The Pittsburgh Steelers know how much is riding on their Week 10 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals. After getting the best of their AFC North rival at home in Week 3, Mike McCarthy's team could sweep the Bengals with a win in Cincy on Sunday Night Football.
But their biggest obstacle standing between them in a victory is painfully obvious.
Actually, it's two obstacles: Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. The Bengals' dynamic duo was already considered one of the best receiver pairings in the NFL before the 2026 season, but they are on track to do something that has never been done before.
If you prorate the first half of their 2026 campaigns over a 17-game season, Chase and Higgins would become the first receiver pairing to earn over 100 receptions, over 1,300 yards, and over 12 touchdowns on the same team in the same year.
It's hard enough to find one receiver in a decade who can offer this type of production in the receiving game for their respective team. The Bengals have two. And after tearing Pittsburgh's secondary up in Week 3, these superstars could decide the outcome of the game.
The Pittsburgh Steelers must do everything in their power to slow down Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins
The first time around, the Bengals made Patrick Graham's defense look like former Steelers defensive coordinator Teryl Austin. There was no answer for Chase and Higgins, as each receiver recorded at least 90 yards and a score.
In total, quarterback Joe Burrow targeted this duo 19 times, completing 15 passes for 188 yards and two touchdowns. Burrow had a remarkable passer rating of 142.9 when targeting Chase and Higgins against the Steelers in Week 3.
This simply can't happen on Sunday Night Football if the Steelers hope to emerge with a victory and keep their spot as the top seed in the AFC North.
Last time around, Graham was forced to pull cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. from the game after surrendering 61 yards and a pair of touchdown receptions. In his stead, rookie Daylen Everette took his place and allowed just 22 yards on 20 coverage snaps for the remainder of the game, per Pro Football Focus's premium stats [$]. Don't be shocked if Graham calls upon Everette earlier on SNF than he did in Week 3.
The Steelers also have to get early and consistent pressure on Joe Burrow. While they don't want Higgins and Chase destroying their secondary downfield, Burrow is simply too lethal in the pocket when he has time.
Let's be really honest: the Steelers can't stop Chase and Higgins completely; no defense can. They can only hope to contain them throughout the game.
But if they can find a way to reduce the impact this remarkable receiving duo has on Sunday Night Football, they could escape Cincinnati with a Week 10 win and own a critical head-to-head tiebreaker over the Bengals for the remainder of the season, should these teams happen to finish with the same record in 2026 when it's all said and done.
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