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The Cincinnati Bengals faced their first complete game without quarterback Joe Burrow on Sunday, going head-to-head against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The quarterback battle featured Jake Browning and Kenny Pickett.
Winning the toss and deferring to the second half, the Bengals allowed the Steelers’ offense, now under new coordination post-Matt Canada’s departure, to take the stage. Despite a significant throw by Pickett, the Steelers chose to punt on a 4th-and-2 inside Cincinnati territory, sparing the Bengals’ defense.
Browning’s initial drive appeared disoriented, marked by two pass plays. The first, a deep shot, was covered, and on third down, Browning struggled against T.J. Watt’s rush. Although he fumbled, it was recovered.
Rookie cornerback DJ Turner made a crucial impact in the following drive, preventing a potential catch by Diontae Johnson and recovering a fumble, denying the Steelers points. After Pittsburgh secured a field goal, the Bengals regrouped with a drive fueled by a tipped pass turned into a 31-yard gain by Ja’Marr Chase. Browning then connected with Drew Sample for a touchdown, giving the Bengals a 7-3 lead at halftime.
The Bengals started the second half strong, but Browning’s attempt to force a pass in the end zone resulted in an interception. Pittsburgh capitalized on the turnover, with Pat Freiermuth reaching over 100 receiving yards in a methodical drive. Despite a potential holding penalty, Najee Harris scored a touchdown, extending the Steelers’ lead to 13-7.
Pittsburgh’s defense stopped Browning after a stroke of luck for the Bengals. However, Browning faced pressure on third down, resulting in a sack. Pickett’s connection with Kenny Pickens set up a field goal, making it 16-7. The Bengals struggled to respond, and despite a late field goal, they couldn’t recover an onside kick, allowing the Steelers to secure a 16-10 win.
The loss dropped the Bengals to a 5-6 record, and while expectations adjusted after Burrow’s injury, the offense struggled to establish a running game under Browning. The interception proved costly, emphasizing the need for offensive balance. The defense yielded too many big plays, contributing to the challenging loss. With a sub-.500 record and Burrow absent, questions linger about the team’s resilience.
Baltimore’s defense dominated, securing a victory in a low-scoring contest. Despite the Chargers entering the game with the eighth-ranked scoring offense, the Ravens limited Justin Herbert and company to just 10 points, forcing four takeaways. The Chargers started with a field goal but struggled in the following seven possessions, managing only 22 yards or fewer before punting or turning the ball over. The Ravens, led by Jadeveon Clowney’s strip-sack, locked down the Chargers, sealing the win by forcing turnovers on downs in the final two possessions. This marked the Chargers’ lowest point total since Week 3 of the 2022 season, solidifying the Ravens’ defense as an elite unit.
Once again, the spotlight was on the Bolts’ mistakes. Following a week with numerous drops, the Chargers faced issues holding onto the ball in their third consecutive loss. Three fumbles, committed by key players like Keenan Allen and Austin Ekeler, plagued the team. The most impactful fumble occurred in the fourth quarter when Herbert’s sack by Clowney ended a promising red-zone drive. The Chargers missed multiple opportunities, struggled to score points, and errors defined another loss for Los Angeles.
Despite having a potent quarterback and offensive weapons, Baltimore’s offense had an off day. Although they started well, the Ravens often stalled in drives, settling for field goals and failing to pull away from the Chargers. A late-game decision to kick a field goal instead of going for it on fourth-and-1 added suspense, especially when Justin Tucker missed the kick. Zay Flowers’ late touchdown run and two defensive stops prevented a fourth-quarter collapse, but the victory wasn’t as decisive as it could have been. Whether due to missing Mark Andrews or dealing with injuries in the receiving corps, the Ravens secured the win and can use the upcoming bye to regroup for the final stretch, aiming to maintain the No. 1 seed in the AFC.
In a key fourth-quarter play, Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers defied the odds with a 37-yard jet sweep touchdown, having just a 0.7% chance of scoring according to Next Gen stats.
Notably, Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson surpassed 5,000 career rushing yards in the win, joining the exclusive company of Michael Vick, Cam Newton, and Russell Wilson as the fourth QB in NFL history to achieve this milestone.
The Steelers achieved a significant offensive milestone by amassing 421 yards, marking their first time surpassing the 400-yard threshold in 58 games since Week 2 of 2020. Following the departure of offensive coordinator Matt Canada, Pittsburgh showcased a newfound efficiency, particularly evident in their six plays of 20-plus yards, including four aerial connections. Quarterback Kenny Pickett orchestrated impressive plays, targeting tight end Pat Freiermuth for substantial gains and executing deep sideline passes to George Pickens and Diontae Johnson. Despite a robust ground game contributing 153 yards, the Steelers struggled to capitalize in the red zone, converting only 1 of 4 opportunities. While the challenge to finish drives persists, the inaugural game under a new play-caller breathed fresh life into Pittsburgh.
The Bengals’ offensive struggles were pronounced with Jake Browning at the helm, as his debut start lacked the explosive plays needed against the Steeler’s defense. Browning’s limited success included a 39-yard screen to Joe Mixon and a deflected pass turned 31-yard gain by Ja’Marr Chase. Notably, Browning completed only one pass of 10-plus air yards and faced challenges, throwing a costly interception and endangering the ball multiple times. The Bengals’ inability to establish a running game further compounded their offensive woes, with Mixon managing only 16 yards on eight carries. To navigate the remainder of the season with Browning, Cincinnati must urgently provide additional support for the quarterback.
The Steelers’ defense, led by T.J. Watt, continued its dominance by creating havoc for the Bengals and their inexperienced quarterback. Watt secured two sacks and four QB pressures, reaching a milestone of 91.0 sacks in his first 100 career NFL games. Pittsburgh’s defense demonstrated its prowess by squatting on short throws, deflecting passes, and capitalizing on interceptions. Defensive back Trenton Thompson ignited a comeback with a crucial interception, leading to the Steelers’ lone touchdown drive. The defense stifled the Bengals, holding them to just 10 first downs and 25 rush yards.
A noteworthy Next Gen stat revealed Joey Porter Jr.’s substantial coverage on Ja’Marr Chase, shadowing him on 85.7% of his routes and pressing on 41.7% of those occasions. When Porter was the nearest defender in coverage, Chase managed two receptions for 36 yards, showcasing tight man coverage in challenging situations.
In a notable turnaround, the Steelers outgained their opponent for the first time in 2023, accumulating 421 yards compared to Cincinnati’s 222. This marked a significant improvement for Pittsburgh, considering their previous struggles, where they were outgained by 875 total yards from Weeks 1-11, ranking 30th in the NFL.
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