The Pittsburgh Steelers entered their Week 11 matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals desirous to get again on monitor on each side of the soccer. Additionally they needed to show that their Week 7 loss to the Bengals and poor defensive efficiency in that recreation was a fluke.
Contemplate it mission completed for the Black and Gold after a 34-12 win over the Bengals during which they scored extra defensive touchdowns (two) than touchdowns they allowed (one) on the North Shore Sunday afternoon.
The Steelers protection confirmed up in a serious manner, and even handled the ejection of security Jalen Ramsey after an altercation with Ja’Marr Chase. In the meantime, the offense shook off accidents to quarterback Aaron Rodgers and operating again Jaylen Warren to do exactly sufficient within the win, shifting the Steelers to 6-4 on the season and driving excessive forward of a tricky street journey in Week 12 to tackle the Chicago Bears.
Let’s get to some grades.
QB — B
Aaron Rodgers and Mason Rudolph weren’t requested to do a lot within the recreation, hitting quite a lot of checkdowns and quick crossing routes on designed rollouts to benefit from some yards after catch in opposition to the Bengals. Even with a number of the limitations offensively, the Steelers nonetheless had a pleasant day, passing for 232 yards and two touchdowns on 21-of-31 makes an attempt.
Previous to Rodgers exiting with a wrist harm at halftime, he wasn’t precisely sharp. He missed a throw to DK Metcalf downfield alongside the far sideline and regarded a bit skittish within the pocket, dancing round and not likely feeling assured in something he was seeing. He additionally took a horrible sack, making an attempt to purchase time in a scenario that didn’t name for it.
He did make a pleasant learn on his 11-yard landing go to Kenneth Gainwell and likewise had some robust, correct throws on the transfer to Metcalf and Darnell Washington for chunk performs.
After Rudolph changed him although, it felt like there was extra rhythm throughout the offense. Rudolph wasn’t requested to do a lot in any respect, however he completed 12-of-16 for 127 yards and a landing in reduction, caring for the soccer and taking part in inside construction. It wasn’t flashy from the quarterbacks, however it was environment friendly in a big-time win.
RB — A-
It was wanting just like the Jaylen Warren Present within the first half as Warren ripped off a formidable 35-yard run on the sport’s opening drive and ran laborious in opposition to a protection he carved up in Week 7. However then an ankle harm slowed him, and Kenneth Gainwell took benefit of the chance, placing up a big-time efficiency.
Gainwell rushed for simply 24 yards on 9 carries, however did his injury as a receiver within the blowout win. Gainwell completed with a game-high seven receptions for 81 yards and two touchdowns on eight targets. A lot for WR2 being a difficulty. That wasn’t the case with Gainwell on Sunday.
Together with Gainwell’s efficiency as a receiver, Warren completed with 62 speeding yards on 10 carries. Hopefully the ankle harm doesn’t linger.
WR — C+
The large receivers had been simply tremendous, led by DK Metcalf, who had 5 receptions for 49 yards within the win. He would have had a good larger day if not for a bogus offensive go interference penalty down the left sideline that worn out a giant play. He additionally had a go interference penalty earlier within the recreation, getting referred to as for a choose that appeared a bit iffy.
Behind Metcalf, Roman Wilson hauled in a single go for 17 yards on two targets and noticed a whole lot of snaps whereas Calvin Austin III had only one goal and wasn’t a lot of an element offensively. It’s comprehensible the considerations on the place, however the Steelers simply aren’t taking part in greater than two large receivers at a time all that a lot.
TE — A-
If it wasn’t clear but, it’s crystal clear now: Darnell Washington is the Steelers’ TE1.
Washington was excellent Sunday, hauling in 4 receptions for 67 yards, together with a highlight-reel 31-yard catch and run during which he stiff-armed a Bengals defender after which plowed via one other on the finish of the run. He additionally had a giant catch on third down earlier within the recreation during which he hurdled a defender in the midst of the sector.
Washington was good as a blocker, too, and actually put collectively a whole recreation for Pittsburgh.
Pat Freiermuth was quiet in opposition to a staff he sometimes dominates, hauling in only one go for 19 yards. It was a pleasant catch and run, however outdoors of that Freiermuth was practically invisible. Similar with Jonnu Smith, who didn’t have a catch on two targets and had one penalty for a facemask on a Kaleb Johnson run that was declined.
OL — B+
The Steelers rushed for 111 yards on 28 carries within the win and allowed only one sack. Heck of a job up entrance from the offensive line.
It wasn’t simply the work within the run recreation that was spectacular, both. The Steelers’ offensive line was actually good within the display recreation, too, serving to spring Gainwell within the quick-passing recreation. Mason McCormick and Zach Frazier did some good work in house, whereas Troy Fautanu and Broderick Jones regarded good in go safety.
An encouraging efficiency throughout the board for the Steelers’ offensive line.
DL — B-
The Bengals had been capable of spring operating again Chase Brown a number of occasions, however total the Steelers line of defense was strong all through the matchup.
Cameron Heyward was stout as soon as once more, ending with six tackles. He managed the purpose of assault all recreation and helped bottle up the run recreation, forcing the Bengals to change into one-dimensional.
He had assist from Keeanu Benton, who was excellent speeding the passer. Benton had 4 pressures and continues to place collectively a string of nice video games within the center for Pittsburgh. Rookies Derrick Harmon and Yahya Black made some performs, too. Black had a giant hit on the Bengals’ two-point conversion try to shut it down, whereas Harmon was as soon as once more a gradual run defender.
LB — B
I didn’t like what I noticed at occasions in run protection from Patrick Queen and Malik Harrison. On each of Chase Brown’s lengthy runs Queen was lackadaisical and sluggish to get off a block whereas Harrison simply wasn’t gap-assignment sound and didn’t get off a block. Outdoors of that although, they performed effectively within the second half.
Queen led the Steelers with 10 tackles and had some large hits, whereas Harrison completed with three tackles. Payton Wilson had one other robust recreation, ending with six tackles within the win. He had a giant particular groups sort out on the opening kickoff, too, which set the tone.
Outdoors, I favored what I noticed from Nick Herbig rather than Alex Highsmith. Even with Orlando Brown Jr. leaping the snap over and over, Herbig generated loads of strain and likewise had a giant sack within the crimson zone of Joe Flacco. T.J. Watt didn’t have a sack, however he did have a few pressures, tipped two passes and was across the soccer a ton. His roughing-the-passer penalty was a nasty name from officers, too.
Rookie Jack Sawyer had a powerful recreation in 19 snaps. He had a pleasant run cease within the first half and helped generate strain in three-OLB appears to be like, creating a pleasant day total for the skin linebackers. Sawyer did get beat deep by Tee Higgins for a 25-yard landing within the first half, however it was on a damaged play after he discovered himself in a tricky spot.
DB — A-
The final time the Steelers confronted the Bengals, Flacco threw for 342 yards and three touchdowns, and Ja’Marr Chase had a profession day. That didn’t occur this time.
The Steelers put the clamps on the Bengals’ passing assault, holding Flacco to simply 199 yards. Outdoors of the Higgins 25-yard landing, the Bengals didn’t have a go play over 18 yards. The Steelers saved a lid on every part and largely tackled effectively.
James Pierre had an impressive recreation for the Steelers as he continues to play nice soccer. He made a giant go breakup downfield on Chase and later had a scoop and rating on a fumble to place the capper on the win. He must be the starter reverse Joey Porter Jr.
Talking of Porter, he was sound in protection all recreation. He completed with three tackles and broke up a go, whereas Kyle Dugger was terrific, too. Alongside together with his 74-yard pick-six of Flacco, Dugger was throughout the soccer. He had three tackles, broke up two passes and had a giant hit over the center after Jalen Ramsey’s ejection.
Previous to getting tossed, Ramsey was a tone setter for the Steelers. Ramsey had 4 tackles, broke up a go and had a giant hit on Chase early within the recreation, lighting the fuse on that battle.
Particular Groups — B-
Chris Boswell bounced again from a missed subject aim final week in Los Angeles to drill each subject aim makes an attempt on the afternoon, each of them quick ones. He additionally was good on additional factors, although he banked one in on the finish of the sport.
Punter Corliss Waitman was regular once more, averaging 44.3 yards on three punts. Two of them had been downed contained in the 20-yard line, serving to the Steelers flip the sector and pin the Bengals deep.
Within the return recreation, with Ke’Shawn Williams in concussion protocol, D’Shawn Jamison stepped up and had one kickoff return for 20 yards. Calvin Austin III moved again into the lineup as a punt returner and made a nasty determination fielding one deep in his personal finish, inflicting the Steelers to get pinned deep. It simply can’t occur there, particularly from a veteran punt returner.
Yahya Black had a roughing-the-snapper penalty on the Bengals’ lone additional level try, however he made up for it with the cease on the 2-point conversion try. Nonetheless, these varieties of errors can’t occur there.
