The Pittsburgh Steelers are coming off a losing performance in Week 15, a 30-10 Loss to the Indianapolis Colts, and with it being the team’s seventh loss many fans’ hopes were dashed as the team is pressing towards a hopeful AFC Playoff berth. The hope is there is a better performance on the horizon on Saturday in Week 16 when the team hosts the Cincinnati Bengals.

What exactly do the Steelers need to do to claim their eighth victory of 2023? Let’s break it down by offense and defense…

Offense

Protect the ball

The Steelers have been on an ugly trend during this 3-game losing streak, and that trend is turning the ball over. If the Steelers want to beat the Bengals, or anyone for that matter, they have to get back to what got them to seven wins in the first place…protect the ball. Mason Rudolph has been known to compound bad plays, but can he not make the initial one which could snowball into more? It’s absolutely a necessity.

Run the rock

On top of protecting the ball, the Steelers recipe for success this season has been running the ball. Run the ball, and don’t turn it over. Simple, right? Well, that hasn’t been the case the past few games as the offensive line has struggled mightily to move the opposition and open up running lanes. Time to own the line of scrimmage, and with the Bengals without DJ Reader the Steelers should have an edge in that category.

Execute when it matters most

“Weighty Downs” has become a punch-line for the Steelers this season. Poor red-zone efficiency, and a 3rd down offense which has struggled in every sense of the word. Have to win in those areas if the Steelers want to claim their eighth win of the season.

Defense

Make them one-dimensional

The Bengals are not a running team, but without Joe Burrow they have been leaning on the run more than when Burrow is healthy and in the lineup. Think back to last week’s game when the Colts ran the ball 13 straight times down the field. The only time the drive failed was when they decided to throw the ball. If the Colts, with backup running backs, can do it, so can the Bengals. Have to make the Cincinnati offense one-dimensional by forcing Jake Browning into obvious passing situations.

Take it away

The Steelers are short-handed at safety, which will make this a challenge, but the Steelers need to force the Bengals into turning the ball over. Cincinnati is one of the best teams in the league when it comes to turning the ball over. In other words, they don’t do it often. But if the secondary isn’t capable of getting their hands on the football, maybe it will be a T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith game where they are the ones who cause the turnovers. Doesn’t matter who does it, as long as it happens.

Stop breaking

Bend, don’t break, right? Well that hasn’t been the case for the Pittsburgh defense during this losing skid. The Steelers defense isn’t just giving up yards, but they’ve begun a trend of giving up a lot of points. Not a good trend, and all it takes is the defense to forced more FGs than allow TDs. Can they do it? That’s the ultimate question.

I talk about this, and MUCH more on the latest episode of “Let’s Ride”, and you can hear that podcast in the player below this article. In the meantime, be sure to stay tuned to SCN for the latest news and notes surrounding the team as they gear up for game time!