0
0
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, score 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.
Healthier Steelers try to get back on track
The stretch run has begun in the NFL, as just seven games remain in the regular season for the Pittsburgh Steelers (5-4-1), who are desperate to get back on the winning track after tying Detroit two weeks ago and then blowing a late game lead to the Chargers last week 41-37.
There was zero excuse to tie the Lions, but at least Pittsburgh had the excuse of missing five defensive starters last week in their heartbreaking loss on the west coast.
The Cincinnati Bengals (6-4) are in 2nd place in the AFC North, a half game better than the Steelers, and have a chance to sweep the season series for just the third time in 30 years.
“They’re familiar with us. We’re familiar with them,” Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said this week. “That’s one of the things that makes divisional play awesome.”
If the Steelers are to avoid another loss to the Bengals, the offense behind Ben Roethlisberger will have to find a way to start putting up more points that they have averaged (21.4) this season.
Last week showed signs of offensive life and Roethlisberger would like to build off of that game.
“We finally were able to put some points on the board,” Roethlisberger said. “There are some encouraging things to be found from that game. Unfortunately, you don’t win. I think we would take the win and a crappy offense over a great offense and not win. But there are some things we can grow on.”
It seemed as if #7 wrestled the game plan away from offensive coordinator Matt Canada, and almost lead the team to an improbable victory, as he has done countless times in his storied career.
“We did a no-huddley type thing, I guess,” Roethlisberger said. “For the line to be able to do that for the first time and for me to tell them protections and for them to do it, I think we were able to move the ball.
“And when you can answer scores, I think that’s such an underrated deal in the NFL. When you can answer a touchdown or a score, I think that’s huge. We did that a few times.”
Also back was attacking downfield, especially in the middle, and calling quick plays to get the Chargers defense off kilter.
“You’re able to pick the tempo up and dictate what the defense is doing a little bit or keep them more plain,” he said. “So I think that was good. The communication was good. Things went pretty well there.”
Despite not winning a game the past two weeks, Big Ben remains optimistic.
“In the AFC, it is kind of crazy right now,” Roethlisberger said. “It’s always been about when you get hot, when you turn it on. You can sit there and say we won four or five in a row and we lost a game. But just because you lost a game doesn’t mean that you’re still not trending in the right direction. I still think this team is trending in the right direction.”
The defense will get a much needed boost with several starters returning to the line-up after last week’s debacle.
LB T.J. Watt and his 12.5 sacks will be back, as is free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, who is 2nd on the team with 64 tackles. Corner Joe Haden is questionable.
“I’m real happy about it,” defensive coordinator Keith Butler said Thursday. “The possibility of getting the other guys back too, that always helps. The last time we played them, we were down a couple of people too. Having those guys come back and be able to play and stuff like that means a lot to us. It means a lot to everybody who’s out there on the field because they’re used to playing with each other.”
Watt is fortunate to be back so quickly.
“Just got rolled up weird and knee felt a little unstable at the time,” Watt said. “Went to get up, and when I got up, I realized I had a lot of discomfort in my hip and couldn’t really reach overhead and a lot of stuff and felt discomfort both my knee and hip.
“And luckily, it wasn’t anything too serious, and I feel a lot better this week.”
Everyone will have to be at their best, as Bengal’s running back Joe Mixon who is fourth in the NFL with 759 yards rushing and has scored nine touchdowns.
The usually stout run defense by Pittsburgh has been shredded over and over this season, and if that trend continues Sunday, they will likely lose again.
“You have to be able to communicate with what guys are going to do,” defensive captain Cameron Heyward said. “You have to rush with your heads up. You can’t just bury your head. You have to use extension to get off blocks. We have to have some push up the middle a little more. If we get more pressure up the middle, there’s not that big of a wide lane.”
One of the biggest disappointments has been the play of LB Devin Bush, who has been burned repeatedly, and has missed tackle after tackle.
“Playing linebacker is knowing the front and knowing the coverage,” Butler said. “It’s a little bit more than just knowing the front, and it’s a little bit more than knowing the secondary. You’ve got to know both. For him to play as much as he has, he’s got to learn more and more as time goes along for him. The more he knows, the quicker he’s going to react, the more confident he is, the quicker he’s going to be.”
You can’t dispute the fact that Bush is 13 months removed from undergoing ACL surgery, but his decision making has been just as bad as his play.
“I don’t know if it’s the knee or not,” Butler said. “Sometimes it takes a little longer for the knee to come around. Only he knows that. I don’t know how he feels making cuts like that. You’ve got to be able to cut, you’ve got to be able to run. You’ve got to be able to run backwards. You’ve got to be able to run forward, run side-to-side. He does everything a linebacker has to do in order to do those things.
“But if you’re not right or the knee is not right, you can’t do it as well as he needs to do it. Sometimes he’s lost his leverage in terms of who he is covering.”
And as for the most important part of playing defense, that being able to tackle?
“Do you want him tackling? Yes, you want him tackling,” he said. “You want him wrap tackling, you want a good wrap tackler. He’s got to run to the ball and get both hands on the ball carrier in practice all the time. He’s got to daggum run to the ball like the rest of them do.
“We demand that from the rest of them, and he’s got to do the same thing. If he does, hopefully he’ll be better.”
Steelers Game Plan for Success
Offense
- Free Ben Roethlisberger: From Matt Canada’s wretched offensive game plan…
- Chase Claypool: Needs to start making more plays, especially on contested passes.
Defense
- Joe Mixon: The front seven needs to get their game together, or Mixon will mow right through them.
- Stop splash plays: The secondary has to tighten up and limit big plays, especially by Ja’Marr Chase.
Prediction
Nothing the Steelers do comes easy, but if there is one good omen coming into this game, it’s the Steelers being underdogs, a role they seem to relish and thrive in.
This game will come down to the defense making tackles, and the offense finding its footing under Roethlisberger.
A loss Sunday could prove to be a crippling one, both mentally and in the standings with so many teams log jammed behind the Steelers, who have quite a disadvantage with that horrible tie to Detroit.
Somehow, some way, this team will rise to the occasion, and #7 will be the prime reason they do, as will the return of T.J. Watt… Steelers 27 Bengals 24
Game Day Information
Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals
- Vegas line: Cincinnati -3.5
Venue: Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, OH.
- Field: Kentucky Blue Grass
Game-time: Sunday, November 28th, at 1:00 PM
TV: CBS (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)
National Radio:
- Announcers:
Internet broadcast: Steelers Nation Radio (SNR) on Steelers.com
Weather at kickoff: 40 and partly cloudy. Winds out of the West at 12 MPH.
NFL Links
Scouting the Pittsburgh Steelers
Overall record: 5-4-1 (3rd in AFC North)
Last game: Chargers 41 Steelers 37
Head Coach: Mike Tomlin (14th Season with Steelers)
- Overall regular-season record: 150-82-2
- Playoff record: 8-8 (Qualified for playoffs 9 times)
Links
- 2021 Pittsburgh Steelers Team Roster
- Steelers Team/Individual Statistics
- Pittsburgh Steelers 2021 Schedule
Steelers Offense
Offensive Stats
- Points per game: 21.4
- Total yards per game: 340.8
- Passing yards per game: 250.1
- Rushing yards per game: 90.7
Offensive Scouting Report
- Strengths: Ben Roethlisberger when not shackled. Najee Harris as a dual threat.
- Weaknesses: Scoring. Attacking downfield via pass. Young offensive line.
Starting Quarterback: Ben Roethlisberger | Back-up: Mason Rudolph
- Ben Roethlisberger has thrown for 2,259 yards with 13 touchdowns and four interceptions. He has been sacked 21 times. Big Ben is best suited dropping back to pass around 25-30 times a game. Unfortunately, Roethlisberger has lost his mobility that made him one of the best out of the pocket passers in the league, and thanks to Matt Canada, he rarely attempts long passes downfield anymore, which was once a staple of his game.
Starting Running Back: Najee Harris | Back-up: Benny Snell, Jr. and Kalen Ballage.
- Rookie Najee Harris is showing why the Steelers drafted him in the first round, and has rushed for 685 yards and five touchdowns this year. Harris is 2nd on the team with 49 catches for 337 yards and two touchdowns.
Wide Receivers: Diontae Johnson, Chase Claypool, James Washington, Ray-Ray McCloud, Steven Sims, and Cody White.
- Diontae Johnson leads the team with 59 catches for 714 yards and four touchdowns. Chase Claypool is the Steelers deep threat, and has 34 receptions for 526 yards and a touchdown. James Washington has caught 14 passes for 169 yards and a touchdown. Ray-Ray McCloud has 19 receptions for 141 yards. Cody White will look to make the most of his chances, but had better not drop anymore passes like he did vs Denver. Steven Sims was just promoted from the Practice Squad. Sims had 61 receptions for 575 yards and five touchdowns for Washington in 2019-20.
Tight Ends: Pat Friermuth, Eric Ebron*, Zach Gentry, and Kevin Rader.
- Pat Friermuth has passed Ebron on the depth chart, and has 36 receptions for 287 yards and five touchdowns. Zach Gentry has logged six catches for 60 yards. Eric Ebron has 12 catches for 84 yards and a touchdown, but is injured.
Placekicker: Chris Boswell
- Extra Points: 19-20
- Field Goals: 21-22
- 1-19 yards: 0-0
- 20-29 yards: 6-6
- 30-39 yards: 4-4
- 40-49 yards: 5-6
- 50+ yards: 6-6
*Injured/Out
Steelers Defense (Base 3-4)
Defensive Stats
- Points per game allowed: 22.6
- Total offense yards per game allowed: 367.3
- Passing yards allowed: 240.7
- Rushing yards allowed: 126.6
- Sacks: 28
- Interceptions: 4
Defensive Scouting Report
- Strengths: Great pass rush lead by T.J. Watt.
- Weaknesses: DE Stephon Tuitt is still on IR. Bad tackling and communication has lead to some blown plays this year.
DE: Cam Heyward | DT: Isaiah Buggs | DE: Chris Wormley.
- Cam Heyward has 4.5 sacks, a fumble recovery, and 47 tackles. Chris Wormley is in for starter Stephon Tuitt, who is out indefinitely.
OLB: T.J. Watt | ILB: Devin Bush | ILB: Joe Schobert | OLB: Alex Highsmith.
- Defensive Player of the Year candidate T.J. Watt leads the team with 12.5 sacks and 39 tackles. Devin Bush has been a disappointment all year, and has 46 tackles and two sacks., Joe Schobert, a Pro Bowler acquired from Jacksonville, is 1st the team with 67 tackles. Alex Highsmith has 45 tackles and three sacks.
CB: Joe Haden | SS: Terrell Edmunds | FS: Minkah Fitzpatrick | CB: 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. Fitzpatrick is 2nd on the team with 64 tackles. Edmunds has one of Pittsburgh’s four interceptions.
Steelers Special Teams
Punter: Pressley Harvin III
Kickoff Returners: Ray-Ray McCloud
Punt Returner: Ray-Ray McCloud
Scouting report: McCloud is averaging 24.0 yard per kickoff return and 8.8 yards per punt return.
Scouting the Cincinnati Bengals
Overall record: 6-4 (2nd in AFC North)
Last game: Bengals 32 Raiders 13
Head coach: Zac Taylor (3rd season with Cincinnati)
- Overall regular-season record: 12-29 | 12-29 with Cincinnati
Links
Bengals Offense
Offensive Stats
- Points per game: 26.8
- Total Offense per game: 373.7
- Passing yards per game: 270.4
- Rushing yards per game: 103.3
Offensive Scouting Report
- Strengths: Ja’Marr Chase and Joe Mixon.
- Weaknesses: Offensive line is going to get Burrow killed.
Starting Quarterback: Joe Burrow | Back-up: Brandon Allen
- Joe Burrow has had a great bounce back year from injury. He has thrown for 2,645 yards with 21 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Burrow has been sacked 28 times.
Starting Running Back: Joe Mixon | Back-up: Samaje Perine and Chris Evans.
- Mixon has become one of the league’s best when healthy, with 759 yards rushing and nine touchdowns, and has caught 22 passes for 194 yards, and a pair of scores. Samaje Perine has 162 yards rushing, with 15 catches for 128 yards and two combined TD’s.
Wide Receivers: Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Tyler Boyd, Auden Tate, and Mike Thomas.
- Ja’Marr Chase has become the go-to guy for Burrow, with 47 catches for 867 yards and eight TD’s. Tee Higgins is third on the team with 37 receptions for 446 yards and two touchdowns. Tyler Boyd is 2nd on the team with 44 receptions for 448 yards and two scores.
Tight Ends: C.J. Uzomah and Drew Sample.
- C.J. Uzomah has caught 27 passes for 322 yards and five touchdowns.
Placekicker: Evan McPherson
- Extra Points: 29-30
- Field Goals: 15-18
- 1-19 yards: 0-0
- 20-29 yards: 2-2
- 30-39 yards: 4-4
- 40-49 yards: 3-5
- 50+ yards: 6-7
*Injured/out
Bengals Defense (Base 4-3)
Defensive Stats
- Points per game allowed: 21.6
- Total offense yards per game allowed: 352.9
- Passing yards allowed: 254.9
- Rushing yards allowed: 98
- Sacks: 25
- Interceptions: 8
Defensive Scouting Report
- Strengths: Decent pass rush. Good at stopping the run.
- Weaknesses: Secondary is average, at best.
Defensive Line: DE Sam Hubbard has 45 tackles and six sacks. DT Larry Ogunjobi has 3.5 sacks.
Linebackers: Logan Wilson has a team leading 83 tackles, one sack and four interceptions.
Secondary: S Von Bell has 62 tackles.
Bengals Special Teams
Kickoff Returners: Brandon Wilson
Punt Returner: Darius Phillips
Scouting report: Brandon Wilson is averaging 22.4 yards per kickoff return. Darius Phillips is averaging 7.4 yards per punt return.
Steelers vs Bengals History
Series History: Began in 1970
Overall Record: 67-37
- Home: 35-17
- Away: 32-20
- Postseason: 2-0
Streak: Bengals won the last two games.
Last regular-season meeting: Bengals Win, 24-10 (Sept. 26, 2021)
Last postseason meeting: Steelers Win, 18-16 (Jan. 9, 2016)
Injury Report (11/27/21)
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Out: TE Eric Ebron (knee), C J.C. Hassenauer (pec)
- Doubtful: None reported
- Questionable: CB Joe Haden (Foot)
Cincinnati Bengals
- Out: None reported
- Doubtful: WR Auden Tate (Thigh)
- Questionable: None reported
Author Profile
- Your 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!
Latest entries
FeaturesMarch 18, 2024The DraX-Files: This Week in Pittsburgh Sports
FeaturesMarch 12, 2024The DraX-Files: This Week in Pittsburgh Sports
FeaturesMarch 3, 2024The DraX-Files: This Week in Pittsburgh Sports
FeaturesFebruary 25, 2024The DraX-Files: This Week in Pittsburgh Sports