The Bengals still have hopes of a playoff berth entering Week 18, where they match up with their AFC North Rival, the Pittsburgh Steelers. The two teams met in Week 13, with the Steelers winning 44-38 at Paycor Stadium. Since that loss, the Bengals have rattled off four straight wins. Meanwhile, the Steelers have lost three straight games and sit at 10-6 on the year.
There are playoff implications on the line for both teams. The Bengals need to win and have the Denver Broncos and Miami Dolphins lose to get in, while the Steelers are battling for seeding and a potential AFC North title if the Baltimore Ravens lose.
Steelers Offense
The Steelers have been outscored by 50 points over their past three games, which featured losses to the Philadelphia Eagles, Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs. It's the second time in the last 35 years that they've had a minus-50-point differential or worse in a three-game stretch, and it's the first time Pittsburgh has lost three straight games by at least 14 points since 1988.
Quarterback Russell Wilson threw for the second-most yards of his career against the Bengals in Week 13, tossing for 414, three touchdowns and one interception. On the year, Wilson ranks 19th among QBs with at least 25 dropbacks with a 74.0 PFF-pass grade. Over the last four weeks, though, he ranks 29th with a 62.3 grade. The former third-round pick by the Seahawks has thrown five interceptions this year, but he has four turnovers in the last three games. The Steelers are 8-3 when they win the turnover battle and 2-3 when they lose it.
One of the league's premiere dual-threat QBs during his time in Seattle, Wilson ran for a season-high 55 rushing yards in the team's loss to the Chiefs. Wilson has been sacked 29 times this year, but 10 of those have come in the last three games, including five last week. On the year, the Steelers posted a 61.1 PFF pass-block grade, the ninth lowest in the NFL.
The rushing attack continues to be a two-headed monster of Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren. Warren has cleared 60 scrimmage yards eight times this season, including seven times in the last 10 games. He's coming off his best game of the season against the Chiefs where he totaled 112 yards on 16 touches. Pittsburgh has used Warren more over the last few weeks, with nearly a quarter of his rushing yards coming in the last two games.
Harris, meanwhile, cleared 1,000 rushing yards last week and has a top 25 rushing grade among backs with at least 25 carries (78.7).
Wideout George Pickens missed two of the team's last three games with injury, but he returned on Christmas Day against Kansas City. Pickens has been the alpha in the Steelers offense this season, tallying 900 yards and three touchdowns on 58 receptions. He has over 300 more yards than the next-highest Steelers receiver.
It's tight end Pat Freiermuth who paces the team with six receiving touchdowns, followed by Calvin Austin III with four. Freiermuth saw an uptick in usage when Pickens was out, receiving 27 of his 67 targets in the last five weeks. Austin III has been a dependable target for Wilson, dropping just one pass this season. Austin III and Freiermuth both got in the endzone against the Bengals in Week 13.
Orlando Brown Jr | 2024 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Nominee
The Cincinnati Bengals announced that offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr. has been selected as the team's nominee for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award presented by Nationwide. Learn more about Brown's involvement with Breakthrough T1D and cast your vote below!
Steelers Defense
Much like the offense, the Pittsburgh defense has seen a slight decrease in production the last few weeks since the thriller in Cincinnati. The Steelers have allowed at least 25 points in four of their last five games and in three consecutive games for the first time since Weeks 2-4 of 2018.
The trio of T.J. Watt, Cameron Heyward and Alex Highsmith has accounted for 25.5 of the Steelers' 36 sacks this season despite Highsmith missing six games. Nick Herbig has slid in nicely in relief of Highsmith, posting a 92.2 pass-rush grade, the third highest among edge rushers with at least 25 pass-rush snaps per PFF. All four players rank in the top 13 in pass-rush grade this season. Pittsburgh has just four sacks in its last three games, though, with Highsmith accounting for two of those four.
The Steelers currently have the eighth-highest PFF run-defense grade (73.3) and have allowed 4.1 yards per carry, the fourth fewest in the league. Watt and Heyward have combined for 31 of the team's 77 tackles for loss this season. Last time these two teams played, Chase Brown averaged 5.8 yards per carry and added three catches for 100 total yards from scrimmage.
Through the air, Pittsburgh is coming off a performance where they allowed Patrick Mahomes to toss for 320 yards, three touchdowns and gain 16 of the team's 20 with his arm. Mahomes, Jalen Hurts and Lamar Jackson posted at least a 115-passer rating in the last three weeks against the Steelers. In Week 13, Joe Burrow tossed for 309 yards and three scores.
On the year, Pittsburgh has allowed 3,874 yards passing, the ninth-most in the NFL, and have a 57.6 team coverage grade, the 10th worst.
Chris Boswell has averaged 9.6 points per game this season and has drilled 40-of-43 field goal attempts. Pittsburgh's 87.9 PFF special teams grade ranks sixth in the NFL.
Check out the Bengals 2024 Schedule.
