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 or nephew Warren 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 13 against the Bengals. Let’s get this going, HERE……WE……GO!!!

1st Quarter

• Steelers win the toss and defer. Will start on defense.
• Steelers get the Bengals to 3rd and 11. Make that third and 16 after a false start.
• The defense holds to a three and out.
• Pass interference on the Steelers first play. That’s a 23-yard penalty.
• How about George Pickens falls down and it turns into a pick 6 for the Bengals. Bengals 7, Steelers 0.
• Can you ask for much worse of a start for the Steelers?
• Big catch and run by Najee on third down.
• Touchdown George Pickens! Way to come back after the last drive. Steelers 7, Bengals 7.
• Bengals convert on third down. Really need to see the defense make a stand here.
• So much for the defensive stand. The Steelers allow two big runs to Chase Brown and he scores a touchdown. That’s terrible defense. He’s actually going to end up being marked short probably, but they will be inside the one.
• On the next play Brown finishes off what he started. Bengals 14, Steelers 7.
• And now the Steelers quickly face third down and 8. George Pickens with a catch and run for a big first down. I see a flag but it’s well after the play. Pickens picks up an unsportsmanlike penalty for taunting. Why can’t he just play football?
• Kyle says you know it’s bad when Broderick Jones is the one telling Pickens to shut up.
• After picking up a first down, the Steelers on the next play pick up a delay of game penalty.
• Patterson with a catch and run, and then a nice run. Steelers in business.
• End of the first quarter. Bengals 14, Steelers 7.

2nd Quarter

• Calvin Austin III with the touchdown catch from Wilson! Steelers 14, Bengals 14.
• The Steelers continue to get gashed by the run game of the Bengals.
• JPJ gets flagged for a hold.
• Bengals are moving the ball and already in field goal range.
• Hey I’ve got a great idea… on second and 16 let’s give up a 20-yd pass over the middle.
• JPJ with another awful play and gets called for interference on a ball that might not have been catchable. That was just stupid.
• Cameron Heyward just blew that play up in the backfield.
• Burrow had all day to throw and finds Jamar Chase in the end zone for a touchdown. Bengals 21, Steelers 14.
• Face mask call as they tackle Najee.
• Mike Hilton comes through for the Steelers with a personal foul after the play.
• Najee runs it in from the 10! Steelers 21, Bengals 21.
• Bengals are already inside the Steelers 40. When is this highly paid defense going to make a stop?
• T.J. with a strip sack! Steelers recover.
• Jaylen Warren with a big catch and run on the screen.
• Two incompletions now put the Steelers at 3rd and 10. And the third down pass was dropped by Muth.
• Boswell comes on to attempt the field goal. It’s good from 50 yards. Steelers 24, Bengals 21.
• The Bengals are lining up to go for it on 4th and 1 on their own 40 yard line. The Bengals end up with a false start and will now punt.
• Muuuuuth!  Steelers near FG range.
• Boswell on to attempt a field goal with 3 seconds to go in the half. It’s good. Steelers 27, Bengals 21.

3rd Quarter

• The Steelers start with a nice pass to MyCole Pruitt.
• Moon ball to George Pickens! Steelers are in business!
• Pickens picks up and unsportsmanlike, but it is not the type that would have gotten him kicked out of the game for his second. Terrible penalty, but dodges a bullet.
• So on 1st and 10 let’s run a toss to lose 3 yards. Quit running that sweep toss.
• Steeler facing a big third down and eight. And in what has been terrible Steeler fashion the past few weeks they have to burn a time out.
• The Steelers burn that time out to have a play that looks terrible and gains two and a half yards. Too big a price to pay there.
• Boswell on to attempt a 42-yard field goal, and it’s blocked. Nothing went right for the Steelers after that George Pickens penalty. Those are the kinds of things that cost you ball games.
• Steelers get the Bengals to third and six. The Steelers almost get home for the sack but did not and it’s completed for a first down.
• Cameron Heyward just runs over his guy and sacks Joe Burrow.
• So on third down and 21 the Steelers give up a completion that goes for 30 yards. There was nobody near Tee Higgins. Another great soft zone play by the Steelers.
• I’m trying to figure out why the Steelers are paying all this money to their guys on their defense to play this terrible of defense.
• Watt and Benton Combine for the sack!
• Bengals attempt a field goal. It’s good. Steelers 27, Bengals 24.
• Stop with the toss run plays would you.
• Nice run by Najee. The counter toss works better.
• Skowronek with the nice catch for a first down.
• Muuuuuth for the TD!!!! Steelers 34, Bengals 24.
• Russ did a nice job keeping that play alive and Muth did a great job finding the open spot in the zone.
• One play in the Bengals are at midfield. Let’s try covering Tee Higgins please.
• End of the third. Steelers 34, Bengals 24.

4th Quarter

• Not liking that I’m already seeing more of the Steelers soft zone.
• Come on defense do something.
• Ball is tipped and intercepted by Dante Jackson! He almost broke it for a pick six.
• Steelers quickly to third and six. They need to complete this. They’re going hurry up.
• So apparently if the quarterback breaks out of the pocket there’s aloud to be illegal contact way down the field?
• Steelers have to punt. Waste the turnover.
• Any surprise that they’re going to nail JPJ for a penalty there?
• Nick Herbig with a strip sack! Peyton Wilson picks it up and runs it in for the touchdown! Steelers 41, Bengals 24.
• I do not like that the Steelers defense is now playing tremendously soft and just giving up yards. Keep doing the things that got you here.
• T.J. Watt jumps off sides and JPJ has interference in the end zone. What the heck are the Steelers doing?
• JPJ managed to get two penalties on the same play (one declined). He has to be better.
• Higgins with a touchdown. Steelers 41, Bengals 31. This game is far from over, the Steelers defense better get back to playing the way they were prior to that drive.
• None of the Steelers blocked on a kickoff that had to be returned. Have the Steelers just shut it down thinking they have this one won?
• Najee picks up a first down and a face mask penalty on top of it.
• Russ rolls out the pass and Zach Frazier is 9 yard down the field. What the heck.
• Slow developing draw on second and 10 fools nobody. The Steelers will probably stay conservative and give them all back to the Bengals.
• Jefferson catches the slant catching the Bengals in cover zero. 44 yard gain.
• Third down for the Steelers and it looks like they’re going to get Cincinnati on a hold. Half the distance and automatic first down.
• Getting our first look at Justin Fields into the game today. Hand off to Warren for a loss.
• That was a don’t turn it over kind of play from Russ. Steelers face a fourth and goal.
• Boswell comes on and drills the field goal. Steelers 44, Bengals 31.
• The Steelers should be playing defense and not giving up the big play. They’re playing the soft zone and do what? Give up the big play.
• All the penalties from JPJ today and he couldn’t come up clutch and pull in that ball for an interception.
• The Bengals score the touchdown. There was a penalty but of course it was on JPJ for illegal hands to the face. Steelers 44, Bengals 38.
• Connor Heyward recovers the onside kick.
• Why, Steelers, why! Why do you make me sweat this out every week?
• Coming out of the two minute warning the Steelers run a toss and get flagged for a hold, but it is declined because the Bengals can’t allow the Steelers to run more time.
• Fields comes in, holds onto the ball, goes around the end makes sure he picks up the first down, and then slides down. Steelers will be in victory formation.
• 3-2-1 fire up the escalooser.
• Final score Steelers 44, Bengals 38.

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 (Warren too), 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 so I can ready myself for the Week 14 game against the Browns. Make sure you get your voice heard in the comments below.