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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 the Plan of Attack, The Scoop and 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.
Pittsburgh Steelers vs Cincinnati Bengals
NFL Week 11
Game-time: Sunday, November 20th, 4:25 PM
- Vegas line: Cincinnati -4.5
Venue: Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA.
- Field: Natural Grass
Plan of Attack
Overall
- Fire Matt Canada: The worst offensive coordinator in all of football. Till he is replaced with an actual NFL caliber offensive minded guy, the offense will stay stuck being dubbed the ‘Quicksand Offense”. No matter who has been at QB, that being Ben Roethlisberger, Kenny Pickett, Mason Rudolph, or Mitch Trubisky, the passing game has sucked. Rarely are the receivers ever open or catching passes in open space. Good God, fire this guy.
Offense
- Utilize rushing attack to set up the passing game: Najee Harris looked pretty good last week, and overall, so did the Pittsburgh ground game. The rejuvenated backfield would do wonders to keep that going, by pounding the ball and then setting up some play action and open some lanes deep for Kenny Pickett to hit on.
- Kenny Pickett: We’re into territory where Pickett should be getting better, having pocket awareness, and seeing his progressions. The Bengals only have 14 sacks on the year, so Pickett should have time to hit some big plays over the top to Diontae Johnson and George Pickens, especially if the run game is going well.
Defense
- Force Bengals to be one dimensional: The front seven has to step up and take away Joe Mixon and the run game for the Bengals. Cinci will be without star wideout Ja’Marr Chase, so that’s one weapon the secondary won’t have to contend with.
- Get pressure on Burrow: T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith need to get acquainted with Burrow early and often. Like in previous encounter, force some bad throws and create some juicy turnovers for the offense to capitalize on.
The Scoop
In terms of the death of the Pittsburgh Steelers season in 2022… well, not just yet.
There is still a crack of space left in the door, and on Sunday at 4:25 pm at Acrisure Stadium, the Steelers (3-6) have a huge opportunity to kick that door open with a win over the visiting Cincinnati Bengals (5-4).
A victory would place the Steelers at 4-6, with upcoming games vs Indianapolis and Atlanta. If the Steelers could get a streak going, they could very well be 6-6 when they face off vs the Baltimore Ravens at home on December 11th.
First things first, and that involves taking down the Bengals again, as they did in the season opener.
Cincinnati is having a Super Bowl hangover, but they seemed to get a few issues straightened out when they pounded Carolina 42-21 two weeks ago.
One very good thing going for Pittsburgh is that they come into this game almost fully healthy, only missing corner Ahkello Witherspoon, who will miss his 6th game out of the past seven.
Star safety Minkah Fitzpatrick returns after missing last week from an emergency appendectomy.
Damontae Kazee, who played in place of Fitzpatrick, will look to make some more splash plays as he did in his 2022 debut.
“This guy is just a football lover,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. “He is. He brings energy and enthusiasm. He’s a good communicator. He’s a playmaker. We’re lucky to have him.”
The Bengals will be without star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, so Tee Higgins and former Pitt star Tyler Boyd will be busier than normal when Joe Burrow drops back to pass.
The Steelers will have to keep Higgins and Boyd in check, as well as tight end Hayden Hurst underneath. Pittsburgh has defensed the run well lately, so limiting Joe Mixon from having a big day would go a long way in securing a 2nd consecutive victory.
Steelers QB Kenny Pickett will have to elevate his play as well, especially with pocket awareness, going through his progressions, and stepping into some throws that lead to big plays downfield, but especially in the red zone.
The Steelers longest touchdown play is just eight yards.
“We’re not where we need to be,” Pickett said.
Against the Bengals, who have just 14 sacks on the year, this could be a breakout game for the first round pick out of Pitt.
“There’s less grass, right, so there are tighter windows,” Pickett said in regards to plays inside the 20 yard line. “The timing, everything is faster. I’ve got to meet the guys at certain spots with the ball so they can get there on time. The game definitely changes when you get down there. The call changes, the system really changes. It’s something we can get better at. We definitely had improvement, but we’re not where we want to be.”
Settling for field goals has to cease as soon as possible.
“At times we’ve shown we can score in the red zone, but it’s got to be consistent,” wide receiver Diontae Johnson said. “When we get down there, we have to punch it in regardless. You do all that stuff to get down there, and you don’t get in and it bothers you.”
Pickett is confident in his ability to adapt and vows to improve his game overall.
“It’s going to continue to get better,” Pickett said. “I’m nowhere where I need or want to be. It’s a day at a time. There are things we liked that I’ve done that I can continue to improve on. There are things I can get a lot better at. It’s knowing what those things are and finding that out and going and attacking it.”
The Steelers are a franchise that will never take a knee on a season, or ever go down without fighting back.
With a healthy team and some confidence from last week’s win over the Saints, this is the game that will truly decide the fate of where this season is headed.
Look for the Steelers to get another big day out of Harris and the run game, and for Kenny Pickett to finally break through with multiple scoring drives.
Should be a close affair, but in the end, Pickett will lead a late game drive to shock the Bengals for the second time this year.
Prediction: Steelers 27 Bengals 24
Game Day Information
TV: CBS (Local- KDKA-TV)
- Announcers: Greg Gumbel (play-by-play) Adam Archuleta (analyst) | AJ Ross (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: N/A
- Announcers:
Internet broadcast: Steelers Nation Radio (SNR) on Steelers.com
Weather at kickoff: 28 and sunny. Winds out of the W at 10 mph.
NFL Links
Scouting the Pittsburgh Steelers
Overall record: 3-6 (4th in AFC North)
Last game: Steelers 20 Saints 10
Head Coach: Mike Tomlin
- 15th Season with Steelers
- Overall regular-season record: 157-91-2
- 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: 15.6
- Total yards per game: 326.6
- Passing yards per game: 218.1
- Rushing yards per game: 108.4
Quarterback
Kenny Pickett | #8
Has had his ups and downs as a rookie starter, but it’s hard to gauge his progress in an offense designed for junior high school. The next few weeks should show some progression in his game, especially staying in the pocket and hitting his receivers deep down the field.
- Passing Yards: 1,161 | TD Passes: 2 | INT’s: 8 | Sacked: 18 | Rushing Yards: 149 | Rushing TD’s: 3
Back-up: Mitch Trubisky | #10
- Passing Yards: 797 | TD Passes: 3 | INT’s: 2 | Sacked: 9 | Rushing Yards: 29 | Rushing TD’s: 1
Running Backs
Najee Harris | #22
Harris finally broke through last week with a 99 yard effort. Seems he is getting healthier, so hopefully we’ll see the power back we’ve expected to see.
- Rushing Yards: 460 | Rushing TD’s: 1 | Receptions: 24 | Receiving Yards: 112 | Receiving TD’s: 2
Jaylon Warren | #30
Good change of pace back when he comes in for relief of Harris. Runs hard and hits the hole going downhill.
- Rushing Yards: 190 | Rushing TD’s: 0 | Receptions: 15 | Receiving Yards: 128 | Receiving TD’s: 0
Derek Watt | #44
- Rushing Yards: 7 | Rushing TD’s: 0 | Receptions: 3 | Receiving Yards: 7 | Receiving TD’s: 1
Wide Receivers
Diontae Johnson | #18
Has been Pittsburgh’s most consistent threat as a receiver. Needs to stop dropping passes at the absolute worst times.
- Receptions: 47 | Receiving Yards: 435 | Receiving TD’s: 0
George Pickens | #14
A soon to be force in the NFL. Pickens has already made one of the greatest catches of 2022 and may become Kenny Pickett’s favorite target.
- Receptions: 29 | Receiving Yards: 370 | Receiving TD’s: 1
Myles Boykin | #82
- Receptions: 1 | Receiving Yards: 11 | Receiving TD’s: 0
Steven Sims | #13
- Receptions: 3 | Receiving Yards: 14 | Receiving TD’s: 0
Gunner Olszewski | #89
- Receptions: 1 | Receiving Yards: 4 | Receiving TD’s: 0
Tight Ends
Pat Friermuth | #88
One of the better tight ends in the game, and should flourish with Pickett at quarterback, and even more when a competent OC is hired.
- Receptions: 36 | Receiving Yards: 403 | Receiving TD’s: 1
Zach Gentry | #81
- Receptions: 12 | Receiving Yards: 92 | Receiving TD’s: 0
Conner Heyward | #83
- Receptions: 7 | Receiving Yards: 76 | Receiving TD’s: 0
*Injured/Out
Steelers Defense (Base 3-4)
Defensive Stats
- Points per game allowed: 23
- Total offense yards per game allowed: 371.9
- Passing yards allowed: 263.9
- Rushing yards allowed: 108
- Sacks: 17
- Interceptions: 10
Defensive Starters
DE: Cam Heyward #97 | DT: Tyson Alualu #94 | DE: Larry Ogunjobi #99
- Heyward has 34 tackles and three sacks.
OLB: T.J. Watt #90 | ILB: Devin Bush #55 | ILB: Myles Jack #51| OLB: Alex Highsmith #56
- Highsmith leads the team with 8.5 sacks. Jack leads the team with 72 tackles. Bush is 2nd on team with 47 tackles. Defensive Player of the Year T.J. Watt has 10 tackles, one sack and one INT.
CB: Levi Wallace #29 | SS: Terrell Edmunds #34 | FS: Minkah Fitzpatrick* #39/Damontae Kazee #23 | CB: Cameron Sutton #20
- Fitzpatrick is 3rd on the team with 45 tackles, and a team leading three interceptions. Sutton has two INT’s, while Wallace has one. Damontae Kazee made his debut last week and had an interception and four tackles.
Steelers Special Teams
Placekicker
Matthew Wright | #4
- Extra Points: 2-2
- Field Goals: 2-4
- 1-19 yards: 0-0
- 20-29 yards: 0-0
- 30-39 yards: 2-3
- 40-49 yards: 0-1
- 50+ yards: 0-0
Chris Boswell* | #9
One of the best clutch kickers in the game, but is out.
- Extra Points: 9-9
- Field Goals: 12-16
- 1-19 yards: 0-0
- 20-29 yards: 3-3
- 30-39 yards: 2-3
- 40-49 yards: 2-4
- 50+ yards: 5-6
Kickoff Returners
Steven Sims | #13
- Average: 29.3 | TD Returns: 0
Punt Returner
Steven Sims | #13
- Average: 7.2 | TD Returns: 0
Scouting the Cincinnati Bengals
Overall record: 5-4 (2nd in AFC North)
Last game: Bengals 42 Panthers 21
Head Coach: Zac Taylor
- 4th Season with Cincinnati
- Overall regular-season record: 21-35-1
Team Links
Bengals Offense
Offensive Stats
- Points per game: 25.3
- Total Offense per game: 385.4
- Passing yards per game: 286.7
- Rushing yards per game: 98.8
Quarterback
Joe Burrow | #9
One of the league’s best young quarterbacks. Rebuilt line has not helped him from being sacked 30 times so far.
- Passing Yards: 2,535 | TD Passes: 18 | INT’s: 6 | Sacked: 30 | Rushing Yards: 141 | Rushing TD’s: 4
Back-up: Brandon Allen | #8
- Passing Yards: 22 | TD Passes: 0 | INT’s: 0 | Sacked: 1 | Rushing Yards: 3 | Rushing TD’s: 0
Running Backs
Joe Mixon | #28
Good runner who has become a dual threat. Prone to having off weeks.
- Rushing Yards: 585 | Rushing TD’s: 6 | Receptions: 38 | Receiving Yards: 272 | Receiving TD’s: 2
Samaje Perine | #34
- Rushing Yards: 133 | Rushing TD’s: 2 | Receptions: 18 | Receiving Yards: 126 | Receiving TD’s: 1
Chris Evans | #25
- Rushing Yards: 0 | Rushing TD’s: 0 | Receptions: 2 | Receiving Yards: 30 | Receiving TD’s: 0
Receivers
Ja’Marr Chase* | #1
One of the best receivers in the game, but is out this week injured.
- Receptions: 47 | Receiving Yards: 605 | Receiving TD’s: 6
Tee Higgins | #85
Burrow’s top target with Chase out.
- Receptions: 41 | Receiving Yards: 564 | Receiving TD’s: 3
Tyler Boyd | #83
One of the talented trio of receivers the Bengals possess. Former Pitt great.
- Receptions: 37 | Receiving Yards: 537 | Receiving TD’s: 4
Mike Thomas | #80
- Receptions: 2 | Receiving Yards: 38 | Receiving TD’s: 0
Trent Taylor | #11
- Receptions: 3 | Receiving Yards: 19 | Receiving TD’s: 0
Tight Ends
Hayden Hurst | #88
Quickly becoming one of the better tight ends in the NFL. Should be busy with Chase out.
- Receptions: 38 | Receiving Yards: 303 | Receiving TD’s: 3
Mitchell Wilcox | #84
- Receptions: 6 | Receiving Yards: 47 | Receiving TD’s: 0
*Injured/out
Bengals Defense (Base 4-3)
Defensive Stats
- Points per game allowed: 20.6
- Total offense yards per game allowed: 324
- Passing yards allowed: 205.2
- Rushing yards allowed: 1188.8
- Sacks: 14
- Interceptions: 8
Defensive Starters
DE: Sam Hubbard #94 | DT: Josh Topou #68 | | DT: B.J. Hill #92 | DE: Trey Hendrickson #91
- Hendrickson has a team leading four sacks, while Hubbard has three.
OLB: Logan Wilson #55 | MLB: Germaine Pratt #57 | OLB: Akeem Davis-Gaither #59
- Pratt leads the team with 60 tackles, has one sack and one INT. Wilson is 2nd with 50 tackles.
CB: Eli Apple #20 | SS: Vonn Bell #24 | FS: Jessie Bates III #30 | CB: Cam Taylor-Britt #29
- Bell has 40 tackles and four interceptions. Bates also has 40 tackles and two picks.
Bengals Special Teams
Placekicker
Evan McPherson | #2
- Extra Points: 20-20
- Field Goals: 14-19
- 1-19 yards: 1-1
- 20-29 yards: 2-3
- 30-39 yards: 0-0
- 40-49 yards: 4-7
- 50+ yards: 4-4
Kickoff Returners
Chris Evans | #25
- Average: 21.1 | TD Returns: 0
Punt Returner
Trent Taylor | #11
- Average: 13.2 | TD Returns: 0
Steelers vs Bengals History
Series History: Began in 1970
Overall Record: 68-38
- Home: 35-17
- Away: 33-21
- Postseason: 2-0
Streak: Steelers won the last game.
Last regular-season meeting: Steelers Win, 23-20 OT (Sept. 11, 2022)
Last postseason meeting: Steelers Win, 18-16 (Jan. 9, 2016)
Injury Report (11/18/22)
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Out: CB Ahkello Witherspoon (Hamstring)
- Doubtful: None
- Questionable: None
Cincinnati Bengals
- Out: WR Ja’Marr Chase (Hip), S Dax Hill (Shoulder), DT Josh Tupou (Calf)
- Doubtful: None
- Questionable: HB Chris Evans (Knee), CB Tre Flowers (Hamstring)
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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.
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