The Steelers’ first two games of conference play were as different as they could be. After their Week 5 bye, the Steelers came storming out of the gate against the Cleveland Browns.
Admittedly, it wasn’t the most difficult matchup for Pittsburgh – the Browns were 1-4 prior to the game – but the emphatic nature of their win, largely thanks to their work on the defensive side of the ball, made it a statement win.
It wasn’t an aesthetically pleasing performance, but it got the job done. The Steelers were unable to get their run game going, but Aaron Rodgers threw for 235 yards and two touchdowns without being sacked once. Wide receiver D.K. Metcalf, who was acquired from Seattle during the offseason, was his top target for the second week in a row, racking up 95 yards on 4 receptions.
Even more impressive was Pittsburgh’s defense. Browns’ rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel completed 29 passes on 52 attempts, but he only threw for 221 yards as the Pittsburgh secondary successfully limited big plays. Pittsburgh’s defensive line overwhelmed Gabriel in the pocket, bringing him down 6 times for a loss of 38 yards. They also contained Cleveland’s running backs, only allowing a measly 65 rushing yards en route to a 23-9 victory.
Thursday night’s game against the Bengals was very different.
The Steelers travelled to Cincinnati for the first of their four primetime games this season. The Bengals have struggled immensely since their 2-0 start, largely due to the absence of Joe Burrow, who has been injured since Week 2. The Bengals traded for 40-year-old Joe Flacco, meaning the Thursday night game would feature the two oldest quarterbacks in the NFL.
It turned out to be a spectacle.
The Steelers took an early 10-0 lead but were down 17-10 going into halftime. After the interval, both teams took turns leading the other before the Steelers finally went up 31-30 with just over two minutes to play. Rodgers had thrown for 249 yards (111 of which belonged to tight end Pat Freiermuth) and an astonishing four touchdowns, although he struggled to protect the ball and threw two interceptions. And once again, the offensive line did their job, as Rodgers remained untouched behind the line of scrimmage. The run game was also more successful; running back Jaylen Warren exploded for 127 rushing yards.
It wouldn’t be enough, though. The defense struggled all night, both on the ground and through the air. Flacco threw for 342 yards on 31 completions alongside three touchdowns, and Chase Browns rushed for 108 yards. Thanks to a winning field goal by Evan McPherson, the Bengals beat the Steelers 33-31.
The loss drops the Steelers to 4-2 on the season and 1-1 in AFC North play. Although the offense has looked more promising this year, the defense has faltered at times, notably in Week 1 against the Jets and on Thursday night against the Bengals. If they can return to their old form, Pittsburgh should have the division title locked down, but their early bye week could prove harmful if they are unable to turn things around.
