The Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Cincinnati Bengals in convincing fashion on Sunday at Acrisure Stadium. While not perfect, the game was filled with reasons for optimism for the remainder of the season, despite the rollercoaster experience 2025 has been thus far.
My takeaways from the game will be shared in the style of Dale Lolley, who the Pittsburgh community lost two months ago today.
1. Steelers Nation Showed Up
The crowd was noticeably energized in Acrisure Stadium. Communication for Joe Flacco and the Bengals’ offense was increasingly difficult, especially in the second half.
The Bengals burned two timeouts early in the second half, and still suffered two delay-of-game penalties, which only energized the Pittsburgh crowd to get even louder. It was refreshing to see, especially given the criticism of the team and head coach from within the city in recent weeks.
The Steelers travel to Chicago next week, then host Buffalo the following week. Steelers Nation needs to bring that same energy against the Bills
2. James Pierre Should Replace Darius Slay
James Pierre gets the Steelers_Blitz game ball for his performance against the Bengals, who are armed with the best wide receiver duo in the NFL. That duo was held to 6 catches for 93 yards and 1 TD, which is incredibly impressive considering the duo’s well-documented dismantling of the Steelers’ secondary in the previous matchup a few weeks ago.
Starting for the concussed Darius Slay, Pierre often matched up with Chase and Higgins, more than holding his own. Pierre has passed the eye test all season when given a chance to contribute on defense. Although he’s logged only 176 defensive snaps, he carried an impressive 90.4 overall grade into week 11, per PFF.
Pierre impressed down after down, making splash plays, which should warrant an extended look. With Darius Slay presumably returning next week, there will be questions as to whether he should maintain his starting role.
James Pierre has done more than enough with his opportunities to show he should replace the struggling (57.2 per PFF) Slay as the starting corner.
3. Where’s Warren?
This is no new topic, but where is Jaylen Warren? The usage (or lack of) continues to be questionable at best.
Warren is effective when used, but this is an all too often first-half stat line that hardly changes by the end of the game. Warren carried the ball only twice for 8 yards in the second half. Granted, he left with an injury, but he did return to the field, yet the usage was typical of games past. Many physical runners become more effective later in games, but with Warren, we may never know.
4. Bengals Linebackers Couldn’t Keep Up
The offensive coaches found which Bengals defensive deficiency they preferred and took advantage of it. Kenneth Gainwell led the team in targets, receptions, and touchdowns – both of which came on similar swing passes.
The Bengals’ linebackers failed to cover enough ground as the Steelers attacked horizontally, scoring on two swing passes to Kenneth Gainwell in the game.
5. No QB Controversy
Aaron Rodgers never returned after halftime with a left wrist injury. He was seen nursing the injury in between plays in the first half, apparently playing through the pain. After halftime, Rodgers was nowhere to be seen, and Mason Rudolph assumed the position of QB.
The offense appeared to play more on schedule, with Rudolph standing tall in the pocket, delivering the ball to open receivers. Rodgers has noticeably bailed the pocket prematurely in recent weeks, sometimes surrendering under little or no pressure.
Before social media runs wild, let us not forget the Steelers QB situation last season. As patient as Mike Tomlin was with Russell Wilson’s near incompetence, he’ll be doubly patient with Rodgers.
Rodgers clearly was not brought to the team to compete at all with Rudolph and will remain the starter, if healthy, for the duration of the season, no matter how bad it could get.
6. Kaleb Johnson Looking the Part
The Steelers’ rookie running back has had a well-documented slow start to his NFL career. He has carried the ball 17 times in 6 games this season, hardly what anyone expected when he was selected in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Johnson carried the ball 5 times for 15 yards against the Bengals. The stat line is not very impressive, but he showed the ability to read blocking, accelerate through the hole, and finish the run with power – exactly what he showed at Iowa.
It’s time to see more of Kaleb Johnson, and if the second-half touches aren’t going to Jaylen Warren, why not get your prized rookie involved?
7. Spitgate
Jalen Ramsey was ejected from the game after back-to-back unsportsmanlike conduct penalties, both involving rival receiver Ja’Marr Chase.
Ramsey’s second penalty and ejection came after taking a swing at Chase, who allegedly spat on Ramsey. Of course, there was no knowledge or video of this until after the game. Turns out, Ramsey was correct..
Now, of course, the punch at Chase didn’t help the team, but as I have maintained since training camp, Ramsey brings a much-needed edge to the Steelers’ defense. An edge that they have missed since the days of James Harrison.
Thankfully, the defense continued its strong play in the blowout, and the ejection of Ramsey didn’t affect the outcome of the game, but the defense has swagger, it has attitude, and all of it will be needed in the home stretch of the season, led by Jalen Ramsey.
8. Tough Running
The Steelers’ decades-long identity is defense (with edge) and tough running, both of which were on display on Sunday. Jaylen Warren got it started on the first drive..
Then Darnell Washington kept it going, with a catch and run that will not soon be forgotten..
This is what people inside and outside of the league think when they hear “Steelers football”. This is the identity that has been missed.
9. Something to Build On..?
Another week, another “get right” game. It’s been a common phrase this year as the team continuously struggles to string wins together. After a two-game losing streak in which the opponents averaged 34 points per game in weeks 7 and 8, the Steelers dominated the Indianapolis Colts, who were the AFC’s finest at the time. Having simplified the defense and capitalized on turnovers, they then traveled to Los Angeles and came home with yet another head-scratching loss.
Sunday’s victory firmly plants the LA woes in the rear-view mirror, but for how long? With the red-hot Chicago Bears up next on the schedule, the Steelers have a chance to string together wins against a formidable Bears team that holds a 7-3 record after defeating the Minnesota Vikings.
10. Steelers Have Company
The AFC North standings are getting crowded at the top, as usual. The Ravens accompanied the Steelers with a division win of their own as they defeated the Cleveland Browns.
The Steelers still have three division games left on the schedule, including two against the Ravens. After a rough start, the Ravens have strung together 4 straight wins to get back in the thick of the playoff race. The Steelers will need to continue to win to keep pace with the Ravens atop the AFC North.
