Really, really small… but it’s there.
The Pittsburgh Steelers looked as though they were headed for a 40+ point beatdown in Week 18’s season finale following the Cincinnati Bengals’ opening drive. After receiving the opening kickoff, Joe Burrow & Co. marched 73 yards down the field with ease and absolutely carved up Pittsburgh’s secondary. Burrow went a perfect 6-of-6 for 64 yards in the first drive alone, which was punctuated with a beautifully easy 12-yard score to Ja’Marr Chase, the first player in NFL history with 1,700 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns in a single season, soon to likely become the fifth player since the AFL-NFL merger to achieve the coveted “Triple Crown” — leading the NFL in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.
So, yeah… the competition was stiff, and given the momentum the Bengals entered this matchup with, Pittsburgh’s loss wasn’t entirely surprising. It was only slightly surprising to see the offense continue to sputter given the matchup against a Cincinnati defense that has largely struggled this season. After all, Russell Wilson hasn’t cleared 200 passing yards since their first meeting with the Bengals back in Week 13. The run game has had its moments, but as a whole, things just haven’t clicked in the same way they had when Wilson first took over for Justin Fields back in Week 7.
Everything’s just looked … difficult. Wilson looks lost. Pickens has disappeared. The offensive line feels like it’s taken a step back. The team continues to kill drives with inexcusable mistakes, like Calvin Austin III’s fumble on a punt return in the second quarter. It all feels symptomatic of problems that run far deeper than
But still, despite all of that — the Steelers had the opportunity to win, and the game really did come down to the final drive. Of course, that final drive was a disaster, but the fact that this Pittsburgh team still had a dog in the fight feels like a moral win, of sorts. Let’s not forget the momentum with which the Bengals entered this game; Cincinnati had won four straight coming into this matchup, and Burrow played himself into the MVP conversation despite the fact that they were a fringe playoff team.
After that opening drive, the Bengals’ possessions were as follows: FG, turnover on downs, punt, interception, FG, FG, FG, punt, punt, kneel it out.
Week 18 marked just the fourth time all season that the Bengals scored fewer than 20 points and the first time since Week 8. Cincinnati’s 314 yards on offense were the fifth-fewest all season, and again, it was their lowest yardage total since Week 8. Joe Burrow, averaging 289.3 passing yards, 2.53 TD per game and 10.7 yards per completion ahead of this matchup was held to 277 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 INT and 7.5 YPC.
Mistakes were made, but the fact that the Steelers were able to limit what has looked like a Super Bowl-caliber offense in the way that they did certainly does feel like a silver lining, especially without starting CB Donte Jackson. Cam Heyward looks like an All-Pro. T.J. Watt looked to be in vintage form. Keeanu Benton is blossoming into the future of the defensive line right before our eyes. Four different players recorded sacks against Burrow — and technically, it should have been five, if it weren’t for a defensive holding penalty that nullified a strip-sack fumble from T.J. Watt. After heading into the week with seemingly endless talk about communication on the defense and finger-pointing, most discussions about the defense can move to the back burner … for now.
Now, the focus can turn back to the offense, and boy, do the Steelers have a lot to consider in the week to come. Is it time to look to Justin Fields? If not, how can Arthur Smith adjust his playcalling to execute throws more quickly? Can they find a way to make the routine plays, routinely? We shall soon find out…
