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Keys to how the Bengals can sweep season series against the Pittsburgh Steelers
The Cincinnati Bengals' Week 11 road trip to face the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium is more than just another divisional matchup; it's a litmus test for a franchise teetering on the brink of playoff irrelevance, a chance to author a season-defining narrative by sweeping their bitter rivals. Standing at a precarious 3-6, the Bengals' October 16th 33-31 victory over the 5-4 Steelers at Paycor Stadium now feels like a lifetime ago, a high-water mark in a season subsequently marred by defensive collapses against the New York Jets and Chicago Bears, games where the offense exploded for a combined 80 points yet still found ways to lose.The analytics from that first Steelers clash are telling: quarterback Joe Flacco, in just his second start, delivered a masterclass with 342 yards and three touchdowns, while Ja'Marr Chase reset his own franchise record with a staggering 16 receptions, a performance that evoked the relentless efficiency of a prime Antonio Brown. However, the underlying numbers reveal a critical vulnerability—the Bengals' pass rush failed to register a single sack or even a quarterback hit on the Steelers' Aaron Rodgers, allowing him to operate with the comfortable precision of a surgeon.This stands in stark contrast to the blueprint the Los Angeles Chargers successfully executed just last week, pressuring Rodgers into five hits and three sacks en route to a commanding 25-10 victory, a defensive masterplan Cincinnati must now replicate without their premier edge rusher, Trey Hendrickson, and with rookie Shemar Stewart on the reserve/injured list, forcing defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo to get profoundly creative with simulated pressures and strategic blitz packages to disrupt Rodgers' hallowed timing. The stakes are monumental; if the Bengals' front cannot generate pressure, the burden falls catastrophically onto an offense that, while potent, cannot be expected to win weekly shootouts, a lesson painfully learned in those prior defeats.This necessitates a philosophical shift towards a more controlled, clock-dominating approach, where the run game, spearheaded by Chase Brown, becomes the central protagonist. Controlling the tempo and keeping the Steelers' defense, already reeling from the absence of starting linebackers Alex Highsmith and Cole Holcomb, on its heels is paramount.A consistent ground attack not only mitigates the risk of Flacco having to throw 50 times but also sets up the play-action passing game, a weapon that was lethally effective in the first meeting when Pittsburgh predominantly employed man coverage. Expect Steelers defensive mastermind T.J. Watt to adjust, shifting more towards zone shells designed to limit the explosive, downfield capabilities of Chase and Tee Higgins, who combined for 22 catches, 257 yards, and two touchdowns in October.This strategic countermove places the onus squarely on Flacco's veteran savvy to diagnose coverages pre-snap, identify the soft spots in the zones, and efficiently distribute the ball using a variety of route concepts, potentially involving Brown more as a safety valve receiver out of the backfield. Coming off their bye week, the Bengals are theoretically rested and prepared, while Pittsburgh staggers in after a demoralizing loss. In the grand chess match of the AFC North, this game represents a critical fork in the road for Cincinnati—a victory not only secures a precious season sweep and keeps faint playoff hopes flickering but also serves as a statement of resilience, a testament to their ability to learn, adapt, and execute under pressure, much like the legendary comebacks engineered by franchises that refuse to fade quietly into the night.
#featured
#Cincinnati Bengals
#Pittsburgh Steelers
#NFL Week 11
#Joe Flacco
#Ja'Marr Chase
#team injuries
#defensive pressure
#run game strategy
