The Steelers come out old school
After the offensive struggles in both weeks one and two, the Steelers take a new approach to how to move the ball at the beginning of week three. Instead of spreading out the Bengals now deep secondary, the team comes out heavy and looks to move the ball by pounding the ball. On the first play of the game, the Steelers are in 21 personnel, and Najee Harris takes a dive play with Derek Watt leading the way.
The team keeps this up for the first quarter, and while the results aren’t great (they only net a field goal), they control the clock and move the ball. Harris has seven runs for 32 yards, and while he is lacking the big plays, he is efficient at moving the ball. As the game continues, the offense opens up more, but they aren’t afraid to bring out a heavier set to try and run a physical offense.
This all culminates in a great final drive. Up by three, with six minutes left in the fourth, the Steelers revert back to how they started the game and look to take time off the clock. It’s slow-moving, but the team feeds Harris this drive and seal the win on a fourth and one dive after the two-minute warning. Harris carries the ball 26 times, and although his 94 rushing yards aren’t great, he was instrumental in wearing down the Bengals.