Pittsburgh Steelers Wrap-up – Shootout at the Bengals Corral

Week 13 of the NFL season for the AFC North resulted in points on the board. Lots of them. For the Pittsburgh Steelers they were coming off a dismal loss to the Cleveland Browns on the road and many expected to see them bounce back in a big way. For the record, because of the Thanksgiving holiday, I didn’t have time to prepare a preview for the Cincinnati game, but I had predicted a final score of 27-24 in favor of the Black and Gold.

With a final score of 44-38 my forecast for a final score was way off. Before anyone goes thinking the defense had a bad day giving up 38 points, keep in mind they were facing Joe Burrow, one of the best quarterbacks in the league and two outstanding receivers in Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Those two alone had 11 receptions for 155 yards and two touchdowns. Seven of those points by the Bengals came on a pick six of Russell Wilson, an interception that was controversial as George Pickens was the intended receiver but appeared to be shoved to the turf before Cam Taylor-Britt picked it off and rumbled 51 yards to the house.

Unlike the Cleveland game, Pittsburgh’s ‘D made many big plays. One drawback on that side of the ball was Joey Porter’s multiple penalties. It was not the best of days for JP II. Unbelievably there were 10 penalty flags thrown in the game, 11 by Cincinnati. But the 44 points on the board is the most the Steelers have scored all season and the offensive production something we haven’t seen since Ben Roethlisberger’s best days. 

Russell Wilson’s 414 passing yards represents the second highest total he has thrown for in his career. He did have that one interception but tossed three touchdown passes. The Bengals did sack Wilson twice but along with the running game Pittsburgh amassed 520 total yards. The Steelers won the possession time stat, converted on four of nine third downs, and held the Bengals defensively to under 100 yards rushing.

DeShon Elliott was a busy man making 11 tackles, seven which were solo while T.J. Watt returned to form with two sacks, three tackles for a loss, forced yet another fumble, and had five big quarterback hits. Patrick Queen continues to get more comfortable in his new defense, making nine tackles and four which were solo. Nick Herbig and Cam Heyward added sacks to the total. And as the great Bill Belichick gave his analysis of the game, he said, “If Pittsburgh sticks to this game plan, they are going to be a problem.”

On radio shows everywhere, head coach Mike Tomlin is getting all kinds of love. For all the past criticism of him, those remarks are ancient history. This season has proven why Mike Tomlin has such a long tenure and why the Rooney’s love him. He is heading for an 18th straight winning season. That’s unprecedented. In his press conference this week he defended Joey Porter Jr. and the penalties he incurred in Cincinnati with these comments:

“He’s got a serial killer’s mentality. But if you’re going to be a top-flight corner, you better. And that’s probably one of the things that I knew about him because of our personal relationship that really made me comfortable drafting him. It’s not fake. It’s real. He’s not running from the fight. He’s running to the fight. You better have a short memory at that position. And he’s always had it. He was probably nine or 10 when I met him. And he had it then.”

Bill Cowher in my opinion was a rah-rah coach. He would get fired up, yell and scream and spew spit. Mike Tomlin on the other hand I believe is more of a player’s coach. He can relate to the seasoned veterans and the younger players as well. Tomlin may seem timid to some, but he is a very serious-minded coach, and he doesn’t play. This season may be his best coaching performance since coming to the Steelers in 2007 and I believe this is his most talented team.

On ESPN’s power rankings this week the Steelers have moved up two slots to number five. Ahead of them in the fourth slot are the Eagles who the Steelers will play in two weeks in Philly. Defending NFL champions, the Chiefs are next, and Pittsburgh faces them on Christmas Day. Then we have Buffalo and the Detroit Lions at the top. There is belief that the Steelers have the ability to beat any AFC team. Are we talking about the Super Bowl? Nothing is out of the realm of possibility. I believe this team is that good. 

Next up is the rematch with Cleveland but in Pittsburgh. You best believe the Steelers will be ready this time and Russell Wilson’s confidence is through the roof right now. If Mike Tomlin’s squad starts to believe they can get to the big dance, that confidence will carry itself into the remaining games and on the field. 



One last comment relates to George Pickens. You would think by this time in his young career he would have begun to grow up. Mike Tomlin called him out this past week and said he better grow up and do so in a hurry. Ouch. If that doesn’t get through to the kid, nothing will. Everyone knows Pickens is super talented, but he needs to have his head in the game at every moment and when something doesn’t go his way as he sees it, move on. Hopefully guys like Cam Heyward and Minkah Fitzpatrick as well as Russell Wilson, all veterans can get the message through to George Pickens.