If the Steelers are to strengthen their lead in the AFC North Division this week, they must find a way to stop Joe Flacco and the Cincinnati Bengals offense
The Bengals' receiving duo caught 22 passes for 257 yards and 2 touchdowns only 20 days ago against the Steelers in Cincinnati.
Mike Tomlin believes the rebuilt back end of his secondary is up to the task.
"I'm feeling some stability there," said Tomlin at his weekly press conference. "We've gotten really solid with Jalen Ramsey and Kyle Dugger at safety. I think there's been a reduction in some of the big plays. I think we're making people earn it more."
Their task will be stopping a Bengals offense that in its last three games scored 119 points (39.7 per game).
Flacco, in his last three games (of four overall), has thrown for 1,035 yards with 9 touchdowns and only 2 interceptions. His passer rating of 106.7 during that time nearly matches injured QB Joe Burrow's best seasonal rating of 108.5.
Flacco's primary target, of course, is Ja'Marr Chase, who caught a 16 passes last time for 161 yards. Tee Higgins caught 6 passes for 96 yards three weeks ago.
Because of injuries, the Steelers traded for Dugger and moved Ramsey to full-time free safety two games ago, during which the Steelers have allowed a passer rating of 74.5. During the previous seven games, the Steelers' defensive passer rating was 94.9.
Tomlin was asked to explain what Ramsey brings to the game plan against Chase and Higgins.
"Jalen is not the issue," Tomlin said. "It's about the flexibility of those around him and the talents of those around him. But certainly, over the last two weeks, his presence consistently at free safety has been a stabilizing force for us on the back end. And I'd imagine that's not going to change."
What might change is the starting cornerback opposite Joey Porter, Jr. Starter Darius Slay is in the concussion protocol and will be monitored this week. If Slay doesn't play, James Pierre likely will.
"James is always game," Tomlin said. "I thought he played really well (Sunday night), but I thought he's played really well when called upon all year. I think it's reflective of how he prepares and the level of professionalism that he brings day in and day out.
"Man, it's been cool to watch the growth and development of his career over the time that he's been here. If you remember, he was an undrafted Covid guy. I think globally, it was single-digit guys that made rosters undrafted that Covid year, and he's been one of them. He's always available. He's a dynamic special teams player, and he's a rising defender, particularly in 2025."
Philosophically, the defensive game plan is quite simple when it comes to Chase – the NFL's leading receiver with 76 – being on the field.
"Make 'em throw the ball elsewhere," Tomlin said.
There's one problem, though, as Tomlin sees it.
"When you make them throw the ball elsewhere, it's guys like Tee Higgins that are capable of getting you as well. They've got big-time talent," said Tomlin.
Conversely, Tomlin discussed the Steelers' need on offense of finding that type of secondary threat behind DK Metcalf.
"We haven't done a good enough job of putting others, other than DK, in position to win and win big, and they haven't won big enough," Tomlin said. "We got to do a better job there."
Might last week's addition of former Aaron Rodgers deep threat Marquez Valdes-Scantling to the practice squad provide an alternative?
"We'll see what the week holds for him and all the others on practice squad," Tomlin said. "We're not opposed to elevating people and giving them an opportunity to contribute. It's been about every game this year where we've elevated someone and utilized their talents. Last week, it was Mark Robinson, who we just re-acquired. Several other weeks it's been Trey Sermon, for example. And so, I'm certainly open to evaluating Scantling, his ability to know what to do, and the quality and execution and how it might fit into what we're trying to do offensively in an effort to engineer victory. Certainly."
