Pittsburgh’s coach says the team has grown ahead of a battle for first place in the AFC North.
The Steelers and Bengals will meet for the second time this season on Sunday — a game between two 6-2 teams that will end with one moving into sole possession of first place in the AFC North.
The last time Pittsburgh played the Bengals, the Steelers won 30-27 at home on Sept. 27. And talking to the media on Monday, Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy said he’d “like the outcome to be the same” when the two teams clash again in Week 10.
However, McCarthy acknowledged things will be different this week. This time, the game will be in Cincinnati, and on Sunday Night Football instead of the 1 p.m. EST time slot. Pittsburgh will be without Roman Wilson and could still be missing Michael Pittman Jr. at the wide receiver poison.
But Pittsburgh has also improved in the weeks between the Bengals matchups, the Steelers head coach said.
”I think we’re playing differently than we were the first time around,” McCarthy said. “I think we’re better … I think we’re definitely performing better in the trenches. I think, offensively, our ball distribution is better.”
The Week 3 Bengals game was Pittsburgh’s first with Brock Hoffman and Max Iheanachor on the starting offensive line. It was also Jaylen Warren’s first 100-yard game of the season.
McCarthy also credited with the defense with taking “a big step.”
“I think the pressure, particularly in the last game, is something that will serve us very well moving forward against anybody,” he said. The Steelers managed eight sacks against the Browns in their last game in Week 8.
“I think teams change,” McCarthy said. “It’s not who you’re playing — it’s when you play them. It’s November football. I think our football team is starting to reflect that. I think that’s what’s most important.”
McCarthy said he watched the Bengals’ Week 9 game, a 34-17 drubbing of the Falcons in Madrid, live over the Steelers’ bye week. He said Cincinnati “looked great” on offense, but pushed back on talking about how the Bengals have changed since Week 3.
”I wouldn’t say ‘change,’” McCarthy said. “I think Joe (Burrow) is on top of his game. That was an impressive offensive performance yesterday. They’re rolling. … I think that’s the whole thing, is just make sure we’re dialed in on how we want to play and in touch with the matchups, ball distribution. I think (Burrow’s) time clock — the way he distributes the football and the connection he has with his receivers — is top notch.”
Burrow currently ranks second in the NFL in passing yards with 2,386. His 23 passing touchdowns are the most in the league. Cincinnati also has two receivers in the top 15 for receiving yardage in Tee Higgins (758, six touchdowns) and Ja’Marr Chase (647, seven touchdowns).
McCarthy said it was “fair” to say that the Steelers have a better handle on their secondary since the last Bengals game, when Joey Porter Jr. was still on the roster although not playing.
“We’ve played eight games now,” he said. “We’ve had a chance to go through game plans. We’ve had a chance to build game plans as a staff and with our players. We’ve had game day sideline adjustments. So, I think you could really say that for the whole team, as far as where we are today compared to where we were when we played them the first time.”
McCarthy stressed the importance of combating Burrow’s ability to stay on time in the pocket and negate a pass rush; the Steelers only logged one sack in Week 3.
“I think we’re in a rotation now. We’re in a good rhythm,” McCarthy said of the Steelers’ pass rush, now tied for third in the NFL with 26 sacks. “I think that’s all part of it. … I love the way our veteran guys communicate with our coaches and the younger guys. I think Cam (Heyward) and T.J. (Watt), and just the level of communication, the things they see and the adjustments they’re making for pass rush and creating those opportunities. So, that’s where things become a half second quicker.”
Even if the pressure doesn’t result in a sack, McCarthy said “the little things matter.”
“The pressure, that’s the difference between hitting the arm of the quarterback or bull rushing the A-gap where the quarterback can’t step into the throw,” he said. “I just think we’re better today than we were back four or five weeks ago.”