4 burning questions Steelers must answer vs. Bengals

Can the Steelers stop the Bengals receivers?

While the Steelers front-seven is about to have a favorable matchup this week, the secondary is a different story. The Bengals have one of the best trios of young receivers in the league, and each player fills a necessary role. Tyler Boyd is the tough slot option, Tee Higgins is the physical threat, and Ja’Marr Chase is the homerun threat. Each can damage a defense in a variety of ways.

Now, if the Steelers can get after the quarterback, the receivers will likely be a nonissue. That said, the Raiders showed just what kind of damage can be done if an offense has time to process pass plays. When the pass rush tapered off, Derek Carr picked this defense apart, and he did it with receivers far less capable than what the Bengals have.

The team has to focus on matching up their defensive backs on the Bengals’ receivers. The biggest mismatch may just be Chase, as no cornerback can athletically match him. With help from the safeties though, he can still be locked down. The Steelers can’t allow their secondary to get burned like last week. Even if the pass rush is only average, these defensive backs have to hold their own.