Hey Steelers Fans. Welcome to Monday.
The Kickoff
For the second straight game, the Pittsburgh Steelers will be playing for the lead in the AFC North. After beating Cleveland in week eight, the Steelers will head to Cincinnati in week ten for Sunday Night affair. Both teams are now 6-2 after Cincinnati’s 34-17 win over Atlanta in Madrid, Spain. The Baltimore Ravens will turn to Jacoby Brissett with Lamar Jackson on IR for the foreseeable future. They sit in the basement of the North at 4-5. Cleveland went down to New Orleans and lost in overtime 23-22 to fall to 5-4. While a win or loss isn’t a death blow to either the Steelers or Bengals, both teams will enter the game on four-game winning streaks. Cincy also has a much easier schedule over the second half of the season too. While it might not be a must-win game it’s still going to be huge in the AFC North standings.
Hot
Can’t argue that the Bengals are playing well. Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins ran through the Falcons’ secondary game long. Any Steelers’ fan watching had to be impressed. Defensively however the Bengals still struggle to cover the middle of the field and I think the Steelers’ should be able to run the ball. Keeping Joe Burrow and company off the field will be huge in this one.
Bad Football
There’s always one week in the regular season where it feels like every game is just plain, bad. Week nine may have been it. Drake Maye threw three picks. Caleb Williams threw four. The early games were largely low-scoring duds while the late window was mostly blowouts. It happens.
Think Before You Post
Like many, I have plenty of issues with Mike Tomlin’s tenure in Pittsburgh but this comment misses the mark. Tomlin was 28-11 all-time against the Bengals which would suggest he knew what he was doing against them.
Thoughts
Steelers’ Legend Jack Ham was rushed to the hospital over the weekend out in Washington. At last report he was having tests done but was alert. I had the chance to do a phone interview with Ham several years ago. What a nice guy! He was more interested in asking me how I was and talking about his old teammates than anything else. Could have talked to him for hours. Wishing him the very best in recovery!
Random Reads
I’m thinking the Steelers will stand pat and not make any moves before the trade deadline… That said, if Michael Pittman, Jr still isn’t ready this week then maybe it happens… I thought the Browns made the right move going for two in overtime yesterday. Just have to execute… I have never seen a guy paid as much as Christian Gonzalez get beaten so badly all game long. The Green Bay receivers had him in a blender all day… I didn’t think the Chargers would be world beaters this year but 0-8?? The Texans embarrassed them yesterday… Safety Jesse Bates has been traded from Atlanta to Jacksonville for a second rounder and a fifth rounder. Bates isn’t what he used to be and I’m taking that deal all day if I’m the Falcons… I don’t understand why colleges think former players are always the best move to become their head coaches. I would lay money that things don’t go well if Philip Rivers gets the NC State job…
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