The Pittsburgh Steelers need to get back in the win column in Week 18 when they host the Cincinnati Bengals. Pittsburgh has lost three games in a row and have practically given the division away to the Baltimore Ravens. The Steelers still have a chance to win the AFC North, but they need Baltimore to lose to the Cleveland Browns on Saturday. That game is before Pittsburgh's, so the Steelers should know by kickoff whether or not they have a chance to win the AFC North with a victory over the Bengals.
Taking down the Bengals won't be easy. One of the biggest issues in Pittsburgh over the last three games has been the defense. The group has been banged up a bit, but the unit has also just been playing poorly. They have struggled to get off of the field at certain times, and they have been picked apart by the opponent's passing game. The unit will face a difficult challenge in Joe Burrow and the highly-potent offense from Cincinnati, but the defense had a strong meeting this week and Cam Heyward spoke with the media about how he will know if it fixed their problems.
"We won't know if it is a good week until we win," Heyward stated.
It's that simple. If the Steelers are able to beat the Bengals for a second time in the 2024 season, it will be because the defense played great. During the two team's first meeting in 2024, Pittsburgh's defense was picked apart by Burrow, but the group also came up with timely turnovers and a score of their own. The Steelers wound up winning the game 44-38, but Pittsburgh held a 17-point lead at one point.
Burrow has been making a strong case for MVP throughout the 2024 season. He has arguably been the best quarterback in the league while throwing to arguably the best wide receiver in the league in Ja'Marr Chase. Chase is on pace to capture the receiving-triple crown, meaning he will be the league leader in catches, yards, and receiving touchdowns.
Issues with the Steelers' defense have been consistent. Many players have spoken about how the communication has been bad over the last three games, which can't happen when going up against high-powered offenses. It is crucial that these defensive issues get fixed before the playoffs begin, as the Steelers will likely be playing on the road in a hostile environment.
The Steelers were only able to win their first matchup with the Bengals because the offense for Pittsburgh was able to keep pace with the offense of Cincinnati. Russell Wilson had his best game of the year as he threw for over 400 yards and three touchdowns. The Steelers can't rely on that to happen again, so the defense must step up.
Steelers Must Find A Way To Win In Week 18
Pittsburgh currently holds the fifth seed in the AFC, with the Los Angeles Chargers and Denver Broncos right behind them. If both Denver and Los Angeles win their Week 18 matchups, and the Steelers lose, Pittsburgh will drop to the sixth seed and then have to travel to Baltimore to take on the Ravens.
If Pittsburgh can hold onto the fifth seed, the group will travel to play the Houston Texans, who have looked like the worst team in the playoff picture from the AFC. This is an extremely favorable matchup, especially in comparison to playing the Ravens. That makes this game against the Bengals important for Pittsburgh, especially if the organization plans on ending its drought of failing to win in the postseason.
