The Pittsburgh Steelers have fared poorly in road games on Thursday Night Football under Mike Tomlin. Thankfully, they get a huge advantage. Two of the Cincinnati Bengals' best players are expected to miss tonight's game, which is bad news for a team with a stud-and-dud roster.
Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow will miss the next few months (and possibly the season) after undergoing toe surgery, while All-Pro edge rusher Trey Hendrickson is a 'long shot' to play tonight after dealing with a hip injury.
But there's one Bengals superstar who's capable of taking the game into his own hands: wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase.
The Pittsburgh Steelers must game plan to stop WR Ja'Marr Chase on TNF
In 2024, Chase finished third in Offensive Player of the Year voting after leading the league in receptions (127), targets (175), receiving yards (1,708), and touchdowns (17). This proved to be one of the best statistical seasons the NFL has ever witnessed at the position.
Now, without Burrow at the helm, Chase is picking up where he left off last year. The All-Pro receiver already has 42 receptions for 468 yards and four touchdowns in just six games despite playing with three different quarterbacks this year (Burrow, Jake Browning, and Joe Flacco).
Over the past two games, Chase raked in 16 receptions on 22 targets for 204 yards and three touchdowns despite playing with Browning in Week 5 and Flacco in Week 6. It doesn't seem to matter who's under center—Chase is that good.
The Steelers witnessed this firsthand last season. In two games against Pittsburgh last year, Chase managed 16 receptions for 182 yards and two touchdowns. Chase's incredible performances helped Cincy put up 38 points in a Week 13 loss to Pittsburgh, while overcoming the Steelers in a 19-17 contest in Week 17.
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With Burrow and Hendrickson missing, Chase—along with fellow wide receiver Tee Higgins—is clearly the player most threatening to upset the Steelers on Thursday Night Football. But stopping Chase might not be possible. Pittsburgh can only hope to slow him down.
This could come in a variety of ways for defensive coordinator Teryl Austin. Joey Porter Jr. is expected to be matched up against Chase when the star receiver is in the wide right alignment on offense, while veteran Darius Slay could get this tall task when Chase is wide left. For everything else (including any slot alignments), you can bet Jalen Ramsey will be itching to get his hands on Chase.
As well as Pittsburgh's cornerbacks performed in Week 6 against Cleveland, none of them should be asked to take on Chase alone. The Steelers need to put a safety over the top of Chase to ensure that he doesn't crush them down the field. This should come at the expense of fewer stacked boxes against running back Chase Brown.
The Pittsburgh Steelers can live with a 100-yard performance from Tee Higgins in this contest if it means that Joe Flacco and the Cincinnati Bengals can't funnel their offense through Ja'Marr Chase. The top priority for Mike Tomlin on Thursday Night Football is painfully obvious.