Main Story

After the bye, the Steelers are sharpening details on both sides of the ball ahead of a Sunday night rematch with Cincinnati, with first place in the AFC North at stake. Linebacker Patrick Queen is focused on sustaining his improved play, while rookie tackle Max Iheanachor and Pittsburgh’s resurgent running game enter the matchup with growing confidence.

By the Numbers
  • The Steelers beat Cincinnati, 30-27, on Sept. 27.
  • Pittsburgh averaged 132.3 rushing yards per game and 5.3 yards per carry across six games with Brock Hoffman at right guard and Iheanachor at right tackle.
  • Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle combined for 17 runs of at least 10 yards over the past six games.
  • Warren has topped 100 rushing yards in 3 of the 5 games since the teams’ first meeting.
Yes, But

Queen says his recent improvement must become consistent, and he sees plenty of defensive details the team still needs to clean up. Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow can punish any pre-snap tell, making disciplined, coordinated execution essential.

State of Play
  • The Steelers returned from their bye and reviewed what has and hasn’t worked on defense.
  • Iheanachor says his confidence has grown through his first six NFL starts, with veteran linemates helping him improve.
  • The rematch is Sunday night at Paycor Stadium, with the AFC North lead on the line.
What's Next

Pittsburgh will look to carry its rushing momentum into Cincinnati while tightening its defensive communication and disguising its intentions against Burrow.

Bottom Line

The Steelers have encouraging momentum up front, but beating Cincinnati again will depend on turning improved play into consistent execution against a quarterback who quickly exploits mistakes.