Pittsburgh went into Cincinnati and picked up an important 16-10 win over the Bengals on Sunday.
The Steelers won their first game after firing former offensive coordinator Matt Canada. Not only did they win, but they broke a streak that had plagued every fan’s discussion about the Steelers’ offensive capabilities. Pittsburgh had gone 58 consecutive games without recording 400 total yards. The Steelers finished with 431 yards on Sunday.
After calling for his firing for over a year, Steelers’ fans finally got their wish as Matt Canada was relieved of his duties as offensive coordinator. The difference in Pittsburgh’s offense was almost immediate, as the Steelers had their strongest offensive showing of the season.
Quarterback Kenny Pickett finished the game with a season-high 278 passing yards. He often targeted tight end Pat Freiermuth, and the Penn State alumnus finished his day with nine catches for 120 yards.
The running game was equally, if not more, effective. Najee Harris ran hard and aggressively all game long. His touchdown was the only time Pittsburgh saw the end zone. Jaylen Warren also complemented his game with 49 rushing yards of his own.
The change in coaching was needed and showed immediate results. The offense looked the best it has all year. Obviously scoring more points is something they should still focus on, though it’s hard not to be encouraged by their performance on Sunday.
The Steelers’ defense was stellar, to say the least. Against Cincinnati’s backup quarterback Jake Browning, Pittsburgh allowed just 10 points, the least since their win over Baltimore in Week Five.
The defensive line brought pressure all day long. T.J. Watt continued to make his case for Defensive Player of the Year, as he sacked Browning twice while also forcing a fumble.
Second-year safety Trenton Thompson came away with the only turnover for the Steelers’ defense. His interception shortly after the second half began set the tone for the rest of the way. After his pick, the Steelers outscored the Bengals 13-3.
Steelers fans will have a tough time feeling anything negative after the win over their division rivals. Almost everything went right. The offense was much improved and the defense held strong. Why couldn’t they have fired Matt Canada sooner?
With the victory, Pittsburgh now sits at 7-4 in a favorable position to make the playoffs. They’ll look ahead to Sunday where they’ll host the lowly Arizona Cardinals. The Steelers should have a high probability of winning, though if I’ve learned anything about my 20 years of Steelers fandom, it’s that they play down to competition.
