Steelers three keys of the week vs. Cincinnati Bengals

The offensive line needs to rebound

Last week should have been a cakewalk.  Not only for the reason of the opponent Pittsburgh played but for the offensive line as well in regards to their competition.

Entering the game, the Cowboys ranked 30th (5.1) in opponent yards per rushing attempt. Allowing 200 plus rushing yards in two of the last three games previously before the Steelers, Dallas has been atrocious in defending the run. However, what played a crucial role in the matchup result, Pittsburgh posted a new season-low for themselves against the Cowboys defense, only gaining 46 total yards on the ground.

It also happened after accruing just 48 yards to the Baltimore Ravens two weeks ago, but knowing the status of the Ravens defense in 2020, many look past this.

Doing well in holding up against the pass rush, as they have on the year, in not allowing a single-sack to Dallas and only ten on the whole year (tied-1st), the line of scrimmage still didn’t appear to be a victory for Pittsburgh. Dealing with injuries and youth across the front can do this to a team, and although it hasn’t wholly hurt them in a game, the trend needs to flip upwards.

Cincinnati arrives with a defensive line consisting of Carl Lawson, Sam Hubbard, Mike Daniels, & Carlos Dunlap. A decent mix of experience in this league, the names might sound better than their on-field production. Ranked 32nd in adjusted line yards & 30th in adjusted sack rate measured by footballoutsiders.com, it’s a chance for the Steelers to re-establish momentum going forward.

The respect Pittsburgh’s head coach Mike Tomlin hands out to opposing players in his weekly press conferences assures they know who they are facing in the good & bad, but takes neither for granted. Honoring a couple from the list above, dealing with this unit for Cincinnati has been notified by Tomlin and extends to another area of the Bengals defense.