After a tough loss to the Browns last Thursday, the Steelers are looking to rebound against the Cincinnati Bengals. Despite their 4-7 record, the Bengals remain a dangerous team with a potent offense capable of taking down any opponent.
With the Steelers coming off a mini bye week after a short week and the Bengals having had a full bye week to prepare, this should be an intriguing matchup. If Pittsburgh wants to avoid losing two straight games and putting their AFC North lead at risk, they’ll need to keep a close eye on these key Bengals players.
QB, Joe Burrow
In my opinion, Joe Burrow should be the frontrunner for NFL MVP based on his outstanding performance so far this season. The only reason he's not the favorite is because of his team's record, but make no mistake—this is the best quarterback the Pittsburgh defense will face all year. Last week, the Steelers' pass rush was virtually nonexistent, and if they want to have any chance of slowing down this explosive offense, every level of their defense will need to step up. They’ll need to find a way to contain Burrow and prevent him from dissecting this secondary.
WR, Ja'marr Chase
Another standout on the Cincinnati offense is Ja'Marr Chase, who’s been absolutely dominating. Many argue he’s the second-best wide receiver in the league, and the chemistry he shares with Joe Burrow is something defenses struggle to contain. For the Steelers, Joey Porter Jr. has had an up-and-down sophomore year, and he'll need to deliver a performance like the one he had against the Ravens two weeks ago if he hopes to limit Chase’s impact.
WR, Tee Higgins
The top wide receiver duo has only played a handful of games together this season, as Higgins has been dealing with several injuries. However, both Higgins and Chase had impressive performances in their recent game against the Chargers. As I mentioned earlier, the Steelers’ secondary will need to rise to the occasion in order to contain Cincinnati’s high-powered passing attack.
I expect Pittsburgh to utilize a variety of personnel groupings in the secondary, particularly in their dime package, to keep the Bengals’ offense guessing. With the potential return of Cory Trice and Cameron Sutton likely seeing more snaps, the Steelers will have multiple options for mixing up their defensive schemes.
DE, Trey Hendrickson
Hendrickson is firmly in the running for Defensive Player of the Year with an absolutely dominant season, racking up 11.5 sacks so far. After Myles Garrett completely dismantled the Steelers' offensive line on Thursday, Pittsburgh has no choice but to find a way to limit Hendrickson’s impact and protect their quarterback.