The Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Cincinnati Bengals 16-10 in Week 12, and if you didn’t watch the game you’d think it was a close contest. However, the Steelers dominated the game in every facet but one…the scoreboard.

How dominant were the Steelers? The NFL’s Next Gen Stats paint the picture of how Pittsburgh’s individuals helped propel the team to their seventh victory on the season.

Let’s take a look at the offense first…

Offense

Running Game

With a new offensive play caller, the Steelers run game found success – particularly through Najee Harris. He was able to gain 99 yards on 15 carries (+33 RYOE, 5th) despite not facing a single stacked box. His teammate, Jaylen Warren, found success but in a much more limited fashion, only picking up 43 yards on 13 carries (-6 RYOE, 9th lowest).

Pat Freiermuth

Pat Freiermuth was targeted on 11 of his 23 routes (47.8%), tied for the 2nd highest target rate by a tight end in a game this season (min. 20 routes). Freiermuth gained +32 receiving yards over expected, the 2nd most in a game in his career.

As for the defense, it all starts with Joey Porter Jr., and him following, and blanketing, Ja’Marr Chase wherever he went on the field. In fact, if it weren’t for Chase’s two “fluke” receptions off tipped passes, the numbers would be even more one-sided.

Defense

Joey Porter Jr.

Joey Porter lined up against Ja’Marr Chase on 24 of 28 routes (85.7%), aligning in press coverage on 10 routes (41.7%). Chase caught both of his targets with Porter as the nearest defender, with both coming in tight windows in man coverage.

Bengals Production

Ja’Marr Chase was closed down with regularity in Week 12, averaging the lowest separation of any receiver (1.4 yards). Despite this, he commanded a 43.5% share of the Bengals air yards as he caught 4 passes for 81 yards. Chase’s 5.3 avg. YACOE was highest among all receivers this week.

Joe Mixon picked up +28 YACOE on a 39-yard catch on Sunday, the most YACOE gained on a single play by any player in Week 12.

You can hear more breakdown of these numbers, and more stats like it, on the latest episode of Dave Schofield’s Steelers Stat Geek podcast. Check it out in the player below, and be sure to stay tuned to SCN for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they prepare for the Arizona Cardinals in Week 13.