Steelers offensive tackle Max Iheanachor blocks Bengals defensive end Boye Mafe during the first half of an NFL football game at Acrisure Stadium, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Pittsburgh.
Steelers offensive tackle Max Iheanachor blocks Bengals defensive end Boye Mafe during the first half of an NFL football game at Acrisure Stadium, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Pittsburgh.
As Cam Heyward made his way toward the showers on Sunday, the Steelers’ veteran leader yelled loud enough for everyone in the room to hear.
“Shoutout to Max,” Heyward exclaimed. “First career NFL start and he balled out.”
Heyward wasn’t the only one who praised Max Iheanachor, the Steelers’ rookie offensive tackle. From Aaron Rodgers to his blocking partners up front, many expressed how impressed they were by the 2026 first-round draft pick.
How could they not be?
[Steelers wide receiver Ben Skowronek celebrates with quarterback Aaron Rodgers after scoring a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Bengals at Acrisure Stadium, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Pittsburgh.
Steelers wide receiver Ben Skowronek celebrates with quarterback Aaron Rodgers after scoring a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Bengals at Acrisure Stadium, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Pittsburgh.](https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2026/09/27/steelers-bengals-rodgers-burrow-harmon-mccarthy/stories/202609270103)
Coach Mike McCarthy’s decision to start Iheanachor and Brock Hoffman on the right side of the offensive line made a clear difference in the Steelers’ 30-27 win against the Cincinnati Bengals. The offense looked completely different than the one we watched struggle the first two weeks of the season.
Sunday’s game was something Iheanachor can build on, something that can give him confidence moving forward. And he was not the only Steelers youngster who should have left Acrisure Stadium with that feeling Sunday evening.
Pittsburgh’s defense was nowhere near as good as it was in the first two weeks. But against one of the NFL’s most dangerous offenses, it did what was needed to secure a win — one that might not have happened if not for rookie corner Daylen Everette and second-year defensive lineman Derrick Harmon.
Let’s start with Everette, who before Sunday had not seen much time with the first-team defense. With Joe Burrow picking the Steelers apart, Patrick Graham called upon the Georgia product to replace Asante Samuel Jr. on the outside.
Everette didn’t make any splash plays. And his collision with Jalen Ramsey on a fourth-down play allowed Burrow to find a wide-open Mike Gesicki for a go-ahead touchdown. But Everette didn’t let that lone blunder rattle him.
He was on the field until the end, when the Pittsburgh defense came away with the stops it needed. Another mistake could have cost his team the game, but he held it together despite likely being a clear target for the opposition.
Harmon’s impact was a bit more visible.
[Steelers defensive tackle Derrick Harmon forces a fumble against Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow during the second half of an NFL football game at Acrisure Stadium, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Pittsburgh.
Steelers defensive tackle Derrick Harmon forces a fumble against Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow during the second half of an NFL football game at Acrisure Stadium, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Pittsburgh.](https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2026/09/27/derrick-harmon-joe-burrow-week3/stories/202609270104)
The Steelers’ defensive front was quiet all game. With less than a minute remaining and the Bengals not far from field-goal range, the pass rush needed to get home. And rather than the usual suspects — Heyward, T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith — it was Harmon who made the game’s biggest defensive play.
His strip-sack of Burrow enabled the Steelers to kneel out the clock.
“We knew as a defense we had to get on that field and stop them from scoring,” Harmon said. “That was the end goal, and that’s what we did.”
The Steelers aren’t exactly a young team. Their quarterback is the oldest player in the NFL. Most of their key players on defense are well into their 30s. The veterans will ultimately decide how this season plays out. But it is vital for the Steelers to see Harmon and other youngsters keep developing.
“Throughout my years in the league, I’ve noticed that every team has both veterans and guys that have been here, plus a crop of guys who are new to the league,” tight end Robert Tonyan told me. “Whenever a team can close the gap between those two, when the young guys can contribute like experienced players, that’s when you see success.”
Four down territory
First down: The streak has ended!
For the first time since Nov. 15, 2020, the Steelers offense scored more than seven points in the first quarter. It was made possible by a nearly flawless opening series. The Steelers marched 73 yards in four plays, ending the drive with a 38-yard touchdown pass from Rodgers to Roman Wilson.
After that score, that was 13:10 left in the first quarter. The Bengals killed more than half of that time with a 11-play, 73-yard opening drive. But Rodgers still snapped the streak with a 23-yard touchdown pass to Ben Skowronek.
Those 14 first-quarter points were the most for the Steelers since Oct. 13, 2019.
Second down: Tight end terror
Mike McCarthy made a clear effort to get the tight ends more involved Sunday, and boy, did it make a difference.
It started in the run game. The presence of both Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington gave the Steelers better run blocking at the first and second levels. That helped Jaylen Warren to get going early. He never slowed down.
Warren’s success on the ground opened up the play-action passing game. The Steelers used this as an opportunity to get the tight ends involved as receivers. The most notable example came in the fourth quarter, when Rodgers found Washington for a 47-yard catch-and-run that set up the winning score.
Freiermuth and Washington combined to catch five passes for 97 yards.
“They're focal points,” McCarthy said. “... Football 101, for me, in the passing game is when your completion percentage is down, the tight end throws are right here. So when they’re both big targets or targets that we trust, yeah, there’s a conscious effort to try to get them the ball.”
Third down: Bungles gonna Bungle
The Bengals’ special teams unit is due for a rough Monday morning film session, especially the punt return team. Cincinnati made two massive mistakes in that phase that led to 10 points for Pittsburgh.
The first came in the third quarter, when a roughing the kicker penalty gifted the Steelers a new set of downs. They made the most of that opportunity, ending the drive with a DK Metcalf touchdown catch.
The second mistake was in the fourth quarter, when a muffed punt set the Steelers up inside the red zone. While McCarthy’s offense was unable to get a touchdown, the kick tied the score with 8:45 left.
There have been plenty of previous Steelers teams that would have failed to do much of anything with such chances. The fact that they didn’t leave empty-handed from either opportunity had a massive influence on the final outcome.
Fourth down: Big day for Ben
Skowronek’s performance showed why he’s such a popular player in the Steelers’ locker room. He isn’t an amazing talent, far from a star, but he can still help this team win.
His most obvious contribution was his touchdown catch. But Skowronek had an equally big impact in areas less visible on the stat sheet.
His run blocking was solid. It seemed like the Steelers always had a big gain on the ground whenever he was motioned into the backfield and used as a lead blocker up the middle.
He was also great on special teams, making a tackle on the kickoff following his touchdown and recovering the muffed punt in the fourth quarter.
“Ben had a great day,” Rodgers said. “He’s a really damn good player for us.”
Most Valuable Player
Jaylen Warren
Warren was far and away the best player on the field. His ability to bounce off contact and reach the second level changed the game. He delivered a true bellcow effort. The Steelers’ offense is so much better when he’s heavily involved.
Least Valuable Player
Roman Wilson
He had such a promising start to Sunday’s win, catching a pair of passes on the opening drive including a 38-yard touchdown. But his drop-turned-interception gave Cincinnati seven easy points before the half.
Once again, it was two steps forward, three steps back for the third-year receiver. It feels like only a matter of time before he’s completely replaced by rookie Germie Bernard.
Quote of the week
Brock Hoffman’s mentorship for Iheanachor really stuck out to me.
“We met extra throughout the week,” Hoffman said. “Just talking to him, making sure we’re on the same page. But I had the utmost confidence in him. Seeing the look in his eye when we were talking, I knew he was going to go out there and ball. I don’t think he played like a rookie at all today. He played pretty damn good.”
One question
Can they do this again on a short week?
While this win should have fans flying high, McCarthy’s team doesn’t have much time to celebrate. The Steelers will be back in action Thursday in Cleveland, a place where they’ve had a tough time winning as of late. It will be interesting to see if this offensive momentum can carry over despite a quick turnaround.
One prediction
Another productive outing for Warren
I’m not sure what to expect from the offensive line in Cleveland, but I do anticipate another big workload for Warren. Perhaps he’s a bit more involved in the passing attack. Either way, he should touch the football 20-plus times.
First Published: September 28, 2026, 1:00 a.m.