3 Bengals players the Steelers must game plan around

The Bengals have some new faces this year who could make a difference. Here are three players the Pittsburgh Steelers should be concerned with. 

The Pittsburgh Steelers are looking to avoid dropping their second straight game at Heinz Field this week as they face the Cincinnati Bengals. With the AFC North all sitting on 1-1 records, Mike Tomlin’s team will have a chance to get a leg up on his rivals.

However, a win this week probably won’t come easy as Pittsburgh deals with nagging injuries to several important players. Tomlin must also consider that this looks like a very different Cincinnati team than the one he is accustomed to playing. Here are three Bengals players the Steelers must game plan for in Week 3:

WR Ja’Marr Chase

We can debate all day long about whether the Bengals should have drafted an offensive lineman like Penei Sewell high in the first round, but there’s a reason Ja’Marr Chase was taken with the 5th overall pick this year. Chase opted out of the 2020 season but had one of the most productive seasons we have ever seen from a college-wide receiver in 2019.

Now reunited with quarterback Joe Burrow, Chase looks like a legitimate threat – specifically down the field. The athletic wide receiver has earned 155 yards and 2 touchdowns in his first two games while averaging a whopping 22.1 yards per reception.

The Steelers gave up a 61-yard touchdown reception to Henry Ruggs last week and this secondary has shown to be somewhat susceptible so far this year. Making sure they contain Ja’Marr Chase from busting off a few monster plays will be pivotal to Pittsburgh’s success in Week 3.