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| Other Week 3 Game Recaps | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATL at NE | CAR at DAL | CHI at SEA | CLE at BAL | DEN at OAK | GB at STL | IND at ARI | JAX at HOU |
| KC at PHI | MIA at SD | NO at BUF | NYG at TB | PIT at CIN | SF at MIN | TEN at NYJ | WAS at DET |
Week 3 Game Recap: Pittsburgh Steelers 20, Cincinnati Bengals 23
Pittsburgh Steelers
| QB Ben Roethlisberger, Pass: 22 - 31 - 276 - 1 TD / 1 INT, Rush: 2 - 3 - 1 |
Roethlisberger was very effective against Cincinnati. As usual, he was elusive in the pocket and kept plays alive, luring defenders into mistakes so his receivers could take advantage. Long completions to Hines Ward and a touchdown pass to Willie Parker both came on broken plays where Roethlisberger left the pocket and threw off-balance. His long mistake as a passer was critical; a miscommunication with Santonio Holmes resulted in an interception that was returned for a touchdown. Roethlisberger also had his second short yardage touchdown of the year.
| RB Willie Parker, Rush: 25 - 93 - 0, Rec: 2 - 36 - 1 (2 targets) |
Parker often had huge holes in the first half, as the Pittsburgh offensive line owned the line of scrimmage. Parker was quick to the hole and frequently broke tackles. Those holes weren't there as frequently in the second half and Parker had more difficulty eluding first contact against the front seven. Parker was unable to convert on two carries inside the five and the Steelers threw more often in those situations later in the game.
| RB Mewelde Moore, Rush: 1 - 6 - 0, Rec: 1 - 6 - 0 (1 targets) |
Mewelde Moore was on the field only in spread sets and the two minute drill this week. Willie Parker was effective early and the Steelers limited Moore to just one carry.
| RB Rashard Mendenhall |
Mendenhall did not see significant time against Cincinnati. He had no carries and no pass targets and was not on the field in the red zone. Head coach Mike Tomlin said he wasn't in on offense because he didn't pay attention to detail during the week of practice.
| WR Mike Wallace, Rec: 7 - 102 - 0 (8 targets) |
Wallace was very effective against the Bengals. Despite Bengal corners giving him ten yard cushions, he was able to use his speed to easily get behind the defense for big plays. He also abused the Bengal secondary as a slot receiver and from tight bunch formations for multiple third down receptions.
| WR Hines Ward, Rec: 4 - 82 - 0 (5 targets) |
After a long completion on a broken play early in the first quarter and two more first half receptions in third down situations, Ward was quiet in the second half. Ward also had multiple holding penalties that cost the Steelers big plays.
| WR Limas Sweed, Rec: 1 - 5 - 0 (2 targets) |
Sweed was able to gain separation against the Bengal secondary at times, but dropped a sure 34-yard touchdown pass in the back of the end zone.
| WR Santonio Holmes, Rec: 1 - 18 - 0 (5 targets) |
The Bengals did a very good job defending Holmes and Roethlisberger often targeted his underneath receivers instead who were matched against safeties. Holmes and Roethlisberger also looked out of sync at times, and a miscommunication deep in Steeler territory led to a easy interception and touchdown return.
| TE Heath Miller, Rec: 5 - 20 - 0 (6 targets) |
Miller was targeted frequently as a checkdown option after getting open in the underneath zones when the Bengal linebackers dropped off the line of scrimmage.
Cincinnati Bengals
| QB Carson Palmer, Pass: 20 - 37 - 183 - 1 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 1 - 1 - 0 |
Palmer was better than his numbers suggest. He chose to throw the ball away early rather than force passes into coverage and the Steeler defense also knocked down eight passes. Both factored heavily into his relatively unimpressive completion percentage and yardage totals. Although the offense sputtered early, Palmer was on target throughout the second half and led the Bengals on two fourth quarter touchdown drives. Palmer's ability to avoid sacks and crippling interceptions, two issues that have hurt the offense during the first two weeks, is further evidence of his growing comfort in the pocket.
| RB Cedric Benson, Rush: 16 - 76 - 1, Rec: 1 - 5 - 0 (2 targets) |
Benson struggled to find running room early, but ran hard and maximized what was there. As the game wore on, the Bengals' offensive line was able to open more holes and Benson frequently broke first contact for longer gains. He looked extremely quick on his 23 yard touchdown run, gaining the edge and accelerating down the sideline to the end zone. Benson continues to leave the field on most third down situations for Brian Leonard.
| RB Jeremi Johnson, Rush: 1 - 2 - 0 |
Johnson long rush was a successful short yardage gainer on third down.
| RB Brian Leonard, Rec: 1 - 11 - 0 (2 targets) |
Leonard was quiet in his third down role, but made his lone reception count, lunging for a first down on a long fourth down situation late in the game. He was also wide open on a successful two point conversion pass play.
| RB Bernard Scott |
Scott saw no snaps in the offense this week. He remains little more than an afterthought with Cedric Benson continuing to have success on the ground and Brian Leonard contributing on third downs.
| WR Chad Ochocinco, Rec: 5 - 54 - 0 (11 targets) |
Ochocinco was critical in getting the Bengals' offensive moving after two drives with zero net yardage. Carson Palmer missed him on a couple of timing patterns under heavy pressure, but the two were in sync for the most part. Ochocinco had a good chance at a long touchdown catch on a sideline fade route on the deciding fourth quarter drive but the Pittsburgh defender did just enough to break up the pass.
| WR Laveranues Coles, Rec: 5 - 34 - 0 (7 targets) |
Coles was more involved in the offense this week. He showed very good hands on a variety of short routes and was an effective blocker on a number of Cedric Benson's longer runs. He saw many more snaps than Chris Henry did again this week.
| WR Chris Henry, Rec: 1 - 19 - 0 (3 targets) |
The Bengals haven't yet given Carson Palmer enough time to look downfield, but Henry still isn't a major part of the offense. He's playing only sparingly in two and three wide receiver sets and has yet to be targeted frequently this year. Palmer isn't afraid to look for him when he's on the field, but Henry isn't getting enough snaps to be a major factor.
| TE Dan Coats, Rec: 1 - 8 - 0 (1 targets) |
Coats was targeted only once this week as the Bengals kept him inside as a traditional tight end to aid with pass protection and run blocking.