The Pittsburgh Steelers are 10-6 and have already punched their ticket to the postseason, all is right in the world, right?

Wrong.

The Steelers have stumbled into 2025, losers of their last three contests. The 3-game losing streak has fans questioning what lies ahead, and players pointing the finger at one another trying to decipher what is going wrong. This in-fighting was especially true on the defensive side of the ball. So much so Mike Tomlin held a meeting the day after the latest loss to the Chiefs on Christmas day, and defensive coordinator Teryl Austin had to comment on it as he met with the media this week.

“I would much rather have them be emotional and be upset about things not going their way than not giving a (expletive),” Austin maintained. “Our guys give a (expletive). To me that’s important and that’s an important thing to have and that tells me that they want to get it right and they’re not satisfied with it going the way it is.

“I’m perfectly fine with that. We have good men in our building. They’ve been through a lot of stuff together and, you know, rightfully so, a little but frustrated. But out of that frustration I think we can find some prosperity.”

The damage of the losing streak is done, and the Steelers are still guaranteed two more games, but the fan base is anxiously awaiting the team’s response. It begs the question of what an appropriate response would look like for the Steelers as they prepare to host the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 18 on Saturday night at Acrisure Stadium.

There are a lot of directions fans could go in, as it pertains to what they would view as an “appropriate” response.

• Some would say the Steelers need to blow out the Bengals at home.
• Others would say just a win would suffice.
• Then there is the sect of the fan base who believes the season is over no matter what happens in Week 18.

You could fall into one of these categories, or you could have your own opinion on what the favored response would be from the black-and-gold on Saturday night. However, the one thing no one should do is downplay the team’s opponent. The Bengals are one of the hottest teams in the league right now, and have won four games in a row to keep their slim playoff hopes alive.

If we’re analyzing this further, the Bengals haven’t run a murderer’s row of teams the last four weeks. There wins came against just one team with a winning record.

• at DAL – W
• at TEN – W
• vs. CLE – W
• vs. DEN – W

The last time they lost a game was on home turf versus, you guessed it, the Steelers. Could the Steelers bookend the Bengals’ season with losses and end their playoff hopes.

That should be the desired outcome, but if I’m being specific with how they go about doing their business, I’d want the Steelers to follow the below protocol on their way to their 11th win of the season:

• No turnovers – The Steelers have developed a bad habit of coughing up the football at the most inopportune times for the last five games or so. That trend needs to stop.
• Stop the run – While Chase Brown is questionable to play due to injury, the Steelers need to make the Bengals one-dimensional.
• Harass Burrow – The Steelers pass rush has been a disappointment this season, and it would be tremendous to see them looking healthy and spry after an extended break after the loss to the Chiefs.
• Dominate the LOS – The Steelers offensive line has had their struggles this year, and the youth along the position would be the main reason why. If there is a defense they can have their way with, you’d think it would be Cincinnati’s unit.
• Win Comfortably – I’m not requesting a blow out, while that would be nice, but having the game in-hand with time left in the 4th quarter would get the fans thinking positive thoughts heading into the playoffs.

Is witnessing the above criteria nothing more than a pipedream? It’s very possible, but if I’m answering the question of what I feel is an “appropriate” response, that’s what it would look like. A win which would spark a little hope for the fan base, and maybe strike some fear into the opposition, heading into the playoffs, wherever that may be.

Be sure to stay tuned to SCN for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they prepare for the Bengals on Saturday night in the regular season finale in Week 18.