The Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals do not like each other. In other news, water is still wet, and the sky is often blue. The games often devolve into cheap shots on and off the field. Since the arrival of Joe Burrow, the Bengals have done more taunting than hitting. The memories of Vontaze Burfict and Adam “Pacman” Jones are stark reminders of the last postseason when the Steelers secured a playoff victory in the 2016 season.

The Bengals accused the Steelers of quitting two seasons ago in Ben Roethlisberger’s final season. The results were one of the few highlights from the 2022 season when Minkah Fitzpatrick embarked on a personal mission to beat the Bengals in Cincinnati. He had to block an extra point to do it, but the mission was accomplished. The Bengals beat the Steelers 37-30 in the second meeting last season in the only game that a Kenny Pickett-led offense has scored 30 points.

Steelers’ George Pickens’ Effort Ridiculed By Cincinnati Bengals Agitator Tyler Boyd
Less than a month ago, the Steelers beat the Bengals without Burrow 16-10 and put up 400 yards of offense for the first time since Randy Fichtner was the offensive coordinator. Since then, the wheels have fallen off Pittsburgh’s little red wagon. The Bengals, to their credit, are desperately trying to create enough bulletin board material for a rock fight with the Steelers. Dave Lapham, who broadcasts games for the Bengals, added fuel to Tyler Boyd’s fire by questioning the Steelers’ collective heart on his In The Trenches podcast.

“They’re making business decisions. They are avoiding contact,” Lapham observed. “You can’t do that in football. It’s a grown man’s game. If you’re making business decisions, you’re in trouble. So which team will show up? I mean, Mike Tomlin doesn’t have these kind of problems.”

Sadly, Lapham is wrong. The Steelers’ head coach has had these problems since Super Bowl XLVI. Tomlin is on a seven-year playoff losing streak that currently stands at 0-4. This will be the third consecutive season the Steelers have not finished first in the division. That has only happened twice since the Immaculate Reception.

Chuck Noll was forced to fire nearly all of his coaching staff after four consecutive seasons from 1985-1988 of not winning the AFC Central and finishing last in the division in 1988. Bill Cowher endured three seasons on the hot seat from 1998-2000 without winning a division title, but avoided the AFC Central basement. Tomlin has all but assured himself of following suit from 2021-2023 and will probably finish in last place for the first time in the AFC North.

The Steelers’ 35-year streak of avoiding the division basement is in serious jeopardy. Lapham openly questioned if the Steelers would embarrass themselves for the third time at Acrisure Stadium and post a four-game losing streak. The former Bengals offensive lineman posed the following question.

“Will they implode on national television, or will it go the other way,” Lapham asked. “The rest of the team, the remaining guys that care on the football team, will they have a meeting as such and demand effort. Will the Pittsburgh Steelers show up in a division contest against a huge rival at home on national television?”

It is a valid question. The Steelers are without their top four safeties. Elandon Roberts, who started the season as the third-string inside linebacker, will be flanked by Blake Martinez and Myles Jack, who were out of football a month ago. Pittsburgh’s defense is decimated. The only good news is that Ja’Marr Chase will not be in the lineup when they meet on Saturday.

Since Pickett cannot play for the third consecutive week, Pittsburgh has turned to Mason Rudolph to save the season. Rudolph has a small loyal fan base, hoping he will somehow galvanize an apathetic offense. Steeler Nation has no choice but to root for him to pull it off. The Rudolph stans would be unbearable on social media, but if it keeps the fragile playoff hopes alive in Pittsburgh, it would be worth it.

If Rudolph, with his nose so bright, guides the Steelers sleigh to a win Saturday, the scary thing is that as bad as this season has been, Tomlin might get a new contract. He will probably get a new contract if he resurrects this team, finishes 10-7, and squeaks into the playoffs. If it happens, the chirpy Bengals will have saved Tomlin’s job.