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 16 matchup against the Bengals. Let’s get this going, HERE……WE……GO!!!

1st Quarter

• Well here I am it’s almost 4:30 on Christmas Eve’s Eve, and I have 1700 things I should probably be doing right now, but I am putting those aside to sit down and watch what I’m afraid will be some terrible football. I can only hope that all of you out there are sitting down and watching it with me.
• Steelers win the toss and defer to the second half.
• On three plays the Bengals pick up a first down. If they march right down and score a touchdown does that put the game out of reach?
• Levi Wallace almost picks off that second down pass. Third down and 12.
• The defense holds and the Bengals punt.
• Now the question is can Rudolph guide the Steelers tonight?
• On on second and four George Pickens takes the pass, breaks away from the defense, and goes all the way for the touchdown! Rudolph a Pickens, Rudolph a Pickens, Rudolph a Pickens. Steeler 7, Bengals 0.
• How did the Steelers leave Tee Higgins that open on 3rd down?
• Bengals are now into the red zone.
• Patrick Peterson with an interception in the end zone. That puts an end to the Bengals threat.
• Najee starts the second drive with a nice run for 7 yards.
• Rudolph has started out very accurate with the football. That will be important.
• A check down to Jaylen Warren on 3rd down and he turns it into a nice play and the Steeler drive continues.
• Allen Robinson with a nice catch and toe tap on the sidelines for a first down. Rudolph continues to be very accurate.
• Steelers then have to burn a time out. Why did they struggle to get plays in to the line of scrimmage so badly?
• Najee with a nice run inside the 10-yd line.
• End of the first quarter. Steelers 7, Bengals 0.

2nd Quarter

• Calvin Austin on the jet sweep takes it to the end zone. That was an impressive drive. Steelers 14, Bengals 0.
• The defense read screens perfectly on the first two plays forcing a third and long.
• T. J. Watt draws a holding penalty and still gets the sack!!! Bengals to punt.
• Two runs from Najee nets a first down for the Steelers. Already into Bengals territory.
• That should have been a flag on Mike Hilton I don’t care what anybody says, that was interference.
• The Steelers have to punt. Big press will pin Cincinnati inside the 10-yard line.
• Eric Rowe comes off the practice squad for the Steelers and picks off Jake Browning after getting the start at safety. Offense gets the ball in the red zone.
• On third down and six Rudolph scrambles for the first down. First and goal Steelers.
• Najee with the touchdown run! The Steelers convert two Bengals interceptions into 14 points. Steelers 21, Bengals 0.
• If this keeps up, Rudolph might save Christmas.
• Tyler Boyd takes advantage of the Steelers not lighting him up over the middle when they could have and gains a bunch of extra yards. That is what the NFL has turned things into.
• The Bengals are moving right down the field and go into the red zone.
• The Bengals now face a fourth down inside the five yard line and are going to go for it.
• Incomplete and the defense holds. Still no points for the Bengals.
• Jaylen Warren on a swing pass gets the Steelers outside their own 10.
• The one thing I will say about the Steelers offense is that the pass protection is not the greatest.
• Diontae with a nice catch for a first down on 3rd and 10.
• Dan Moore gets flagged for a hold on first down. Making it first and 20.
• If that catch from Pickens stands it is a thing of beauty. And it looks like he may have gotten both feet in. It will be close.
• After seeing another angle I’m pretty sure that catch is going to stand.
• The catch stands and the Steelers are going to have an opportunity to put some more points on the board before the half.
• The Steelers drive stalls and Boswell will come on to attempt to field goal for the last play of the half. Boswell does what he does best and knocks it through from 50 yards. Steelers 24 Bengals 0 at the half.
• I didn’t see the Steelers scoring 24 points for the game let alone 24 points in the first half.

3rd Quarter

• How about a little rain in Pittsburgh to start the second half.
• On third down and one Najee plunges forward and gets the first down.
• Rudolph overthrows Calvin Austin on third down and two. The Steelers will punt from near midfield.
• That punt was too short from Harvin. He gets them to the 19 yd line but only punted it 36 yards. He should have been able to pin them inside the 10.
• And the Steelers give up a touchdown on the defense’s first play. They went from looking very different in the first half to looking like the Steelers of 2023 on the first defensive play of the second half.
• The Bengals will go for two. They convert. Steelers 24, Bengals 8.
• There’s a Mount Washington sighting.
• Third down at one, Mason throws a beautiful deep ball to Pickens who breaks away and scores the touchdown.
• The extra point makes the score Steelers 31, Bengals 8.
• Talk about the offense answering. That answer ought to make the defense feel a lot better and hopefully perform a lot better.
• T.J. Watt!!!! Major pressure and knocks down the pass attempt.
• The Bengals face a fourth down and five and will go for it.
• The pass goes incomplete and the Steelers offense will take over.
• Mason is sacked on second down. Steelers now face third and 12.
• The Steelers go three and out. Harvin in to punt.
• Another short punt under 40 yd from Harvin. I think it’s time for him to go.
• They ruled that a catch and Tomlin is going to challenge it.
• Coach Tomlin wins that challenge.
• Joey Porter Jr. gets flag for a holding call, giving the Bengals a first down.
• Bengals are now in the red zone.
• Mr. Highsmith gets home for the sack!
• The Bengals now face fourth and 15 in the red zone and are going to attempt to field goal. It’s good.
• End of the third quarter. Steelers 31, Bengals 11.

4th Quarter

• The Steelers get the ball back and go double R double P. I don’t like it.
• Another punt under 40 yards from Harvin. This is getting ridiculous.
• They go with Renegade in stadium.
• The Bengals hold T.J. Watt on the first play. Now it’s first and 20.
• Alex Highsmith drops into coverage and intercepts Jake Browning! The Steelers outside linebackers are killing the Bengals today.
• And now Najee is starting to grind out some yards.
• The Mason Rudolph chant is going through the stadium.
• Jaylen Warren converts on third down and three. The Steelers are nearing the red zone.
• The Steelers get it to a fourth down and one and after a timeout decide to send Boswell on the field to attempt a field goal.
• Boswell knocks it through. Steelers 34, Bengals 11.
• The Steelers defense seems content to allow Cincinnati to move the ball but chew up time.
• On third down and 6 Myles Jack and Cam Heyward have a meeting of the minds at the quarterback. The Bengals to punt.
• As Jaylen Warren slips down, Rudolph saves the safety and gets it out of the end zone.
• With under two minutes to play the Steelers will punt the ball back to the Bengals.
• 3 – 2 – 1  WIN!
• Steeler Nation can sleep tonight knowing that Rudolph saved Christmas for all of us.
• I was not expecting a Steeler victory, let alone them scoring 34 points. Merry Christmas to me.
• Love the fact that they are playing Rudolph the Red-Nosed reindeer in Acrisure stadium right now.

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 17 and the Seahawks. Make sure you get your voice heard in the comments below.