The Pittsburgh Steelers are preparing for a divisional matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals. But this contest has far greater implications than simply being a battle between two rivals—this could ultimately decide the winner of the AFC North.
Unfortunately, before the game even starts, the Steelers already have a problem brewing. In their first head-to-head contest in Week 3, Patrick Graham's defense couldn't come close to slowing down the dynamic receiving duo of Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.
This time, he may be forced to rely on one of the last players we'd expect to save his defense: third-round rookie cornerback Daylen Everette.
The Bengals' receivers are a brutal matchup for Steelers veteran CB Asante Samuel Jr.
Asante Samuel Jr. has been a respectable starter for most of the year. But his worst game of the season, by far, came against Cincinnati in Week 3. In the first half of this contest, Samuel was picked on frequently by quarterback Joe Burrow.
Samuel was credited with allowing four receptions on five targets for 61 yards and a pair of touchdowns—one against Chase and another while covering Higgins. This resulted in a nearly perfect 157.1 allowed to Burrow while throwing in Samuel's coverage.
This is hardly the first time this receiver duo has made cornerbacks look silly, but this is simply a brutal matchup for Samuel. At 5'10'' and 180 pounds soaking wet, Samuel's undersized frame and 30 1/8'' arms (11th percentile) and average athletic traits couldn't do anything to contest Chase or Higgins at the catch point.
Eventually, Samuel was pulled from the game. The Steelers can't wait too long to do the same if he struggles on Sunday Night Football against the Bengals.
The Pittsburgh Steelers must turn to Daylen Everette early if Samuel struggles
This is a lot to ask of a rookie, but the Steelers may need to turn to Daylen Everette very early in this contest. It's not that Everette is a better cornerback than Samuel at this early stage of his career; it's that he presents a much better matchup.
When Samuel was benched against the Bengals the first time around, Everette played 20 coverage snaps and allowed just two receptions for 22 yards. But it's his size and athletic ability that make him a better matchup against Higgins and Chase.
At 6'1 1/4'' and 196 pounds, with nearly 32'' arms and 4.38 speed, Everette is taller and longer than Chase and faster than Higgins. This means that whoever they throw at him in coverage, he'll have the traits to match.
Meanwhile, in Everette's most recent performance, he earned an outstanding 96.7 coverage grade while giving up just one reception for two yards on nine coverage snaps against the Cleveland Browns in Week 8 before the bye, per Pro Football Focus's premium stats [$].
Now, this obviously doesn't guarantee that Everette will thrive in coverage against the Bengals. After all, we're talking about a 22-year-old rookie against the best wide receiver duo in the NFL. But if Samuel struggles early, Graham should not hesitate to pull him for Everette.
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