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Steeler Nation is a world-wide army that lives and dies with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The six-time Super Bowl champions are a franchise that considers excellence the only standard, and their fans expect nothing less than hard hitting, top notch football. This is the ultimate Steelers GameDay Preview that all followers of the black and gold come to find everything they need to know about the 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, Keys to Victory, 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.
Steelers ready to prove doubters wrong
Over the past few decades, the Pittsburgh Steelers have owned the Cincinnati Bengals.
That hasn’t been the case in the past three games, as the Bengals buried the Steelers in all three games in convincing fashion.
The Steelers are ready to get their moxy back in the season opener.
“I just know that after the game we played there last year, we have to go in there and play a lot better than we did last year if we’re going to have a chance,” linebacker Alex Highsmith said.
Mistakes and poor play contributed to the beatings Pittsburgh took in 2021 vs the Bengals.
“They dominated the control of both games over a year ago because we didn’t give ourselves a chance,” Tomlin said.
“Possession of the ball is a major component of being competitive that allows situations to unfold and allows weighty plays and moments to develop. Very rarely did they get an opportunity to develop last year in the contests against the Bengals.”
A few of the Bengals even took some shots at their rivals from the East.
“The last plays of the game for them, they gave up,” said the Bengals’ Tyler Boyd, who is from Pittsburgh and played at Pitt. “You could see that.
“For a team to lay down like that … They portrayed it to the whole nation, on TV, what they were about.”
Don’t expect the same play from Pittsburgh this game.
“The fashion that we lost, especially in the last game (cs Cinci) — and the certain remarks that were said after the first game that you also pay attention to — you think about it,” safety Minkah Fitzpatrick said. “You let it resonate in the back of your mind. I am not necessarily dwelling on it — but I am going to remember.”
Keys to Victory
Offense
- Protect Mitch Trubisky: The offensive line has to find a way to jell, and just be average at worst. Give Trubisky some time to throw the ball and create some holes for Najee Harris to run through and gain some yards.
- Make Splash Plays: Steelers have some great weapons offensively, and it’s their time to shine today.
Defense
- Pressure Joe Burrow: Goes without saying… Burrow has to be made to be uncomfortable in the pocket, as he has too many killer weapons at his disposal to utilize if given the time.
- Contain Ja’Marr Chase: Easier said than done, but the defense cannot allow Chase to dominate this game.
Prediction
It’s the season opener, and anything can happen. The Bengals are coming off a Super Bowl loss and could have a bit of a hangover, just look at how the LA Rams played as a reference vs the Bills.
The Steelers, despite the national and local media being down on them in the majority, are an improved team over last year’s version that made the playoffs. Every team in the league has issues somewhere, and the Steelers do, too… that’s the burden of the salary cap. There are depth problems or holes on every team in the NFL.
The biggest criticism of the Steelers is the offensive line, that have earned that distinction with their poor play in preseason, but a bad line doesn’t automatically mean a team is destined to be bad offensively or overall… just take a look at these very same Bengals last year who had a horrific line that nearly got Joe Burrow killed, but yet they found a way to be successful.
The Steelers, like Cincinnati, have a bevy of weapons to play with, and the defense is healthy with new additions like Larry Ogunjobi and Myles Jack.
Expect an old fashioned type game today, a slug fest if you will, between two teams that do not like each other.
Mitch Trubisky will prove the doubters wrong and put some points on the board, and the defense is going to rise to the occasion after watching these same Bengals destroy them both times last year.
Steelers 27 Bengals 24 in OT
Game Day Information
NFL Week 1
Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals
- Vegas line: Cincinnati -7
Game-time: Sunday, September 11th, 1:00 PM.
Venue: Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati, OH.
- Field: Shaw Sports Momentum Pro
TV: CBS (Local- KDKA-TV)
- Announcers: Ian Eagle (play-by-play) Charles Robinson (analyst) | Evan Washburn (sideline)
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: Sports USA
- Announcers: John Ahlers (play-by-play) Brandon Noble (analyst) |
Internet broadcast: Steelers Nation Radio (SNR) on Steelers.com
Weather at kickoff: 74 and cloudy. Winds N 5 mph.
NFL Links
Scouting the Pittsburgh Steelers
Overall record: 0-0 (1st in AFC North)
Last game:
Head Coach: Mike Tomlin
- 15th Season with Steelers
- Overall regular-season record: 154-85-2
- Playoff record: 8-9 (Qualified for playoffs 10 times)
Team Links
- Pittsburgh Steelers Team Roster
- Steelers Team/Individual Statistics
- Pittsburgh Steelers 2022 Schedule
Steelers Offense
Offensive Stats
- Points per game: 0
- Total yards per game: 0
- Passing yards per game: 0
- Rushing yards per game: 0
Quarterback
Mitch Trubisky
- Passing Yards: 0 | TD Passes: 0 | INT’s: 0 | Sacked: 0 | Rushing Yards: 0 | Rushing TD’s: 0
Back-up: Kenny Pickett
Running Backs
Najee Harris
- Rushing Yards: 0 | Rushing TD’s: 0 | Receptions: 0 | Receiving Yards: 0 | Receiving TD’s: 0
Jaylon Warren
- Rushing Yards: 0 | Rushing TD’s: 0 | Receptions: 0 | Receiving Yards: 0 | Receiving TD’s: 0
Benny Snell, Jr.
- Rushing Yards: 0 | Rushing TD’s: 0 | Receptions: 0 | Receiving Yards: 0 | Receiving TD’s: 0
Wide Receivers
Diontae Johnson
- Receptions: 0 | Receiving Yards: 0 | Receiving TD’s: 0
Chase Claypool
- Receptions: 0 | Receiving Yards: 0 | Receiving TD’s: 0
George Pickens
- Receptions: 0 | Receiving Yards: 0 | Receiving TD’s: 0
Myles Boykin
- Receptions: 0 | Receiving Yards: 0 | Receiving TD’s: 0
Gunner Olszewski
- Receptions: 0 | Receiving Yards: 0 | Receiving TD’s: 0
Steven Sims
- Receptions: 0 | Receiving Yards: 0 | Receiving TD’s: 0
Tight Ends
Pat Friermuth
- Receptions: 0 | Receiving Yards: 0 | Receiving TD’s: 0
Zach Gentry
- Receptions: 0 | Receiving Yards: 0 | Receiving TD’s: 0
Conner Heyward
- Receptions: 0 | Receiving Yards: 0 | Receiving TD’s: 0
Placekicker
Chris Boswell
- Extra Points: 0-0
- Field Goals: 0-0
- 1-19 yards: 0-0
- 20-29 yards: 0-0
- 30-39 yards: 0-0
- 40-49 yards: 0-0
- 50+ yards: 0-0
*Injured/Out
Steelers Defense (Base 3-4)
Defensive Stats
- Points per game allowed: 0
- Total offense yards per game allowed: 0
- Passing yards allowed: 0
- Rushing yards allowed: 0
- Sacks: 0
- Interceptions: 0
Stat Leaders
Tackles
Sacks
Interceptions
Defensive Starters
DE: Cam Heyward | DT: Tyson Alualu | DE: Larry Ogunjobi
OLB: T.J. Watt | ILB: Devin Bush | ILB: Myles Jack | OLB: Alex Highsmith.
CB: Levi Wallace | SS: Terrell Edmunds | FS: Minkah Fitzpatrick | CB: Cameron Sutton/Ahkello Witherspoon
Steelers Special Teams
Kickoff Returners
Gunner Olszewski
- Average: 0.0 | TD Returns: 0
Punt Returner
Gunner Olszewski
- Average: 0.0 | TD Returns: 0
Scouting the Cincinnati Bengals
Overall record: 0-0 (1st in AFC North)
Last game:
Head Coach: Zac Taylor
- 4th Season with Cincinnati
- Overall regular-season record: 16-32-1
Team Links
Bengals Offense
Offensive Stats
- Points per game: 0
- Total Offense per game: 0
- Passing yards per game: 0
- Rushing yards per game: 0
Quarterback
Joe Burrow
- Passing Yards: 0 | TD Passes: 0 | INT’s: 0 | Sacked: 0 | Rushing Yards: 0 | Rushing TD’s: 0
Back-up: Brandon Allen
Running Backs
Joe Mixon
- Rushing Yards: 0 | Rushing TD’s: 0 | Receptions: 0 | Receiving Yards: 0 | Receiving TD’s: 0
Samaje Perine
- Rushing Yards: 0 | Rushing TD’s: 0 | Receptions: 0 | Receiving Yards: 0 | Receiving TD’s: 0
Trayveon Williams
- Rushing Yards: 0 | Rushing TD’s: 0 | Receptions: 0 | Receiving Yards: 0 | Receiving TD’s: 0
Chris Evans
- Rushing Yards: 0 | Rushing TD’s: 0 | Receptions: 0 | Receiving Yards: 0 | Receiving TD’s: 0
Receivers
Ja’Marr Chase
- Receptions: 0 | Receiving Yards: 0 | Receiving TD’s: 0
Tee Higgins
- Receptions: 0 | Receiving Yards: 0 | Receiving TD’s: 0
Tyler Boyd
- Receptions: 0 | Receiving Yards: 0 | Receiving TD’s: 0
Mike Thomas
- Receptions: 0 | Receiving Yards: 0 | Receiving TD’s: 0
Stanley Morgan
- Receptions: 0 | Receiving Yards: 0 | Receiving TD’s: 0
Trent Taylor
- Receptions: 0 | Receiving Yards: 0 | Receiving TD’s: 0
Tight Ends
Hayden Hurst
- Receptions: 0 | Receiving Yards: 0 | Receiving TD’s: 0
Drew Sample
- Receptions: 0 | Receiving Yards: 0 | Receiving TD’s: 0
Mitchell Wilcox
- Receptions: 0 | Receiving Yards: 0 | Receiving TD’s: 0
Devin Asiasi
- Receptions: 0 | Receiving Yards: 0 | Receiving TD’s: 0
Placekicker
Evan McPherson
- Extra Points: 0-0
- Field Goals: 0-0
- 1-19 yards: 0-0
- 20-29 yards: 0-0
- 30-39 yards: 0-0
- 40-49 yards: 0-0
- 50+ yards: 0-0
*Injured/out
Bengals Defense (Base 4-3)
Defensive Stats
- Points per game allowed: 0
- Total offense yards per game allowed: 0
- Passing yards allowed: 0
- Rushing yards allowed: 0
- Sacks: 0
- Interceptions: 0
Stat Leaders
Tackles
Sacks
Interceptions
Bengals Special Teams
Kickoff Returners
Chris Evans
- Average: 0.0 | TD Returns: 0
Punt Returner
Trent Taylor
- Average: 0.0 | TD Returns: 0
Steelers vs Bengals History
Series History: Began in 1970
Overall Record: 67-38
- Home: 35-17
- Away: 32-21
- Postseason: 2-0
Streak: Bengals won the last three games.
Last regular-season meeting: Bengals Win, 41-10 (Nov. 28, 2021)
Last postseason meeting: Steelers Win, 18-16 (Jan. 9, 2016)
Injury Report (9/9/22)
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Out: None
- Doubtful: None
- Questionable: None
Cincinnati Bengals
- Out: TE Devin Asiasi (Quad)
- Doubtful:
- Questionable: TE Mitchell Wilcox (Ankle), WR Trent Taylor (Hamstring)
Author Profile
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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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