The idiom “a knee jerk reaction” means that you respond to something in an equally unthinking way. That’s something as sports fans that we typically do, and if it’s in an unthinking way then I definitely qualify. Knee jerks apply especially if you are a full blood Yinzer, or even just a part Yinzer, who am I fooling it’s more like if you are a Steeler fan in general. As is the custom, I compile my knee-jerk thoughts and publish them immediately after each Steelers game (my son Kyle might have a few things to say as well). It’s my version of running my mouth first and apologizing later (if at all). So with that being said, it’s time to react to the Steelers Week 12 matchup against the Bengals. Let’s get this going, HERE……WE……GO!!!

1st Quarter

• Steelers receive the opening kickoff. We’ll get to see the offense post Canada on the field first.
• Oh my goodness. The Steelers threw the ball up the middle of the field to Muth on the first play.
• Hey Diontae, you’re supposed to be going the other direction.
• Steelers come up short on third down and will punt it.
• Slight misplay on the coverage team results in a touchback.
• Do we call that an improvement on the Steeler offense? It was a four and out instead of a three and out.
• T.J. Watt with a strip sack…..recovered by the Bengals, but they have to punt.
• After an initial first down Kenny Pickett takes a sack.
• On third down and 14, the Steelers go up the seam again to Muth for another big play.
• A pass interference gets the Steelers another first down, followed by a nice run by Najee.
• Diontae drops a sure touchdown and on the next play Jaylen Warren fumbles it. Sloppy, sloppy, sloppy.
• Bengals have a fourth down in Steelers territory and are going to go for it.
• Okay so they didn’t actually even try to run a play, took the penalty and will punt.
• Wow what a run by Najee on first down.
• At the end of the first quarter there’s no score.

2nd Quarter

• Diontae with a 39-yard catch on third down and three. The Steelers are in business.
• The Steelers drive stalls and Boswell comes on to attempt to field goal. It’s right down the middle. Steelers 3, Bengals 0.
• Boswell bounces the kickoff and the Bengals end up with a big return.
• The Bengals get lucky and catch the ball off a tip and turn it into a big play.
• And the Bengals score a touchdown. You start to get excited about the Steelers and then they just crush you.
• The Steelers have pretty much dominated most of this game and are now losing. Bengals 7, Steelers 3.
• On third down Kenny and Diontae are not on the same page and the Steelers will punt.
• Nick Herbig crushes the quarterback on third down. The Bengals have to punt.
• Muth with his third catch of the day.
• On second down and five Jaylen Warren takes the swing pass and loses 5 yards.
• Kenny Pickett does not handle pressure in his face very well. Steelers to punt.
• Wow. Sullivan misses the sack, the Bengals complete for a big play, and then out of frustration T.J. Watt gets a roughing call on the passer. The Bengals are over midfield.
• Nice play on third down by JPJ. Bengals will have to punt.
• Muth again.
• Sound like a broken record, as Muth catches his 5th of the day.
• Broderick Jones gets hit for a holding call.
• Kenny Pickett is weak. He cannot throw the ball through any kind of contact. I miss that from Ben.
• The holding call basically stalled that drive. The Steelers will punt with 30 seconds left in the half.
• The Bengals take a knee to get to the half. Bengal 7, Steelers 3.

3rd Quarter

• Larry O. knocks down the pass on second down. Bengals will face a third nine.
• Of all times for the Steelers to finally give up a third down conversion, that’s where you didn’t want one. Anyone surprised it was Levi Wallace who got burned?
• Cannot believe the referees did not throw a flag on the hold of Highsmith on that play.
• Steelers allow them to convert a second third down. The defense has to get off the field.
• Thompson picks off the pass! The Bengals are denied points.
• Nice gain on the catch and run by Jaylen Warren on first down.
• With pressure in his face Kenny Pickett  misses again. He had George Pickens wide open in the middle of the field.
• Calvin Austin picks up the first down.
• Muth picks up another first down on a third and four.
• On second down and four Pickett ends up sacked for a loss of two. The Steelers will face yet another third down on this drive.
• Muth again picks up the first down. Muth now has over a hundred yards on the day.
• Jaylen Warren picks up a first down and the Steelers have it first and goal on the five. The Steelers really need a touchdown here.
• Najee runs it in for a touchdown! There was a flag I thought on Washington, but the referees pick it up and allow the touchdown. Steelers 10, Bengals 7.
• End of the third quarter. Steelers hold a slim lead.

4th Quarter

• And for a second time the Steelers tip a pass and Jamar Chase catches it.
• Watt and Heyward have a meeting of the minds at the quarterback. Bengals to punt.
• George Pickens dives for the pass on second down. Doesn’t come up with it and now he is down on the field.
• Pickett to Diontae to convert the third and nine.
• Flag on the Steelers for pass interference just like the Bengals had on their last drive. That one will be on Miles Boykin.
• Steelers face a third and eight. George Pickens back in the game and does George Pickens things.
• Once the Steelers hit the red zone the drive stalled. Boswell on to attempt the field goal. He squeaks it through the right side. Steelers 13, Bengal 7.
• Mr. Watt blows it up for a sack on third down. Steelers get the ball back.
• Najee! Nice run!
• And another nice run by Najee finally puts the Steelers over 400 yards of offense in a game. Interesting it happens the first game without Matt Canada.
• The Steelers don’t press the issue much once into easy Boswell range. They face a fourth and four as Boswell comes on. Right down the middle. Steelers 16, Bengals 7.
• I do not like what the defense did there. They get burned on a screen and give up 39 yards.
• The defense does hold them to a fourth and two and the Bengals elect to go for the field goal now. Steelers 16, Bengals 10.
• Steelers not only recover the onside kick, but George Pickens stays up and advancing the ball enough to get to the two-minute warning. The Steelers don’t even have to run a play. They are in victory formation.
• Fire up the escalosers. Steelers are going to get a victory.
• 3-2-1 WIN!

Once again, I just fired off what was going through my head at the time. All reactions were in real time. Basically, it is the equivalent of watching the game with a me and Kyle, you just don’t have to go to another room because of my screaming at the television (sometimes Kyle leaves the room). Now time to process it, some quick analyzing for the Scho Bro Show, and then put it behind me as we move toward, Week 13 and the Cardinals. Make sure you get your voice heard in the comments below.