Things looked bleak for the Steelers heading into their game against the Bengals with nearly every expert picking Cincinnati to win.
But, the Steelers showed they everyone why you can’t judge a football team after only two games.
Here are the top five takeaways after a 30-27 win at Acrisure Stadium.
#1 Jaylen Warren backyard
It took an injury to Rico Dowdle for him to be the primary back through three games. When he got that opportunity he was a difference in the offense as the season’s first 100-yard rusher (127 yards) and combined for 176 yards and a near 90-yard run that was called back. Warren loved to play ‘backyard ball’, continue to get him the ball in open spaces and let him play in the backyard.
#2 Coaching
Ben Skowronek and Roman Wilson, likely among others, discussed how Mike McCarthy inspired the team allowing them to play loose and take shots downfield. On the first touchdown, it was a well-schemed bunch set on the left side that left Wilson open and the TD to Skowronek confused the Bengals. A week after being outcoached, McCarthy and staff bounced back on Sunday.
#3 Derrick Harmon
It was described that Harmon went to a dark place after week one and responded with 8 tackles against New England. Last year’s first round pick ended the game on Sunday beating his defender, tracking down Joe Burrow and forcing a fumble. While it wasn’t the defense’s best day, when they needed a play, Harmon and before him Cam Heyward made one
#4 Offensive line
Speaking of first-round picks, Max Iheanachor make his first start with Brock Hoffman on the right side of the offensive line. It wasn’t just those two, although each accounted for themselves well. Steelers weren’t supposed to be able to run on the new Cincinnati defensive line, but did, in space. While Lawrence had a pair of sacks, he didn’t wreck the Steelers line as was anticipated by many heading into the matchup
#5 Ben Skowronek
The guy is a football player. With all of joking from Aaron Rodgers, Skowronek just finds a way to make an impact. Whether it’s busting through a running back hole and running a route in the endzone and having to spin to make a catch. Or running the same play, but throwing a key block. Or busting down on special teams to when a Bengals player tried to pick up a muffed punt, he dove in to recover the ball and set the Steelers up in the Bengals red zone.
