The Pittsburgh Steelers face the Cincinnati Bengals tonight, and a win would give Pittsburgh a comfortable cushion atop the AFC North. Unfortunately, Thursday nights on the road haven’t been kind to the Steelers — especially against division rivals, where they’ve gone 0-6 in their last six Thursday Night Football games against AFC North teams.
To snap that skid against a hungry Bengals team desperate to end its own losing streak, these are the three keys to securing a win.
3 keys that could lead the Pittsburgh Steelers to a victory over the Cincinnati Bengals on TNF
Win the time of possession battle
A lot of headlines were made earlier this week after Mike Tomlin’s comments on the Browns trading Joe Flacco to the Bengals, especially given Tomlin’s long-standing respect for Flacco and what he brings to the table. The Steelers are 11-11 all-time against Flacco, and with Cincinnati sitting at 2-4, this matchup will be anything but a cakewalk.
Flacco may not be the same threat he was in his prime with Baltimore, but his experience and familiarity with Pittsburgh after 22 career games against them still make him dangerous. Even at 40, his arm talent, paired with weapons like Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, gives the Bengals offense plenty of firepower.
To counter that, Pittsburgh needs to exploit a struggling Bengals defense and stick to what has been working: running the ball efficiently. Controlling possession not only limits Cincinnati’s scoring chances but also keeps the Steelers’ defense fresh on a short week. If Pittsburgh can control the tempo and dominate time of possession, they can dictate how this game is played.
Jump out to an early lead
The Steelers offense needs to come out of the gate firing to secure an early lead. The Bengals have gone four straight games without scoring a touchdown in the first half. Surprisingly, the Steelers have been strong starters this season, ranking ninth in first-half scoring.
With a quarterback who has only been with the team for a week, the Bengals’ offense may need time to find its rhythm, much like last week against Green Bay, when they did not start scoring until the second half. Pittsburgh must take advantage of this opportunity and jump out to an early lead.
Continue to bring pressure
The Steelers’ defense has started to come alive over the past couple of weeks, generating sacks and constant pressure. Against the Bengals, they need to exploit a struggling offensive line and a quarterback who struggles to move in the pocket. Pittsburgh will likely rely on four-man rushes at times, dialing back blitzes to focus on coverage. With Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins to defend, stopping big plays through the air will be the top priority.
Cincinnati’s inability to run the football, ranking last in the NFL and averaging just 56.7 yards per game, means they will be passing frequently. Once again, the Steelers’ pass rush will be key to disrupting the Bengals’ offense and keeping the game under control
