Joe Burrow Has a Chance to Bury the Steelers Before October

The Cincinnati Bengals have spent too many recent seasons trying to recover from slow starts. This year, Joe Burrow and company have an opportunity to reverse that familiar script—and potentially push their biggest rival into an early hole.

Cincinnati will enter Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers with a 2–0 record after defeating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Houston Texans. Pittsburgh is 1–1 after a season-opening win over Atlanta, followed by an embarrassing 20–3 loss to the New England Patriots.

That makes Sunday’s meeting at Acrisure Stadium more than another chapter in one of the NFL’s most intense rivalries.

A Bengals win would make it 3–0, give it an important road victory in the AFC North, and drop Pittsburgh to 1–2. It would also strengthen the perception that these two organizations are moving in opposite directions.

The Steelers are attempting to remain relevant with Aaron Rodgers at quarterback. The Bengals are trying to prove that Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and a dramatically improved defense can finally deliver another Super Bowl run.

Cincinnati has a chance to seize control of the division before the calendar reaches October.

The Bengals Are Finally Starting Fast

Cincinnati’s inability to play its best football early in the season has been one of the most frustrating themes of the Burrow era.

The Bengals have repeatedly placed themselves in difficult situations by losing games in September and then depending upon late-season winning streaks to repair the damage. That formula occasionally worked, but it also eliminated Cincinnati’s margin for error.

This season feels different.

The Bengals defeated Tampa Bay 33–27 in their opener and then produced a more complete performance in a 20–6 road victory over Houston. Cincinnati did not play perfect offensive football against the Texans, but it avoided turnovers, created explosive plays and controlled the game defensively.

Burrow completed 20 of 31 passes for 207 yards and two touchdowns. Both scores went to Chase, who caught seven passes for 75 yards after being limited to two receptions in Week 1.

Tee Higgins added five receptions for 95 yards, while Chase Brown rushed for 80 yards on 20 carries. Evan McPherson provided additional support by converting field goals from 51 and 57 yards.

For once, Cincinnati is not attempting to dig itself out of an early hole.

The Bengals have an opportunity to create one for somebody else.

Cincinnati’s Defense Is Changing the Conversation

Burrow and Chase will always receive most of the attention, but Cincinnati’s defense has been the most encouraging development through two games.

The Bengals held Houston without a touchdown despite C.J. Stroud throwing for 353 yards. The Texans repeatedly moved the football between the 20-yard lines but failed when the game reached its most important situations.

Houston converted only five of its 17 third-down attempts, failed on all four fourth-down tries and squandered multiple scoring opportunities. The Texans were limited to two field goals despite running 75 offensive plays.

Cincinnati’s defensive front controlled the game.

Dexter Lawrence delivered one of the afternoon’s most important plays when he penetrated Houston’s offensive line and stopped David Montgomery on fourth-and-one. Cedric Johnson later sacked Stroud on fourth down to secure the victory.

One analysis credited the Bengals with 41 total pressures and ranked the defense fourth in EPA per play through two games.

That is a significant change from recent Cincinnati teams.

The Bengals have frequently asked Burrow to compensate for defensive breakdowns by winning shootouts. If Cincinnati can consistently pressure opposing quarterbacks and control the line of scrimmage, Burrow will no longer need to produce 30 points every week.

That could make the Bengals one of the NFL’s most complete teams.

Pittsburgh’s Offense Is Already in Trouble

The Steelers looked completely overmatched against New England.

Pittsburgh scored only three points, committed two turnovers and never established an offensive rhythm. The Patriots received a defensive touchdown from Elijah Ponder, while rookie Gabe Jacas intercepted Rodgers in the red zone.

Rodgers spent much of the afternoon dealing with pressure and struggling to create explosive plays. Pittsburgh’s only points came from a field goal.

New England did not need an exceptional offensive performance to win by 17 points. Its defense simply waited for Pittsburgh to make mistakes.

The final score was especially concerning because this was not a matchup against one of the AFC’s established powerhouses. New England had entered the game at 0–1 and experienced offensive problems of its own.

Pittsburgh still could not compete.

The Steelers will now face a Cincinnati defense that just held Houston to six points and consistently disrupted Stroud. If Pittsburgh cannot protect Rodgers or establish its running game, the Bengals could make Sunday another miserable afternoon for the Steelers’ offense.

Burrow and Chase Can Attack Pittsburgh’s Biggest Weakness

The Steelers traditionally build their identity around defense, physicality and pressure. That reputation still matters, especially at Acrisure Stadium, but Cincinnati possesses the offensive weapons necessary to attack Pittsburgh’s defense.

Everything begins with Burrow and Chase.

Their first touchdown against Houston demonstrated why they remain one of the NFL’s most dangerous combinations. Burrow challenged elite cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. near the sideline, and Chase made a tremendous 32-yard catch while keeping both feet in bounds near the pylon.

The second touchdown came when Burrow escaped pressure, extended the play and located Chase for an 18-yard score.

Pittsburgh cannot simply devote all its attention to Chase. Higgins produced 95 yards against Houston and remains capable of punishing favorable coverage. Brown provides enough balance in the running game to prevent the Steelers from concentrating exclusively on Burrow.

The concern for Cincinnati is pass protection.

Houston sacked Burrow five times and registered 10 quarterback hits. The Bengals survived because Burrow avoided turnovers and delivered enough decisive plays, but allowing that much pressure against Pittsburgh would be dangerous.

T.J. Watt has already recorded 3.5 sacks through Pittsburgh’s first two games. He can change a game by himself if Cincinnati allows him to consistently reach Burrow.

The Bengals have the better quarterback and the better collection of offensive weapons. Their offensive line must give those advantages enough time to matter.

Aaron Rodgers Is Running Out of Time

Rodgers was brought to Pittsburgh to elevate an offense that had spent years searching for a difference-making quarterback.

Through two games, the results have been uneven.

Pittsburgh defeated Atlanta 20–13 in Week 1, but the performance against New England revived every concern about whether Rodgers can still carry an offense over a complete season.

Rodgers has accumulated 408 passing yards, one touchdown and one interception through two games. Pittsburgh’s passing attack has rarely looked explosive, while the offensive line has struggled to provide a clean pocket.

The Steelers do not need Rodgers to recreate his MVP seasons in Green Bay. They need him to protect the football, make accurate throws and produce touchdowns when the defense creates opportunities.

He did none of those things consistently against New England.

Losing to Cincinnati would not mathematically eliminate Pittsburgh from contention, but a 1–2 record with an 0–1 mark inside the division would immediately increase the pressure on Rodgers and the entire organization.

For a team built to win now, there is no comfortable rebuilding explanation available.

Acrisure Stadium Remains Cincinnati’s Biggest Challenge

The Bengals should be the better team on Sunday, but beating Pittsburgh on the road is rarely simple.

Acrisure Stadium will be loud, physical and emotionally charged. The Steelers understand what is at stake, and their defense will attempt to turn the game into a low-scoring fight decided by turnovers and field position.

Cincinnati cannot allow the rivalry to pull it into an undisciplined performance.

Burrow must get the football out quickly. The Bengals must avoid drive-killing penalties and prevent Watt from creating a game-changing turnover. Cincinnati’s defense must make Rodgers consistently drive the length of the field rather than giving Pittsburgh short-field opportunities.

The longer the game remains close, the more dangerous Pittsburgh becomes.

The Bengals should attack early. A quick touchdown could place immediate pressure on a Steelers offense that produced only three points in New England. Forcing Rodgers to chase the game would allow Cincinnati’s pass rush to become even more aggressive.

Cincinnati Can Take Early Control of the AFC North

The Bengals will not win the AFC North in September, and the Steelers will not be mathematically finished with a loss.

Nevertheless, division championships are often shaped by games like this.

Winning in Pittsburgh would give Cincinnati a 3–0 record, its first divisional victory and an important head-to-head advantage. It would also demonstrate that the Bengals can win consecutive road games in different ways.

Houston required patience and defense. Pittsburgh will require composure, protection and the ability to handle one of the league’s most hostile environments.

A loss would return Cincinnati to the familiar uncertainty that has surrounded too many early seasons. A victory would establish the Bengals as the clear early favorite in the division.

Burrow has the weapons. Cincinnati finally appears to have the defense. Pittsburgh has an aging quarterback and an offense that just produced three points.

The opportunity is sitting directly in front of the Bengals.

They can walk into Pittsburgh, defeat their biggest rival and push the Steelers two games behind them before October arrives.

For a Cincinnati team with championship expectations, that is an opportunity it cannot afford to waste.