Improved Bengals defense focused on stopping ‘big plays’ vs. Steelers

Cincinnati has to win Saturday and get some help from other results Sunday, and a repeat of the defense’s performance in the Week 13 matchup at Paycor Stadium simply cannot happen. That day, Wilson threw for a season-high 414 yards and three touchdowns and led the Steelers to a 44-38 win on Dec. 1.

“No big plays, first and foremost,” Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo said of what can’t happen again. “We gave up over 110 yards receiving to the running backs just on checkdowns. We were trying to play some coverages to try to help some people. We’ll try to eliminate the checkdown yards. We cannot give up that much, there’s no way, so that will be a big part of it.”

The Bengals missed 14 tackles against Pittsburgh last time, and running backs Najee Harris, Jaylen Warren and Cordarrelle Patterson combined for 146 yards on 13 catches. The Steelers finished with 520 net yards of offense, including 110 yards rushing.

Many of those dumped passes to the running backs turned into explosives, as Pittsburgh had 10 plays of 20 yards or more. Wide receiver George Pickens and tight end Pat Freiermuth accounted for a few of those, but three of them were on short passes to the running backs.

Cincinnati is still giving up explosives but not like earlier this season.

“I think everybody is playing in sync and playing with confidence,” Anarumo said. “Unfortunately we had a couple the other night. I think that will be a big part of this game Saturday night is making them earn everything they get.”

Wilson had only thrown for more than 400 yards twice before, the last time being in 2019, but he had the benefit of playing the Bengals during a particularly tough stretch defensively that attributed to four losses in five games. In that stretch, they allowed 34.8 points per game, including the 44 to the Steelers.

Since that Dec. 1 loss, Cincinnati is allowing just 19.3 points per game. Additionally, Wilson has averaged just 177.0 yards passing in the last four games as Pittsburgh has dropped three straight.

“I’ll just point to playing with confidence,” Anarumo said. “You put a month of winning straight under your belt that’s going to help anybody’s attitude and confidence level. Getting takeaways – Germaine (Pratt)’s pick was huge the other night; keep that trend going. You go a month without losing a game I think that that adds to everybody’s confidence level.”

Credit: AP

Credit: AP

The Bengals had recorded nine turnovers in the two weeks leading up to Saturday’s overtime win over Denver, and although they had just the one interception by Pratt in that game, it proved to be a crucial takeaway.

Wide receiver Tee Higgins had fumbled on the Bengals’ previous drive with the game tied, and the Broncos could have taken a lead then. Instead, Pratt got the ball back in Joe Burrow’s hands and the Bengals pulled ahead.

Cincinnati’s defense couldn’t hold up, as had been the case on many occasions before, and the Broncos tied the game on a fourth-and-1 from the 25-yard line to send it to overtime. However, this time, the Bengals buckled down and forced a pair of three-and-outs in the extra period to give the offense a chance to win, which it finally did on Higgins’ third touchdown catch of the game.

Anarumo isn’t sure if the narrative around his defense has completely changed because of recent results, but the performances are a big reason the Bengals suddenly are back in the hunt.

“Obviously not as good as we wanted to early in the year in some of the bigger games,” Anarumo said. “Just not getting a stop or two. But at the end of the day, the guys have gotten better. They’ve stayed the course and that’s led to helping us win some of these games here as of late. We’re gonna need another big performance on Saturday.”

The pressure will be on the Bengals on Saturday in their fifth primetime road game of the season, but Anarumo is glad they play before the other two games that could determine their postseason fate. They can focus on taking care of their own business, then watch Sunday to see if the Chiefs and Jets help them out by dealing losses to the Broncos and Dolphins.

“We’ve got to take care of our job first, and then whatever happens Sunday, hopefully, we’ll get some help,” Anarumo said. “But if we don’t take care of our job, then Sunday doesn’t matter anyway. I’m glad the game is on Saturday. I’m glad we’re first. Let’s go play our best ball of the year and give ourselves a chance to get to Sunday to get some help. That’s what we’ve got to do.”

SATURDAY’S GAME

Bengals at Steelers, 8 p.m., ABC, ESPN, 700, 1530, 102.7, 104.7