As the Pittsburgh Steelers enter their week three matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals in one hour from now, they will do so without their top two edge rushers, TJ Watt and Alex Highsmith. Watt was ruled out Saturday after being limited in practice on Friday and getting the questionable designation. After watching James Harrison’s new feature in A Football Life, what is more fitting than Jamir Jones getting his chance as the next man up?
On the offense, Diontae Johnson will be sitting this one out with a knee injury sustained on the last drive of the week two loss to Las Vegas. The Steelers offense has already been struggling, and now they will be without their most targeted wide receiver. Ben Roethlisberger reportedly told the team to get Pat Freiermuth more involved, so perhaps we see a more concerted effort to include him in the gameplan – something many have been calling for.
As this is the first AFC North divisional matchup of the season for the Steelers and its at home, they would enter dubious territory if they were unable to secure a victory. The Steelers have among the hardest remaining schedules in the league, so the margin for error will be very little.
Ben Roethlisberger also is up against a left pectoral injury early from earlier in the week, but is going to play as he normally does with a minor injury. He has performed well over the years under these circumstances.
As always, be sure to refresh the page for live updates, interesting tweets and more! Also, check out the comment section where a good group of fans congregate each week to discuss the game.
https://twitter.com/Steelersdepot/status/1441900505349902344f
With Carlos Davis ruled out, Isaiah Buggs and Henry Mondeaux will be playing nose tackle after Tyson Alualu’s potentially season ending injury.
Steelers Inactive Players
DT Carlos Davis
OLB T.J. Watt
OLB Alex Highsmith
WR Diontae Johnson
QB Dwayne Haskins
G Rashaad Coward
CB Ahkello Witherspoon
Bengals Inactive Players
WR Tee Higgins
T Fred Johnson
G Xavier Su’a-Filo
CB Trae Waynes
DT Tyler Shelvin
CB Nick McCloud
The Steelers will be starting out the game with the ball. Can they break their streak of not scoring on opening drives?
On the first play after the touchback, Najee Harris with some nice leg drive to pick up 4 yards. An illegal formation call on Chuks Okorafor to back them right back up to 2nd and 11. Ultimately, the Steelers were forced to punt after Ben was unable to connect with James Washington down the left sideline with Eli Apple in coverage.
Pressley Harvin punted and a short return sets up the Bengals around the 40 yard line.
After a timeout, the Bengals will get their first third down opportunity from eight yards out. Jamir Jones nearly with his first career sack in his first career start. In there with Chris Wormley, but both missed. Burrow scrambled to nearly pick up the first down, but was stopped short. Penalty on the play – holding. 3rd and 18 now.
A short pass to the running back screen and he picks up about 12, but it wasn’t enough. Bengals punt and Ray-Ray McCloud returns a handful of yards. The Steelers starting at their own 20 yard line.
Najee Harris went for about 11 yards on first down, but Kendrick Green called for holding. 1st and 20 now from the 10 yard line.
A short pickup from Juju Smith-Schuster and then Najee Harris with a nice reception for a handful of yards. They called Chase Claypool for offensive pass interference on a pick. Moving backwards and negating Najee’s plays once again.
Now 2nd and 23 from Pittsburgh’s 6 yard line and Chase Claypool dropped the ball on the quick slant. 3rd and 23. Hopefully Steelers give their punter some room here. Ben to Claypool on a quick pass in the flat. Stopped for a loss.
Pressley Harvin III with a decent punt aided by a good bounce. The return man went backwards a bit, so the Bengals will get the ball at their own 36 yard line.
On first down, Minkah Fitzpatrick tipped the ball straight up into the air and picked off by Terrell Edmunds! The first Steelers interception of the season.
The offense starting around midfield, Ben handed the ball off to Najee up the middle for two or three yards. Eric Ebron was targeted on 2nd down, but it was incomplete. Ben Roethlisberger pump faked on 3rd down and was hit by Sam Hubbard. The ball flew into the air and was picked off.
Bengals get a new set of downs after a completion from Joe Burrow to Jamar Chase. Arthur Maulet now playing in the slot. False start on the Bengals rookie lineman. The Bengals are just outside the red zone with 3rd and short, well within field goal range.
Tyler Boyd showed off his strength catching short and bouncing off Melvin Ingram who didn’t wrap up at all. In for the touchdown. 7-0 Bengals.
Touchback on the kickoff. Ben Roethlisberger sacked on 1st down. Zach Gentry couldn’t seal his man off and Ben shifted right into the sack. Another failed play and the Steelers have 3rd and 11. Steelers quickly becoming one dimensional.
James Washington the target on 3rd and Ben way overthrew him. A flag bails out the offense, but probably shouldn’t have been called as it was pretty uncatchable.
Najee Harris immediately swallowed up by Larry Ogunjobi in the backfield on first. Kevin Dotson whiffed completely on his block. Chase Claypool picked up about half of the yardage needed on the next play on a quick hook and a couple yards after contact.
Mike Hilton mistimed his rush and the play was blown dead for neutral zone infraction. Bummer because Ben completed to Chase Claypool for the first down and then some. Now its 3rd and short after the compulsory penalty.
Ben Roethlisberger’s elbow appears to be okay because he pump faked as he rolled out which ultimately froze the defensive lineman and allowed Ben to pick up the first down with his legs.
Najee Harris had the ball ripped out, but forward progress had stopped. Zac Taylor wanted to challenge, but refs explained their reasoning.
On 3rd down, it looked like a miscommunication. Possibly intended for Najee Harris? Regardless, the Steelers are punting. The ball fair caught at the 19 yard line. Not a terrible outcome, but Harvin could have certainly pinned that a little deeper.
Joe Mixon cut into the second level and picked up 27 yards on the first play of the drive. A couple failed plays, and the Bengals have 3rd and 10. Burrow tried to scramble, but Joe Schobert brought him down. The Bengals punt and it is fair caught at the 14 yard line.
Najee Harris out near the sideline with the reception. He made the first guy miss, but got tripped up from behind. A gain of about 8, but stopped two yards short of the marker.
Pat Freiermuth makes the short catch for the fresh set of downs. Ben called for Freiermuth to get more involved and we have not seen that quite yet. Probably because the offense has hardly run any plays yet.
Juju Smith-Schuster wide open in the middle of the field. He fought through contact and picked up 15 yards for the first down. Najee Harris is getting completely robbed of his yardage this game. Another nice run, but another holding call. Miserable.
Najee Harris clearly channeling his frustrations as he goes up the middle for 20 yards and a first down. A much needed break for him. He looked angry after that last hold, I hope he runs angry the rest of the game.
Chase Claypool picked up another first down as the Steelers get into their no-huddle offense. Najee Harris stuffed by Larry Ogunjobi in the backfield and the Steelers stop their no-huddle.
Juju with a physical catch in the middle of the field to set up 3rd and 4. Lining up in empty formation, Najee Harris makes a catch in a tight window in the middle of the field for another fresh set of downs.
Derek Watt in on the offense and getting involved with a peculiar short pass for a couple yards. Two minute warning.
3rd and 5, Ben drops back and hits Najee Harris, who gets to the left sideline and picks up the first down and then some. 1st and goal for the Steelers from the 4 yard line. A little tunnel screen to Pat Freiermuth who stretched across the goal line for the touchdown. 7-7 Even.
That drive was brought to you by the Steelers’ first two 2021 draft picks.
Melvin Ingram called for roughing the passer. A very ticky tack call, he hardly ran into him and it wasn’t very late. Ja’marr Chase got one step on James Pierre and Joe Burrow hit him perfectly in the end zone. A nice grab, too. 14-7 Bengals.
That is not at all what the Steelers needed after they got some momentum.
The Bengals needed only 00:27 to score there. Hopefully the Steelers don’t take the knee and send it to halftime. On first down, incomplete to Chase Claypool. A long scramble results in an incompletion to Najee Harris on 2nd, and a short run by Najee on 3rd. The Bengals burn their last timeout and will have 00:21 with no timeouts and likely poor field position.
A long completion for the Bengals, but it was called back on a hold. They take a knee to end the half.
HALFTIME 14-7 BENGALS.
Join us for the second half here.
