Bengals Linebacker Guarantees Win over Steelers in Week 13

Chris Ward |

Updated: Nov 21, 2024

Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth against the Cincinnati Bengals, Nov. 26, 2023 - Ed Thompson / Steelers Now

Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Germaine Pratt is feeling confident about the Bengals’ Week 13 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers. So much so that he even guaranteed a win.

“We will win next week,” Pratt tweeted. “Believe that. Work to win.”

The Bengals are 4-7 and fighting for their playoff lives, so if Cincinnati is going to turn its season around — it has to start next Sunday against the Steelers after their bye week.

We will win next week. Believe that 🩸 Work to win

— Germaine Pratt (@GermainePratt7) November 21, 2024

Frustration is mounting in Cincinnati. Bengals star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase called out Cincinnati head coach Zac Taylor following Sunday night’s 34-27 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.

“Ask Zac,” he said when asked about finishing games, which has been a problem for the Bengals this season. “Ask the coaches. That’s not my job. I play football on the field. I don’t call plays for us.”

Taylor took no offense to Chase’s remarks.

“He’s emotional, and when you got a guy that works as hard as he does, leaves it all on the field, I do think things – I don’t want to say ‘misconstrued’ – but can look differently than what they really are,” Taylor said.

“He’s a guy that is one of the most genuine players I’ve ever been around and honest, insightful, puts it all out there for us,” Taylor continued. “I don’t have problems with guys that work as hard as they do, speaking with emotion after the game, speaking with passion.”

Chase leads the league in receiving yards with 1,056 and quarterback Joe Burrow has had an exceptional year. He has completed 67.2% of his passes for 3,028 yards with 27 touchdowns, four interceptions, and a quarterback rating 106.9.

There have been two instances in NFL history where a QB had: 30+ completions, 300+ passing yards, 4+ TD passes, multiple 40+ yard TD passes and no more than 1 INT … and yet still lost. Those two instances were Burrow against the Baltimore Ravens this season.

The Bengals defense has been horrendous this season, but it’s still hard to figure out how the Bengals are 4-7. They are a better team than what their record indicates.

If the Bengals regroup after the bye, they could be a dangerous team. Don’t look at just their record. The Steelers’ Week 13 matchup against the Bengals in Cincinnati will be a tough test for Pittsburgh.