The Steelers were in rare form this week against the Bengals. For what seems like forever, this team has had to rely on low-scoring games to get the win. When opposing teams turned the game into a shootout, Pittsburgh couldn’t keep up. This week was different, as the team went toe-for-toe with one of the most explosive offenses and came out with the win.
The victory wasn’t without its warts though. While scoring over 40 points feels great, the defense also allowed 38 points. While the team got to drain the clock, it was still a one-score possession, and every snap counted. Here are the winners and losers from the high-scoring victory over the Bengals.
Steelers winners:
Russell Wilson
Without a doubt his best game and it isn’t close. Russell Wilson diced up the Bengals defense despite a first-drive interception that wasn’t his fault. When the deep ball wasn’t there, he hit the check-down quickly and allowed his playmakers to make a play with the ball. When he did go deep, he had pinpoint accuracy and looked like the Wilson of old. The team has their guy for the foreseeable future, and fans should all be celebrating.
Arthur Smith
I was very critical of Arthur Smith last week, as it felt like he never adjusted and called an uber-conservative game. This week, he put the ball in Wilson’s hands and kept the peddle to the floor. Even when the Bengals got to an early lead this offense didn’t get conservative. They kept attacking a weak Bengals defense and it allowed them to wrack up the points.
T.J. Watt
Another redemption player, T.J. Watt shook off a rare quiet week and was his usual terror of an edge rusher. He notched 1.5 sacks and also a key strip-sack to help the Steelers take the lead for the first time. A bounce-back game, Watt looked like his usual self this week.
Cameron Heyward
Another defensive standout, Cameron Heyward doesn’t look like an elder statesman in the league. Despite his age, he is still playing at a high level as both a run and pass defender. He was a constant disruptive force, and despite his age, he is playing like one of the top defensive linemen in the league.
Pat Freiermuth
I hesitated to put him on the list, as it wasn’t a massive game for Pat Freiermuth, but after a season of mostly quiet play, this outing was needed. Freiermuth looked like a viable second receiver this week. Ideally, he can keep this up and turn the season around.
Steelers losers:
Joey Porter
Had the Steelers lost this game, the biggest amount of blame would have been on Joey Porter. While his coverage was good while going against a good Bengals receiver room, the penalties issue once again reared its ugly head. Porter was flagged constantly, including multiple pass interferences that helped the Bengals move down the field with ease. If he can’t clean those issues up he will never be an elite player.
George Pickens
In a similar vein, George Pickens also found a way to minimize his impact. Despite a healthy stat line where he averaged nearly 25 yards per catch and found the end zone, he shot his own foot by recording two 15-yard penalties to negate most of what he got through the air. If he doesn’t get his act together soon, his time in Pittsburgh may come to an abrupt end.
Patrick Queen
The least of the three evils, I thought that Patrick Queen's worst days were behind him. Unfortunately, his issues came back up again this week, as he struggled in most aspects once again and failed to make a big impact. He needs a really strong finish this season if he wants to see the next year of his contract.