The Pittsburgh Steelers come to Paycor Stadium for Thursday Night Football in Week 7.
Pittsburgh leads the AFC North with a 4-1 record and is coming off a 23-9 win over the Cleveland Browns.
Steelers Offense
The Steelers' win on Sunday moved them to 4-1, their best start since 2020, when they started 11-0 and lost in the Wild Card round of the playoffs to the Browns.
QB Aaron Rodgers completed 21-of-30 passes for 235 yards and two touchdowns Sunday against Cleveland, marking his 111th career game with at least two passing touchdowns and no interceptions. Rodgers also moved into third all-time for the most passing touchdowns by a player at least 40 years of age, trailing only Drew Brees and Tom Brady.
On the year, Rodgers has completed 68.8% of his passes for 1,021 yards, 10 touchdowns and just three interceptions. Under Rodgers, Pittsburgh ranks 14th with 23.8 points per game and has averaged the ninth-fewest passing yard per game (193.8) and the fourth-fewest total yards per game (277.8).
The Steelers have also averaged the fourth-fewest rushing yards per game (84.0). The team drafted Iowa RB Kaleb Johnson in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft, but he's played a total of 26 snaps this season. Jaylen Warren leads the backfield in attempts with 54 in four games played after missing Week 4 against the Vikings in London. Kenneth Gainwell has been the team's most efficient back, averaging 4.3 yards per carry. He's also the only Steeler to record a rushing touchdown, finding the end zone three times on the ground.
Pittsburgh brought in former Seahawks WR DK Metcalf this offseason, who has predictably been their go-to option in the pass game. Metcalf has caught 19 passes for 356 yards, ranking 17th in the NFL among receivers, and four touchdowns, tied for fifth among wideouts. Metcalf's 82.2 PFF Offensive grade ranks seventh among receivers with at least 10 targets this season. Gainwell is second on the team in targets (21), followed closely by TE Jonnu Smith (20).
Steelers Defense
As usual, the Steelers' defense has been the driving force behind their success. The unit has posted the fifth-highest PFF Defensive grade (72.9) in the NFL so far this season. The Steelers have allowed the 14th-fewest points per game (21.4), but they haven't allowed more than 21 points in a game since Week 1.
Pittsburgh's pass rush ranks fourth in the NFL with an 85.0 pass-rush grade. Edge rusher Nick Herbig leads the team with 20 pressures in four games played, while T.J. Watt has generated 19. Both Herbig and Watt rank in the top 25 in PFF pass-rush grade of all defenders with at least 25 pass-rush snaps.
Pittsburgh ranks 14th in PFF run defense grade (70.1) and has allowed 110.6 yards per game on the ground.
On the back end, the Steelers have allowed the sixth-most passing yards per game (245.0). They have posted the 11th-highest PFF coverage grade (59.7) in the league. CB Joey Porter Jr. missed three games with injury but returned last week against the Browns, allowing three receptions for 26 yards on six targets. CB Jalen Ramsey, who the team traded for from Miami before the season, has posted a 69.6 coverage grade, ranking 29th among cornerbacks with at least 20 coverage snaps. Ramsey's allowed 16 receptions on 22 targets for 183 yards and one touchdown and has an interception.
View the best photos from Bengals-Steelers matchups of years past
WR Tee Higgins celebrates a touchdown against the Steelers, Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023.
WR Tee Higgins catches the pass in the air during the second quarter of the Bengals-Steelers game in Week 11 of the 2022 season.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) looks to unload the ball while in the grasp of Cincinnati Bengals linebacker David Pollack (99) in first quarter NFL action Sunday, Dec. 4, 2005 in Pittsburgh. Roethlisberger threw outbounds incomplete on the play.(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
QB Joe Burrow throws the ball during the Bengals Week 13 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paycor Stadium, Sunday, December 1, 2024.
DE Sam Hubbard attempts to sack the opposing QB during the Bengals vs. Pittsburgh Steelers Week 1 game on Sunday, September 11 2022.
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green (18) comes down the ball with Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Steven Nelson (22) defending during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2020, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
DE Trey Hendrickson celebrates a stop against the Steelers, Sunday, September 11, 2022.
Cincinnati Bengals cornerback DJ Turner II (20) deflects a pass intended for Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson (18) during an NFL football game on Sunday, November 26, 2023 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Aaron Doster/NFL)
In this Monday, Dec. 4, 2017 file photo, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton passes in the second half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Cincinnati. Three cornerbacks hurt, a linebacker and a running back in concussion protocol. The Bengals are paying the price for their acerbic, season-dooming loss to the Steelers on Monday night at Paul Brown Stadium. The Bengals play the Chicago Bears on Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017. (AP Photo/Gary Landers, File)
S Vonn Bell rushes the quarterback during the Bengals-Steelers Week 1 Game at Paycor Stadium on Sunday, September 11 2022
QB Joe Burrow runs the ball during the third quarter of the Bengals-Steelers game in Week 11 of the 2022 season.
Cincinnati Bengals' Giovani Bernard (25) runs past Pittsburgh Steelers' Cameron Heyward (97) for a touchdown reception during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 21, 2020, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
LB Logan Wilson prepares for a snap against the Steelers at Paycor Stadium Sunday, November 26, 2023
DE Trey Hendrickson stares down QB Russell Wilson against the Steelers in Pittsburgh in Week 18, Saturday, January 4, 2025.
OT Orlando Brown Jr blocks a Steelers defender during a game at Paycor Stadium Sunday, November 26, 2023
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) makes a catch during an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, November 26, 2023 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Aaron Doster/NFL)
TE Mike Gesicki celebrates a first down against the Steelers in Pittsburgh in Week 18, January 4, 2025.
TE Drew Sample runs through a Steelers defender, Saturday, December 23, 2023.
WR Ja'Marr Chase makes a catch on the sidelines against the Steelers in Pittsburgh in Week 18, January 4, 2025.
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Andrei Iosivas (80) attempts to catch a pass during an NFL football game, Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Durisko)
Pittsburgh Steelers' Cameron Sutton (20) breaks up a pass intended by Cincinnati Bengals' Tee Higgins (85) during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 21, 2020, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Laveranues Coles (11) makes a catch as Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback William Gay (22) and Troy Polamalu (43) close in to defend during the first quarter of an NFL football game Sunday Nov. 15, 2009 in Pittsburgh.(AP Photo/Don Wright)
Cincinnati Bengals receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh (84) falls forward after catching a pass against Pittsburgh Steelers defender Tyrone Carter (23) in the first half of their NFL playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 8, 2006, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Al Behrman)
Cincinnati Bengals' Vonn Bell (24) and Jordan Evans (50) look to recover a fumble by Pittsburgh Steelers' JuJu Smith-Schuster (19) during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 21, 2020, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)
CB Cam Taylor-Britt returns his interception for a touchdown during the Bengals Week 13 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paycor Stadium, Sunday, December 1, 2024.
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