Cincinnati Bengals @ Pittsburgh Steelers
Final Score: Steelers 34, Bengals 12
Writer: Cesar Escajeda
The Steelers had no problem navigating through the second-half absence of the NFL’s oldest player, earning a dominant home win behind steady mistake-free offense and two key defensive touchdowns.
Two Up
- Kenneth Gainwell — He was sluggish on the ground for most of the afternoon against one of the league’s worst defenses — but made up for it with great consistency receiving out of the backfield, putting up two TDs on the day. He was an excellent safety net for backup QB Mason Rudolph, finishing with the team lead in every receiving category.
- Mason Rudolph — After QB Aaron Rodgers was knocked out at halftime with a wrist injury, Rudolph entered the game and the offense somehow didn’t miss a beat. He did just enough to keep the score out of reach for the Bengals, finding the easy throws for chunk gains time and time again and keeping drives going to cement the lead. It wasn’t flashy, but with the uncertainty of Rodgers potentially missing time, Rudolph might not hinder Pittsburgh’s weapons.
Two Down
- Joe Flacco — As well as Flacco has played against the Steelers this season, he had an afternoon to forget on the road in Pittsburgh. He looked like his age had finally caught up to him, with pedestrian numbers all game amplified by an awful pick-6 late, all but cementing Cincinnati’s loss. The gaudy numbers Flacco managed to put recently with the Bengals’ weapons has seemed to have waned, and he looked genuinely uncomfortable in the pocket for much of the game.
- Ja’Marr Chase — For all the explosiveness this offense had showcased of late following the Flacco acquisition, neither player could get on the same page offensively in this one. The volume was certainly there as Chase led all pass catchers in targets, but was unable to turn any of it into something meaningful — being blanketed and virtually taken out of the game by stellar coverage. This persisted, even after DB Jalen Ramsey was ejected for throwing a punch after Chase appeared to have spit on him. No love lost on either side here.
Cincinnati Bengals
Quarterback
Joe Flacco: 23/40, 199 Yards, TD, INT | 1 Carry, -1 Yards
Joe Flacco was bottled up quite effectively by the Steelers’ defense this time around, just a few weeks removed from the fireworks show he put up in the first matchup. The pressure dialed up by Pittsburgh failed to hit home for most of the afternoon, but the coverage was lockdown after the first Bengals drive that resulted in a score — stifling everything downfield and forcing him to take the short, underneath routes that got swarmed soon after. Cincy trailed by just four points when Flacco inexcusably lined a pass up the middle perfectly to S Kyle Dugger, who took it 73 yards to the house in a moment that completely shut the door on the visiting team’s hopes.
Running Back
Chase Brown: 18 Carries, 99 Yards | 8 Targets, 6 Receptions, 28 Yards
The volume has really helped keep Chase Brown‘s number afloat these past few weeks, and against the Steelers was no exception. The third-year RB was involved heavily despite the offensive struggles, racking up a multitude of targets in the short-range passing game while averaging a healthy 5.5 yards per carry on the ground. The scoring opportunities were limited given the way the game ended up, but Brown led in carries and receptions on the day and showed no sign of slowing down. A TD would have been nice, of course, but the consistency is pleasant despite the losses piling up for the Bengals.
Tahj Brooks: 1 Carry, 5 Yards
Kendall Milton: 2 Carries, 2 Yards
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Tee Higgins: 8 Targets, 3 Receptions, 63 Yards, TD
The Steelers had their hands tied in this game with the bevy of offensive weapons set against them, but it was evident early that Ja’Marr Chase would not be allowed to beat them, so Tee Higgins attempted to make the most of it. On Cincy’s first drive, Flacco managed to find him downfield for an impressive 28-yard score, capping a very impressive effort — but it was all downhill from there. The talented wideout would manage just two more receptions the rest of the game despite finishing second on the Bengals with a peppering of eight total targets. The game plan just settled in defensively for the Steelers, and that was all she really wrote for Higgins’ final stat line.
Noah Fant: 6 Targets, 5 Receptions, 36 Yards, FUM (Lost)
Noah Fant was a beneficiary of the Bengals’ primary reads being covered up, earning his highest target total of the season on the road in this one. He was efficient with what he was given, if not exactly explosive with his catches on the day. His fumble, however, was the absolute nail in the coffin — popping the ball on the ground easily enough for CB James Pierre to walk it in for the second Pittsburgh TD on defense.
Ja’Marr Chase: 10 Targets, 3 Receptions, 30 Yards
Ja’Marr Chase will be remembered more so for 2025’s SpitGate Part II than for anything he did in this game. Flacco and Chase seemingly just could not connect, and Pittsburgh’s secondary clamped down and compounded the problem. That didn’t stop the Bengals from trying to get Chase the ball, however, with 10 targets going his way throughout the loss. There are likely better days ahead for someone as talented as him, especially with Joe Burrow potentially re-entering the fold, but this was a dud that most would not have seen coming, given the production Chase had enjoyed of late.
Tanner Hudson: 3 Targets, 3 Receptions, 22 Yards
Andrei Iosivas: 4 Targets, 3 Receptions, 20 Yards
Pittsburgh Steelers
Quarterback
Aaron Rodgers: 9/15, 116 Yards, TD | 1 Carry, 8 Yards
Aaron Rodgers wasn’t lighting up Cincy’s defense before exiting the game, but he quickly led them downfield for the game’s opening TD to start. It’s unclear what play he hurt himself on, but he appeared to be in some pain on the final drive of the first half, holding the wrist of his non-throwing arm gingerly. He would not return in the second half, instead paving the way for Mason Rudolph to take over.
Mason Rudolph: 12/16, 127 Yards, TD | 1 Carry, -1 Yards
Mason Rudolph didn’t need to do anything the rest of the way except manage the offense and play mistake-free football, especially with the way the Steelers’ defense showed up. He did exactly that, almost mirroring Rodgers’ first half stats en route to the blowout win. Rudolph led three drives, with two resulting in points for Pittsburgh and the last being a kneeldown to end the game. It wasn’t anything spectacular, but serviceable to say the least, and he didn’t hinder the offense, which bodes well in case Rodgers is forced to miss any time.
Running Back
Jaylen Warren: 10 Carries, 62 Yards | 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 5 Yards
Jaylen Warren had a solid day on the ground, but as far as performances go, he definitely took a backseat to his teammate in this one. Carries were split almost evenly between him and Kenneth Gainwell, but while Warren was the better rusher, Gainwell put on the show with his involvement in the passing game. It’s been a slightly frustrating season for those who bought high on Warren, given how persistent the coaching staff in Pittsburgh has been with getting Gainwell involved on a week-to-week basis. There’s bound to be weeks like this, even with Warren being the far more efficient runner. Warren exited this contest in the third quarter with a leg injury and did not return, so practice reports will be key to monitor throughout the week. If he’s unable to go in Week 12, Gainwell will likely shoulder a big load like he did overseas.
Kenneth Gainwell: 9 Carries, 24 Yards | 8 Targets, 7 Receptions, 81 Yards, 2 TDs
What a random game for the free-agent acquisition from Philly. It was tough sledding on the ground, with an average of just 2.7 yards per carry in this one — but it was his involvement in the passing game that obviously stood out. Rodgers found him on the opening drive, and Gainwell did the rest, beating coverage to the corner of the end zone. His second TD, which came in the fourth, all but ensured the game was out of reach for Cincinnati. Given that Pittsburgh did not need to really push the ball downfield, Gainwell found his niche underneath and took those opportunities to the house. Good luck trying to predict if he’ll have this type of game going forward, however.
Kaleb Johnson: 5 Carries, 15 Yards
Connor Heyward: 2 Carries, 3 Yards
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Darnell Washington: 5 Targets, 4 Receptions, 67 Yards
The involvement of TEs in coordinator Arthur Smith‘s game plan is plain as day, but who the main recipient from week to week is a mystery. This week, it was the big-bodied Darnell Washington, who found success all across the middle of the field and extended drives on a multitude of occasions. Both Rodgers and Rudolph targeted him throughout this game, so his numbers could carry with the second-string QB at the helm going forward. It’s really the luck of the draw for fantasy purposes at that point, however.
DK Metcalf: 8 Targets, 5 Receptions, 49 Yards
DK Metcalf tied Gainwell for the team lead in targets but had an obviously lessened impact against Cincy, registering less than 50 total yards on the day. At this point, you know what to expect with Metcalf, and it’s not going to change with a different QB — even though targets for the former Seahawks receiver were equally split in the first and second halves.
Pat Freiermuth: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 19 Yards
Roman Wilson: 2 Targets, 1 Reception, 17 Yards
Calvin Austin III: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 5 Yards
Jonnu Smith: 2 Targets