NFL Week One: AFC Champion Cincinnati Vs. Pittsburgh

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CINCINNATI – The AFC Champion Cincinnati Bengals will challenge the juggernaut Pittsburgh Steelers defense in an epic week one clash. NFL Division games are always crucial especially when deciding the post-season fate of any team.

The Bengals want to show the NFL and their fans that last year was no fluke. That they are not just as good as last year but better and expect to make it back to the Super Bowl. But as we all know, having back-to-back seasons like the one they had last year is not an easy feat to match.

Cincinnati wanted to give the young phenom Quarterback Joe Burrow better protection and the team made moves to address that. Burrow has the king of all NFL offensive units on his side with receiver Ja’Marr Chase, Receiver Tee Higgins, receiver Tyler Boyd, running back Joe Mixon, and one of the best blocking tight ends in the league, Hayden Hurst.

Though the Bengals will have full poise and confidence in their offense, the Steelers defense will employ their usual zone blitz scheme to pressure and confuse Burrow. This is going to be one exciting “chess match” of a football game. The Steelers defense struggled last year but with big names like Linebacker T.J. Watt, Linebacker Myles Jack (Former Jacksonville Jaguars star), Linebacker Devin Bush, Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, Safety Terrell Edmunds, Defensive Tackle Larry Ogunjobi (Former Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals), these struggles shouldn’t persist. The Steelers defense ranked near the bottom in the league in 2021 in most statistical categories.

The Bengals will likely score at least three touchdowns since this team can score at will. There are just too many ways this offense can score. To use an old reference, this is a pick your poison type of offense. Which team will ultimately prevail? Will we see the Bengals from last year? Are the Steelers ready to compete in the post-Ben Rothlisberger era?