CINCINNATI (93.7 The Fan) – Steelers notes and quotes from the 44-38 win at Cincinnati on Sunday. Three game-changing plays by the defense and another big game by Pat Freiermuth down river on the Ohio. Plus, when we’ve last seen a passing game like this and the best quotes including Russell Wilson saying ‘we haven’t done anything yet’.
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D difference
While giving up points and saying they have areas to improve, the defense created three monster turnovers. Here is reaction to all three of them.
Strip and score
Bengals down 10 in the fourth quarter and this one pretty much sealed it. Nick Herbig quickly off the left side, beats the tackle and a strip sack on Burrow scooped up by rookie Payton Wilson for a 21-yard touchdown.
“He’s a guy that brings a lot to this defense,” said TJ Watt or Herbig. “He can play with the best of them. The kid balls out and plays good football.”
“We expect Herbig to do great things,” said head coach Mike Tomlin. “He’s a talented young guy.”
“Credit to Jesus Christ, giving me another opportunity because I missed the one early in the game,” Wilson said. “I was trying to scoop and score that one, probably should have just dove on it.”
“Credit to Herb, he did the hard job. I just picked it up and ran in the end zone.”
“I just saw the ball and I saw Payton scoop it and I’m like ‘let’s go, we are ridin’,” Herbig said.
Watt you talkin’ ‘bout
It was the first Steelers turnover of the game. Offense had just tied the game when at the Steelers 33-yard line TJ Watt sacked Joe Burrow while knocking the ball away. It would be eventually be recovered by Preston Smith.
“Just trying to make a play,” Watt said. “Just trying to continue to ball search and try to make a play. Create a turnover. Joe (Burrow) did a great job all game of stepping up through that B-gap and climbing the pocket. That was a just a way of re-tracing and getting after the ball and creating a play.”
It’s the sixth time in his career he’s forced a fumble against Cincinnati.
Near Pick 6
Third play of the fourth quarter with the Bengals at the Steelers 40, a pass from Burrow that was initially tipped by Cam Heyward, then by receiver Tee Higgins, into the arms of Steelers corner Donte Jackson.
Jackson had the whole field in front of him, but was barely tripped by up Higgins or it would have been a touchdown. The first-year Steeler joked that he saw daylight and underestimated how long Higgins’ arms were.
“That’s what we preach, A-players are going to be A-players because that’s what gets you out of stadiums,” Jackson said. “You are a playmaker you got to show up in these big games.”
“I tend to do that a lot.”
Big day Pat
Tight end Pat Freiermuth had his most catches of the season (6) for 68 yards and a touchdown where he improvised with quarterback Russell Wilson. He said the defense initially clouded his route and he knew that area of the field would be available, Wilson knew it to.
Leading up to today, Freiermuth had less than 20 yards receiving in three of his last four games.
“I’m a big believer in the football gods,” Freiermuth said. “I was just doing the gritty work, trying to impact the game as much as I can. I knew it was going to come. I knew we had the big games late in the year and they were going to call my number. Just got to continue to be there for the quarterbacks, be there for the offense and see what happens.”
Last time in Cincinnati, Freiermuth had a career-high nine catches for 120 yards. In 2022, five catches for 75 yards and he had a touchdown at PayCor Stadium his rookie season. He said obviously the defensive scheme plays a part, but career numbers at the Bengals.
“There is something about being in Cincinnati,” Freiermuth said.
Stat notes
· Russell Wilson 10 TD most in single season by Steelers QB since Ben Roethlisberger with 22 in 2021
· Wilson’s 414 yards are the most for a Steelers quarterback since Ben Roethlisberger had 462 against Denver on November 25, 2018
· First time Wilson has thrown for 400-plus yards since 2019
· Cam Heyward had a sack now 86.5 for his career that is 66th all-time passing Willie McGinest
· The 44 points are the most for a Steelers offense in 7 years
· 4th time the Bengals have scored 33 points or more and lost
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Quotes
“He’s an old dude that’s playing some really good football. A guy that’s a true leader. A true Steeler. He preaches installing kick ass every week. He and (Karl) Dunbar. He goes out there each and every week and shows why he’s one of the best in the world.”
TJ Watt on Cam Heyward
“All 11 of us firing off the ball and doing what we do and being on the same page, I really don’t feel like there is anyone who can stop us.”
T Broderick Jones
“Even when we used to play against Russ, Russ could dice up with the best of them. Having a guy like that on our sideline now, it brings a steady leader on that side of the ball.”
Captain Cam Heyward on Russell Wilson
“I don’t know. Ask the coaches. I don’t know… it’s not my job.”
Bengals WR JaMarr Chase on being 4-8
“We took advantage of the mini-bye in terms of focusing our energies on red zone performance, and I’m thankful for that. Looks like we reaped benefits of that labor today.”
Head coach Mike Tomlin
“We were the physically most dominant team out there. We pride ourselves on that. We were able to impose our will on the defense. Hopefully we continue that this week.”
TE Pat Freiermuth
“(They’re a) hell of a defense. (They) played a hell of a game today, and they made plays when they needed them.”
Bengals WR Tee Higgins
“Every game matters. The reality is that all these games are going to feel like playoff games. It’s getting us ready for where we want to go. We haven’t done anything yet.”