What We Saw: Steelers @ Bengals

"The Unc Bowl," or "The IcyHot Bowl," or whatever you chose to call it was the most fun we've had on a Thursday night this season.

Brett Ford
What We Saw 2 Days Ago

Steelers @ Bengals

Final Score: Bengals 33, Steelers 31

Writer: Brett Ford (@FadeThatMan)

 

In what had been dubbed “The Icy Hot Bowl,” the “Unc Bowl,” among other silly nicknames, Flacco and the Bengals battled Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers in an AFC North showdown on Thursday night in Cincinnati. But instead of the low-scoring, slobber-knocking affair that many AFC North fans have grown accustomed to, the two old heads slung the rock around the stadium combining for nearly 600 passing yards, seven touchdowns and a whole lot of fun to watch. At the end of the day, Flacco and the Bengals made fewer mistakes and earned the victory with a field goal in the final seconds to earn the 33-31 victory. It was one of the more fun Thursday night games so far this season. Let’s dig in.

 

Three Up

  • Ja’Marr Chase – An historic night for Chase, he better buy Flacco a nice steak dinner.
  • Pat Freiermuth – With all the attention paid to DK Metcalf, “The Muth” got very loose.
  • Old Guys – Watching two 40-year old dudes just sling it out there was empowering for me (36) and made me feel like I can do anything. It’s a bad day to be a lawn.

One Down

  • DK Metcalf – Really the only underperforming fantasy asset in the entire game, due largely to Cincinnati’s defensive gameplan.

 

Pittsburgh Steelers

 

Quarterback

 

Aaron Rodgers: 23/34, 249 yards, 4 TDs, 2 INTs | 1 carry, 6  yards

Rodgers dropped one in the bucket for DK on the first drive and later extended a play to find Jonnu in the end zone for the opening score. Before halftime, Rodgers forced a shot to Metcalf down the left sideline and it was a poor throw that resulted in an interception. Rodgers was outstanding for a lot of the game, but made a couple of costly mistakes that ended up leaving points on the board. His decision-making improved as the game went on, and he nearly earned the win anyway, chucking a Hail Mary attempt 70 yards into the end zone, but it was swatted down.

 

Running Back

 

Jaylen Warren: 16 carries, 127 yards | 5 targets, 4 receptions, 31 yards

“And I would’ve gotten the headline too, if it wasn’t for you pesky Bengals,” was what Warren was probably saying. Warren looked like an elite dual-threat back, running hard behind an offensive line that was clearing significant space for him. He looked the best he has all season long, and would have had a touchdown to go with his stellar performance if not for a penalty – Warren had a waltz-in touchdown early in the second quarter but it was called back for a hold. Warren played a large majority of the snaps (37) earning 20 opportunities and delivering with the elite volume. He looks fully recovered from his injury and is a must-start running back in nearly any matchup.

 

Kenneth Gainwell: 3 carries, 14 yards | 2 targets, 2 receptions, 1 yard

Gainwell shrunk back to a smaller role this week with Warren fully healthy, earning just five touches to Warren’s 20 touches. So much for the backup role in Arthur Smith’s offense being a thing.

 

Kaleb Johnson: DNP

Born and raised in Cincinnati, Johnson didn’t see a single offensive snap. Not exactly the homecoming he hoped for.

 

Wide Receiver/Tight End

 

DK Metcalf: 5 targets, 3 receptions, 50 yards

The Bengals paid A LOT of attention to Metcalf defensively, allowing other pass-catchers to make plays instead. Metcalf created space down the sideline on a couple of passes, but was mostly schemed out of this game by the Bengals’ secondary.

 

Jonnu Smith: 6 targets, 3 receptions, 28 yards, TD

Smith drew the ire of Rodgers on his first target, clearly either running the wrong route or reading the defensively differently than his quarterback did. He made up for it later in the drive with an extended play touchdown, making room in the end zone for Rodgers to find him. Despite the knack for finding Smith on improvised plays, Rodgers and Jonnu still don’t quite look on the same page on most routes and quick hitters, causing Rodgers to look elsewhere much of the night.

 

Pat Freiermuth: 6 targets, 5 receptions, 111 yards, 2 TDs

On both of Freiermuth’s touchdown receptions, the tight end was lined up on the same side as Metcalf. On each occasion, the Cincinnati safety was so concerned with Metcalf on the outside that they left entirely too much space in the seam for “The Muth” to get loose. He pulled in his first touchdown catch in the end zone and then pulled in a long score on his second one, rumbling 68 yards to find the painted area for a second time. His other two receptions came as first-read screen plays at the line of scrimmage.

 

Darnell Washington: 5 targets, 3 receptions, 2 yards, TD

The big-bodied tight end played just about as many snaps as Freiermuth and Smith, and showed his versatility as a pass-catcher as well. He pulled in a handful of short yardage targets, including a five-yard dig in the end zone that he just shielded the ball with his massive frame to make the touchdown catch. Built like an offensive tackle with the agility and movement of a tight end, Washington is a formidable matchup problem for most defenses, especially in the red zone.

 

Cameron Heyward: 1 target 

Heyward had a touchdown slip through his fingers on the opening drive, as Rodgers hit him in the hands with what would have been a tough catch in the corner of the end zone. He ended the game as the only Pittsburgh tight end not to score.

Roman Wilson: 2 targets, 2 receptions, 17 yards 

Scotty Miller: 1 target, 1 reception, 9 yards 

 

Cincinnati Bengals

 

Quarterback

 

Joe Flacco: 31/47, 342 yards, 3 TDs

ELITE.

Now we all understand why Tomlin was so upset at his press conference earlier this week! Flacco was outstanding, slicing and dicing the Steelers secondary to the tune of 342 yards and three touchdowns. He was dialed in on Chase, but wasn’t afraid to take what the defense gave him underneath to guys like Brown and Fant. His most impressive play of the game didn’t come with his arm – but with his legs, where he gained 11 yards on a zone read option. The Steelers were just as confused as everyone watching as Flacco jogged to a crucial first down late in the game. This is the perfect marriage of player and team, as Flacco loses the training wheels the Browns slapped on him and the Bengals get a competent arm talent under center. There were worries about the line in front of him, but Flacco’s time with the Jets two years ago prepared him for this. He’s got the best weapons that he’s ever had and is ready to sling the rock. He’s a must-start in super flex leagues and at least a streaming option in traditional 12-teamers.

 

Running Back

 

Chase Brown: 11 carries, 108 yards | 4 targets, 2 receptions, -8 yards

For the first time this season, the Bengals rushing attack looked competent as the offensive line won at the line of scrimmage and cleared lanes for Brown to run. The dynamic back took advantage, gashing the Steelers for over 100 yards – a season high by a long shot. Though he didn’t find the end zone, surely fantasy managers must be excited by the progress made against the Steelers on Thursday.

 

Samaje Perine: 7 carries, 31 yards

 

Wide Receiver/Tight End

 

Ja’Marr Chase: 18 targets, 16 receptions, 161 yards, TD 

Chase had the most targets by any pass-catcher in a single game in the NFL this season and the most catches by a player in a game since 2020, pulling in 16 receptions for the first time since Keenan Allen accomplished the feat in 2020.  The game marked the second time this season and fourth time in his career that Chase caught at least 14 passes. He was unstoppable. Through two games with Flacco, Chase has 26 receptions, 255 yards and two touchdowns. His 17-game pace with Flacco: 221 Receptions, 314 Targets, 2,167 Yards, 17 Touchdowns. Buckle up, friends. It could be a fun second half.

 

Tee Higgins: 10 targets, 6 receptions, 96 yards, TD

Higgins was not incredible like Chase was, but he was really good, too. On the biggest play of the game with the Bengals driving in the fourth quarter for the win, Higgins beat Jalen Ramsey in man coverage for a first down conversion that basically decided the game. The big-bodied wide receiver – like all Bengals pass-catchers – has benefitted greatly from the addition of Flacco and is back to being a solid fantasy option again.

 

Noah Fant: 4 targets, 4 receptions, 44 yards, TD

Fant was a serviceable safety valve for Flacco underneath, sneaking into the end zone as the Steelers’ defense focused on the two prolific wide receivers. His biggest gain came on a quick pass to the flat, where he slipped out unmarked with green grass in front of him. Fant was the only tight end to be targeted in the game, but may take a hit when Tanner Hudson returns from concussion protocol in the coming weeks.

 

Andre Iosivas: 4 targets, 3 receptions, 49 yards

Iosivas showed questionable hands early on but redeemed himself with a pair of nice catches down the stretch for decent gains. The disparity of talent between Higgins and Chase and then Iosivas is daunting. It’s clear that he’s an afterthought in this offense, but he’ll get some looks every week due to the talent around him.

 

Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter/X; @justinparadis.bsky.social on BlueSky)