow killed with their lack of protection.

Offensive Stats

  • Points per game: 22
  • Total Offense per game: 343
  • Passing yards per game: 234
  • Rushing yards per game: 109

 

Starting Quarterback: Joe Burrow | Back-up: Brandon Allen

  • Joe Burrow is back after a horrific knee injury suffered last year. He has thrown for 468 yards with four touchdowns and three interceptions. Burrow has been sacked 10 times in just two games so far.

 Starting Running Back: Joe Mixon | Back-up: Samaje Perine and Chris Evans.

  • Mixon has gained 196 yards rushing with one score on the ground, and has caught five passes for 25 yards. Samaje Perine backs Mixon up and has just 22 yards on the season.

Wide Receivers: Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Tyler Boyd, Auden Tate, Stanley Morgan, and Mike Thomas.

  • Ja’Marr Chase has become the go-to guy for Burrow, with seven catches for 155 yards and two TD’s. Tee Higgins is tied for first on the team with 10 receptions, along with Tyler Boyd, but is doubtful for the game. Boyd will see plenty of looks with Higgins out.

Tight Ends: C.J. Uzomah and Drew Sample.

  • C.J. Uzomah has caught four passes for 39 yards on the year.

Placekicker: Evan McPherson

Extra Points: 5-5

Field Goals: 3-3

  • 1-19 yards: 0-0
  • 20-29 yards: 0-0
  • 30-39 yards: 1-1
  • 40-49 yards: 0-0
  • 50+ yards: 2-2

*Injured/out

 

Bengals Defense (Base 4-3) 

Strengths: Decent pass rush. Recorded three sacks in opener. DE Maxx Crosby will be after Roethlisberger all day.

Weaknesses: Rush defense was gashed for 189 yards on the ground vs Ravens.

Defensive Stats

  • Points per game allowed: 22
  • Total offense yards per game allowed: 304.5
  • Passing yards allowed: 209.5
  • Rushing yards allowed: 95
  • Sacks: 6
  • Interceptions: 1

Scouting report: LB Logan Wilson leads the Bengals with 16 tackles and has one interception. DT B.J. Hill has two sacks. Safety Jessie Bates has 14 tackles, 10 of which are solo.

 

Bengals Special Teams

Kickoff Returners: Brandon Wilson

Punt Returner: Darius Phillips

Scouting report: Brandon Wilson is averaging 16.3 yards per kickoff return. Darius Phillips is averaging 11.3 yards per punt return.

 

Injury Report (9/24/21)

Pittsburgh Steelers

  • Out: DT Carlos Davis (Knee), LB Alex Highsmith (Groin), WR Diontae Johnson (knee)
  • Doubtful: None reported
  • Questionable: LB T.J. Watt (groin)

Cincinnati Bengals

  • Out: None reported
  • Doubtful: WR Tee Higgins (Shoulder), G Xavier Su’a-Filo (Knee), CB Trae Waynes (Hamstring)
  • Questionable: None reported

 

 

 

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About Post Author

Mike Drakulich

From Midland, "The Basketball Capital of Pennsylvania", located 35 miles NW of Pittsburgh along the Ohio River. This former steel town was home to storied athletes such as Dave Alston, Norm Van Lier, Simmie Hill, and the legendary 1965 Midland High School Basketball Team. There's nowhere on earth that is more dedicated to its sports teams like Western Pennsylvania and the city of Pittsburgh. The passion and pride of Pittsburgh's fan base is second to no one. From the NFL, NHL, MLB, NCAA football and basketball, to W.P.I.A.L. high school sports, "The City of Champions" has it all! As Editor of Pittsburgh SportsNation, Mike Drakulich provides top notch opinions and coverage of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Pittsburgh Pirates, Pitt Panthers football & basketball, Robert Morris Colonials basketball, and Duquesne Dukes basketball, as well as all sports teams that represent Western Pennsylvania, including WPIAL High School Football. For a refreshing view of sports, mixed with humor and uncensored opinions, check out Pittsburgh SportsNation today on Facebook, Twitter @PghSportsNation and videos with over 1,000,000 views on YouTube!
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Mike DrakulichYour source for Pittsburgh sports!
From Midland, "The Basketball Capital of Pennsylvania", located 35 miles NW of Pittsburgh along the Ohio River. This former steel town was home to storied athletes such as Dave Alston, Norm Van Lier, Simmie Hill, and the legendary 1965 Midland High School Basketball Team.

There's nowhere on earth that is more dedicated to its sports teams like Western Pennsylvania and the city of Pittsburgh. The passion and pride of Pittsburgh's fan base is second to no one. From the NFL, NHL, MLB, NCAA football and basketball, to W.P.I.A.L. high school sports, "The City of Champions" has it all!

As Editor of Pittsburgh SportsNation, Mike Drakulich provides top notch opinions and coverage of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Pittsburgh Pirates, Pitt Panthers football & basketball, Robert Morris Colonials basketball, and Duquesne Dukes basketball, as well as all sports teams that represent Western Pennsylvania, including WPIAL High School Football.

For a refreshing view of sports, mixed with humor and uncensored opinions, check out Pittsburgh SportsNation today on Facebook, Twitter @PghSportsNation and videos with over 1,000,000 views on YouTube!

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