We have arrived at week 12 of the National Football League season and both the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals need a win. Here’s everything you need to know about the game.
What: Pittsburgh Steelers 6-4 at Cincinnati Bengals 5-5
Where: Paycor Stadium Cincinnati, OH
When: 1pmET Sunday November 26th, 2023
Weather: 49 degrees with winds to 10mph. Showers expected (50%).
Wagering Information: Steelers -1.5 O/U 35.5
Last Week: The Bengals dropped a Thursday Night contest in Baltimore 34-20 while the Steelers lost 13-10 in Cleveland.
TV: CBS an Eagle (play-by-play), Charles Davis (analysis), Evan Washburn (field reporter)
TV Coverage in Your Area: Check out 506sports.com.
Radio: Steelers Nation Radio/WDVE Bill Hillgrove (play-by-play), Craig Wolfley (analysis), Missi Matthews (sideline),
Max Starks (sideline)
Sports USA Radio: Larry Kahn (play-by-play), Mark Carrier (analysis)
Head Official: Brad Rogers. A college professor who attended Lubbock Christian, Rogers is in his fifth season as head official. The last time the Steelers saw Rogers was in Week 4 of last season in a home loss to the New York Jets. His crew had 15 accepted penalties that afternoon.
Key Injuries/Game Status (courtesy steelers.com) PIT: No. 39 S Minkah Fitzpatrick (Hamstring) – Out
No. 42 CB James Pierre (Shoulder) – Questionable, No. 57 DT Montravius Adams (Ankle) – Out CIN: No. 9 QB Joe Burrow (Right Wrist) – Out, No. 5 WR Tee Higgins (Hamstring) – Out, No. 29 CB Cam Taylor-Britt (Quad) – Out, No. 70 OT D’Ante Smith (Knee) – Doubtful, No. 30 HB Chase Brown (Hamstring) – Questionable, No. 57 LB Germaine Pratt (Illness) – Questionable
Injury Notes: Hindsight is 20/20 but the Steelers would have benefitted from placing Fitzpatrick on the IR seeing as he’s now going to have missed four weeks straight. This would have freed up a roster spot. Keep an eye on the Pratt illness. He’s been a major thorn in the Steelers’ side in recent years.
2023 NFL Ranks:
Total Offense: PIT 28th CIN 21st Passing Offense: PIT 31st CIN 20th Rushing Offense: PIT 16th CIN 31st
Total Defense: PIT 7th CIN 20th Passing Defense: PIT 21st CIN 24th Rushing Defense: PIT 23rd CIN 28th
AFC North Rankings: Baltimore 8-3, Cleveland 7-3, Pittsburgh 6-4 Cincinnati 5-5
This Week in the AFC North: Cleveland at Denver 405pmET, Baltimore at LA Chargers 820pmET
What You Need to Know: Mike Tomlin is 24-9 all-time against the Bengals while Cincinnati Coach Zac Taylor is 4-4 against the Steelers… Pittsburgh is 5-0 this season when scoring 19 points or more… The Steelers are 3-4 in day games this year… The Steelers are just 12-10 all-time when facing a first time starting QB but they are 4-0 in such games under Mike Tomlin and have won eight straight… Pittsburgh is 19-12 all-time against the Bengals in the month of November.
Cincinnati Bengals Names to Know: QB Jake Browning, WR Ja’Marr Chase, WR Tyler Boyd, RB Joe Mixon, LB Logan Wilson, CB Cam Taylor-Britt, DE Trey Hendrickson, CB Mike Hilton, TE Irv Smith, Jr, WR Tee Higgins, OT Orlando Brown, JR
What’s at Stake: Well, to put it simply, it’s to stay out of the AFC North basement. A loss by the Steelers means they and the Bengals would both be 6-5 and in last place. A win further drops the Bengals in the division and allows the Steelers to keep pace in the North.
All-Time Series: Steelers Lead 68-39 and lead all-time in Cincy 33-21
Last Meeting: November 2022 in Pittsburgh. Bengals 37 Steelers 30
Postseason History: Steelers Lead 2-0
Steelers Game Highs vs CIN: PASSING: 386 yards Ben Roethlisberger 12/04/2005 RUSHING: 185 yards Le’Veon Bell 12/07/2014 RECEIVING: 192 yards Lynn Swann 12/02/1979 SACKS: 4.5 Chad Brown 10/13/1996 INTERCEPTIONS: 3 Mike Wagner 10/28/1973
Check out the latest Steel City Blitz Steelers Podcast for more on the Steelers.
Three Things We Need to See for a Steelers’ Victory:
1. You Asked for It. The players have said all the right things in terms of the dismissal of Matt Canada but you damn well know most are glad he’s no longer involved with this offense. Therefore, this offense needs to make some plays. I don’t blame this entire offensive mess on Canada, because there were times when the execution was lacking so that needs to get corrected immediately. The “Canada” excuse will no longer be a viable one. Kenny Pickett will need to play better, period. He has to start being more accurate and he has to see these guys running free downfield. If this unit doesn’t produce starting this week – and no one expects miracles – then it won’t be a good look.
2. Countering the New QB. Last week the Steelers failed to get any pressure on Dorian Thompson-Robinson but that was exactly what the Browns intended. Not because they blocked well but because they game-planned to get the ball out of his hands so quickly. I expect the Bengals to do very much the same thing this week but the Steelers can counter this in two ways. First, get hands up especially on the interior. Cam Heyward thrives at this (as does T.J. Watt) and he needs to creates some tipped pass situations. Secondly, the Steelers need to get out early. Making the Bengals play catch-up will force them out of the running game and will push them to throw the ball down-field more too.
3. Get Your WRs Involved Early. The way the Steelers are running the ball I’d be just fine if they came out and ran it 90% of the time Sunday but that’s not going to happen. Therefore, Mike Sullivan and Eddie Faulkner need to get both Diontae Johnson and George Pickens involved. This is not easy – it isn’t like the Bengals will just sit back and allow it to happen – but perhaps some end arounds, short routes or deep shots early will get these guys into the game early. This can help avoid the frustrations we’ve seen from both of them. Don’t get me wrong, doing what it takes to win at any cost is what matters but if you get these guys going sooner rather than later then maybe the whole offense picks up a bit.
Prediction: In recent weeks, I’ve gone completely against my gut. I thought last week for example that the offense would create just enough to get a one-point win and clearly I was wrong. This week, every single thing tells me the Steelers will win this game. Another young QB, this one making his first start, seems to fall right into our hands. The defense, despite being so banged up, has played better and better (save for Sunday’s last drive) and seems to be on track to win another close one. I suspect the offense will be “better” as well but I just don’t anticipate much more success with Pickett and Co. Therefore, I’m going against my gut.
Bengals 20 Steelers 14
Season Prediction Record: 5-5
