Steelers Now
After an embarrassing performance in Thursday night’s 33-31 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, former NFL outside linebacker Emmanuel Acho thinks the Steelers defense needs to humble themselves.
“The Steelers should be utterly embarrassed. Mike Tomlin is too great a defensive mind to allow this to happen,” Acho said on the Speaksay podcast. “Like, Mike Tomlin, eventually, you’ve got to humble yourself. Teryl Austin, defensive coordinator, you’ve got to humble yourself. Jalen Ramsey, Darius Slay, y’all got to humble y’allselves.”
The Steelers have allowed 30+ points in three of their first six games. To say the least, the defense is failing to live up to their “historic” expectations.
Ramsey had made it a point to claim the task of covering Bengals star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase during a training camp appearance on “The Pivot” podcast. That comment back fired.
The Steelers simply had no answer for Chase on Thursday night, as the All-Pro hauled in 16 reception on a whopping 23 targets for 161 yards (10.1 average) and a touchdown. His 16 receptions set a Bengals franchise record. It was also the most catches ever allowed by the Steelers.
“I didn’t even know I had 16 (catches), if I’m being honest,” Chase said afterward. “I thought I had, like, nine. … It didn’t feel like that many.”
Chase’s 23 targets were the most by a player in a single game this season and tied for the ninth-most all-time.
Chase revealed after the game that he wasn’t surprised with the Steelers’ scheme or matchup in front of him.
“I had a lot of man. They doubled on third down, for real, trying to mix it up a little bit, but they did exactly what we (were) expecting and hoping they’d do,” Chase said. “We knew they was gonna put Joey (Porter Jr.) on Tee and Jalen on me. We knew that. We was ready for it and we was gonna take advantage of those opportunities.”
Chase caught a career-high eight passes for 76 yards and a TD against man coverage and eight passes for 85 yards against zone in Week 6, according to Next Gen Stats. No other player has gained 75 yards against both coverage types in any game this season.
The Bengals were averaging 68.9 rushing yards per game entering the Thursday night clash, the fewest in the NFL. Chase Brown’s 108 rushing yards were more than double what he had in any other game through the first six weeks. He averaged 9.8 yards per carry against the Steelers.
“Just not playing gap-stop football,” Steelers All-Pro outside linebacker T.J. Watt said of the rush defense’s failures. “Obviously, we’ll have to look at the tape. It felt like the run scheme we had this game was going to be effective. I think it’s going to come down to, when we look at the film, just guys getting out gap.”
For the second straight game the defense wasn’t able to force any turnovers.
“We pride ourselves on getting that splash,” Watt said....
