This Steelers team is dangerous.

After a close loss on a short week in a snow globe in Cleveland, the Pittsburgh Steelers bounced back in a massive way, defeating the Cincinnati Bengals 44-38 in a game that was the best for a Steelers’ offense in years.

For starters, the Steelers’ 44 points was their most scored in a game since 2018 when they put up 51 points against the Carolina Panthers. Russell Wilson’s 414 yards are also the most for a Steelers quarterback since 2018 when Ben Roethlisberger threw for 400 yards twice. Pittsburgh’s offense went through the Bengals defense like a knife through butter all afternoon. Although it started off with a pick-six to Cam Taylor-Britt on a play that should have been called for illegal hands to the face, the remainder of the Steelers’ drives went as follows:

• Touchdown
• Touchdown
• Touchdown
• Field Goal
• Field Goal
• Blocked Field Goal
• Touchdown
• Punt
• Field Goal
• End of Game

Pittsburgh didn’t punt until there was just under 13 minutes left in the fourth quarter, and they put up over 500 yards of offense for the first time since 2018, as well. Their 27 first half points were also their most since 2018 when they defeated the Carolina Panthers 52-21. It was a day of setting precedents for the Steelers and showing that they can go toe-to-toe with one of the best and highest scoring offenses in the NFL and they did just that.

As already alluded to, this was Wilson’s best game as a Steeler. He went 29-of-38 for 414 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. He hit 10 different Steelers for catches in this game, spreading the ball around to just about every player who stepped on the field. Najee Harris had a terrific day both running and receiving. He had 75 yards on 16 carries with a touchdown and added 54 yards on six catches. The receiving corps had a great day as a collective, as well. George Pickens caught three passes for 70 yards and a touchdown. Calvin Austin caught a touchdown very similar to the one he caught against Cleveland. Pat Freiermuth had his best day of the year, catching six passes for 68 yards and a touchdown. And even the players who rarely get touches were getting involved. MyCole Pruitt caught as 17 yard pass on the first play of the second half and finished with two catches. Ben Skowronek had a 23 yard reception. And Van Jefferson caught a 43 yard pass that set up the final Chris Boswell field goal of the game. The offensive line did a tremendous job at keeping Wilson clean and opening up lanes for the running backs to run through. Overall this was the Steelers’ best offensive performance in years, and it came at a time where Pittsburgh really needed it in the highest-scoring game of the NFL season thus far.

Defensively, it wasn’t the best looking game for the Steelers scoreboard wise, but as I said in the keys to victory piece Saturday, they had to prepare for a shootout and make opportune splash plays, which they did. T.J. Watt had two sacks on the day, including a strip sack that was recovered by Preston Smith. Donte Jackson had an interception off a Cam Heyward deflected pass. And in the play that all but decided the game, Nick Herbig recorded a strip sack that was recovered by Payton Wilson who returned it for a touchdown to put the Steelers up 41-24. The Steelers made huge plays when they needed to, and it was a difference-maker. And even after a later push by the Bengals, Justin Fields came into the game on third-and-four to keep the ball on a read option and put the game, and Cincinnati’s season on ice.

As always, it wasn’t perfect. Joey Porter had six penalties this game, four of which were accepted. They had nine penalties accepted as a team, and allowed multiple large chunk plays to the Bengals’ offense.

However, as previously stated, a shootout was expected and the offense stood up in a massive way. We’ll highlight individual performers, as always, tomorrow in Varsity and JV before getting ready to see if the Steelers can get to 10-3 and even the season series with the Browns.