Pittsburgh Steelers Week 3 Preview: Taking on the Big Cats

As the Pittsburgh Steelers return to Acrisure Stadium in their home city for week three of the NFL, the team will take the field this Sunday to face the Cincinnati Bengals but go into the game with plenty of question marks. Coming off a 20-3 defeat at the hands of the defending AFC champion Patriots on the road, Pittsburgh’s offense last week was downright horrendous. Since the retirement of Ben Roethlisberger years ago, the Steelers have yet to see a productive offense take the field.

With the resignation of Mike Tomlin and the hiring of offensive minded Mike McCarthy to take his place, this Pittsburgh offense was supposed to be improved. The truth is, in my opinion through two games they look worse than they did last season. DK Metcalf was traded for and given big money and he’s been nothing more than a major disappointment. First, it was last year’s suspension and now this season thus far, he’s got butterfingers. He’s nearly dropping every pass thrown his way.

But the biggest concern is the offensive line who has failed to open holes for the running game and protect Aaron Rodgers. The aging quarterback nearly had his back broken facing the Patriots and behind this line, he simply cannot produce. This is a major problem. Rodgers lack of mobility is hurting the Steelers and if this continues there are whispers going on around benching him.

Now comes a 2-0 Bengals team that is potent on offense. The problems with the Steelers right now are strictly on offense and the defense is playing very well. They aren’t the problem. But for years the defense has carried the team and that simply must stop. They might be able to hold Cincinnati off for a while come this game, but not for 60 minutes. 

A statistic I heard during the game week that is going to drive Steelers Nation insane is this…in the last 70 straight games, the Steelers have failed to score more than seven points in the first quarter of a regular season game. I believe they said this is the second longest streak in NFL HISTORY. This is embarrassing. Last week they scored none at the onset. I’ve heard from Tomlin and now McCarthy a fast start is crucial. So much for that.

The last time Pittsburgh scored more than seven in the opening frame was against this same team they are facing Sunday. In the opener of the 2022 season the Steelers scored 10 in the opening period and since then have never scored more than seven. This simply can’t be. If Mike McCarthy is such an offensive guru, then maybe it’s the personnel holding him back. This season the Steelers could have taken a chance with Mason Rudolph while grooming Drew Allar or Will Howard and said no to Aaron Rodgers but both McCarthy and Rodgers were attracted to the idea of a reunion.

Aaron Rodgers can still sling the ball around, but he is 42, immobile, and without a solid line in front of him, an injury can and maybe will occur at any moment. The Steelers’ defense held their own in New England, but the offense cost them the game. There was no running game, a facet of Pittsburgh offenses for years that had been successful. No more. Newcomer Rico Dowdle played the game with a bum toe. Jaylen Warren, while a hard runner is not the answer. Pittsburgh needs an explosive runner. They haven’t had that since Jerome Bettis retired and Le’Veon Bell sat out an entire season over a contract dispute.

Many Steelers fans wanted to see a change on the sideline from Tomlin and McCarthy is what they got. At first there were a lot of Black and Gold faithful that didn’t like the McCarthy hiring. The tide turned a bit before the season began. Now, McCarthy is on a bit of a hot seat. Some won’t call this a MUST win but it’s damn close to that. At a minimum, the Steelers’ offense MUST show improvement. I can guarantee you this…the first time Rogers throws to Metcalf, if that dude drops the ball again, you can expect the boobirds to come out and drown out the stadium.

WHEN THE BENGALS HAVE THE BALL

Through two games to start the season, Cincinnati might be 2-0 but Joe Burrow has not been the great quarterback we’ve seen in the past. He’s thrown for just 461 yards thus far and three touchdowns, but his QBR is just 64.4. He’s been picked once and for his running game, Chase Brown has been leading runner thus far with his most yards in one game coming last week when he finished with 80 facing the Texans. The receiving game is where the Bengals are extremely dangerous. Between Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase that combination can be lethal and strike on any one play. Is Pittsburgh’s defense up to the task? These two teams split the 2025 two games played but in the Steelers 33-31 loss, Pittsburgh had the lead with time running out on the clock but lost on a last second field goal.

In that loss in Cincinnati, Joe Flacco torched the Steelers defense for 342 yards and three touchdowns. Chase hauled in 16 receptions for an incredible 161 yards. The Steelers won the second meeting 34-12. For this next game, it will boil down not how well the Bengals’ offense performs but rather if it turns into a shootout can the Steelers keep pace? You know Burrow is going to toss the rock around, however; I think the Pittsburgh defense can hold them off at least for most of the game.

WHEN THE STEELERS HAVE THE BALL

Here is where the game is won or lost for the Steelers. If the offense is as pathetic as it was the first two weeks of the season this game will be lost early. I think it is key for the Steelers to find a way to jump on Cincinnati from the get-go and get an early lead. Mike McCarthy had the offensive line shifting players around before the season began and Broderick Jones was shipped out. It’s been a mess since then. The Steelers must get the running game going and the receivers can’t afford to be dropping passes again.

INTANGIBLES

The Steelers have won four of the last six series games and lead the all-time series 72-14 including two playoff victories. Playing at home won’t mean much because it’s been proven that talent comes first. The Steelers have the talent it’s just they haven’t put it to full use. Cincinnati is coming in very confidently and with their offense that is a scary thing for Steelers fans.

PREDICTION

I have two thoughts on this game…my gut feeling and my brain feeling. My gut says playing at home in a game they need to prove something to themselves and to the fans, the Steelers win. But based on performances of the first two weeks, my brains says Cincinnati wins. I’ll go with my brain, but I hope my gut is correct. Bengals 24, Steelers 17

In a final word, I want to give a shout out to my two alma maters. North Hills High School in Pittsburgh where I graduated in 1977 began their 2026 season with a bang. The Indians are 3-0 after defeating our bitter rivals, North Allegheny High School in the season opener 13-3, then took care of Bethel Park a week later in a blowout at Martorelli Stadium, 29-6. Last week they shut out Peter Township 10-0, and this week is a big one as they take on powerful Penn Hills High School.

As for my college alma mater, the mighty Slippery Rock University Rockets, the Rock missed the NCAA Division II playoffs last season after making it there in multiple past years. This season they are off and running in a big way. Opening day they won a shootout with the University of Minnesota Duluth, eking out a 45-43 victory in two overtimes. On September 12 they put up 59 points to East Stroudsburg’s 35. Week three saw a total blowout of Millersville University winning by a whopping score of 70-10.

Next up for the Rock on September 26? The might California of Pennsylvania boys. California is coming off a 28-7 loss to a highly ranked Shepherd team. Slippery Rock is currently ranked 12th in the country and who else but Ferris State is at the top.