(Photo: Bleacher Report)
AFC Game Of The Week
Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers
Bengals (2-0):
If Sunday in Houston was a trial size of what’s to come, we could be in for a treat. I can admit this team has had some bad juju these last few years, and I still remember their 2021 season, when they came out of left field, won the AFC North, upset the No. 1-seeded Titans in the Divisional Round of the playoffs that year, and then, a week later, upset the Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game to get to the Super Bowl. Since then, they haven’t ascended the way many expected and have missed the playoffs the last three seasons. Now, I can admit to you that I wasn’t the happiest with their Week 1 performance because they started out so strong and somewhat took their foot off the gas pedal in the second half, but they still held on. However, what I saw in Week 2 against the Houston Texans was beautiful, and I smiled like a proud father watching his only son succeed. I already know what to expect from this football team offensively, and with a healthy Joe Burrow, they will win games. I’m not doubting that. Joe and Ja’Marr Chase are still the top quarterback/receiver tandem in the league by far! Did you all see that touchdown Ja’Marr caught against the Texans in Week 2? What made it so impressive was the body control he showed and the ability he used to keep his feet in bounds. What’s impressed me so far about the Bengals has been their defense, and they’re playing with some punch! I’ve seen a unit that trusts one another, communicates all around, and has developed some swagger. The impact of Dexter Lawrence is speaking volumes, as he has given this unit some attitude and confidence. This Sunday, the Bengals make their way to Pittsburgh for a divisional showdown.
Steelers (1-1):
I wasn’t that impressed with them after their Week 1 victory against the Atlanta Falcons, and across the board in Week 2 against the New England Patriots, they looked terrible and couldn’t get out of their own way. Here’s what went wrong. First, the running game couldn’t get going, and honestly, this has been an issue for some years, even dating back to the final seasons of Ben Roethlisberger’s career. I remember years ago saying that the equivalent of the ground attack for them was the short passing game. They couldn’t run the ball because their offensive line wasn’t built to run block. Second, the passing attack wasn’t generating much of anything, and DK Metcalf was basically an afterthought. They struggled to create explosive plays, the offense struggled to stay on schedule, and the defense wasn’t necessarily bad, but they gave up far too many explosive plays to the Patriots for my liking. I know for a fact my biggest takeaway was the New England pass rush completely taking over the game, and the Steelers had no answers or adjustments for it. This isn’t the same football team that played that one brand of football where they were downhill and ran the ball until you could stop it, while the defense was always punishing and physical all around. I don’t get those vibes anymore when I watch this team, and this isn’t Steel Curtain-like. Through two games, they only have one offensive touchdown on the season. How many times have I said that in order for this team to win, Aaron Rodgers can’t throw the ball more than 30 times a game? Look how many pass attempts he had in Week 2: 39! That won’t cut it. The Steelers return home on Sunday for a showdown with the much-improved Bengals.
Bengals X-Factor: Tee Higgins
When Ja’Marr doesn’t have it going, this is who Joe will turn to, and Tee has become such a reliable receiver. He’s the receiver who can move the chains, go over the top, make a catch over the middle, and he’s also a consistent red-zone threat. On the season so far, Tee is averaging 20 yards per catch. In this game, I see the Steelers making sure Ja’Marr doesn’t beat them, and here’s the scenario: You can’t double up everyone. Someone is going to see those one-on-one looks, and this is where Tee will thrive.
Steelers X-Factor: Darnell Washington
This is the weapon every team would love to have. Darnell is a 6’7″ tight end who’s used primarily as a receiver more so than he is as a blocker. Aaron Rodgers has the weapons to get the ball to, such as Metcalf, Michael Pittman, Pat Freiermuth, along with Darnell. On the year so far, the Bengals have allowed a total of 200 receiving yards to opposing tight ends, and the Steelers need to capitalize on this, especially if the Bengals account for DK and Pat. I look for Aaron to find Darnell on third down and whenever he sees a mismatch.
Final Thoughts:
This has always been an interesting battle to me in the AFC North. At this moment, I feel both teams are heading in opposite directions. The Bengals are off to a quick 2-0 start, while the Steelers were pushed around by the Patriots in Week 2. One team has an identity, while the other is still searching for theirs. This will also be just the second-ever meeting between Joe Burrow and Aaron Rodgers. I’ll be watching to see if the Bengals’ defense can continue this improved play. The Bengals must keep Burrow upright, especially against T.J. Watt; get Higgins involved early, especially if the Steelers tilt their coverage toward Chase; and, if that’s the case, make the Steelers’ secondary pay with Higgins. Lastly, they need to make Aaron Rodgers uncomfortable. This Cincy defense has already recorded eight sacks through their first two games. The biggest key for the Steelers is to get this offense going somehow and someway. They’ve scored only one touchdown and are averaging just 3.8 yards per play. Next, they need to establish Jaylen Warren to test that Bengals defense rather than becoming one-dimensional, and don’t let Dexter Lawrence ruin the interior! The Steelers must find ways to neutralize him. This could be tight all the way throughout.
