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Steelers LB Attributes Week 13 Win To Bengals’ Turnaround: ‘After We Played Them, They Hit Their Stride’
The Steelers defeated the Bengals 44-38 in Week 13, but linebacker Elandon Roberts thinks it helped turn their season around.
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers are preparing for their second meeting of the season with the Cincinnati Bengals. The Steelers won the first meeting 44-38 in Week 13, but they expect round two to be even tougher.
Since the Bengals lost to the Steelers, they’ve won four straight games, outscoring their opponents 118-77. Steelers linebacker Elandon Roberts thinks that game helped kick Cincinnati into another gear.
“Man, they’re rolling. It’s like after we played them, they hit their stride,” Roberts said. “They’re playing complimentary football. You see Joe (Burrow). He’s out there doing Joe-like things. It’s going to be a 60-minute game.”
Burrow has put his name into the NFL MVP conversation. With just one week left in the regular season, he’s thrown for a league-leading 4,641 yards and 42 touchdowns.
That’s not an award he’ll likely win without making it into the playoffs, but the Bengals still have a path to the postseason and it starts with getting a win against the Steelers. So Pittsburgh should expect Burrow’s best once again on Saturday night.
The Steelers have struggled against elite quarterbacks on their three-game losing streak. Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson and Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes have thrown for a combined 817 yards, eight touchdowns and just one interception the past three weeks.
If Pittsburgh hopes to get back in the win column, it’ll need to fix those issues.
Burrow isn’t known for his mobility, but Roberts believes that’s included when game planning for him.
“Obviously, we’ve played some elite quarterbacks. Obviously, we’ve got another one coming up this week. They’re all different in their own way,” Roberts said. “This guy’s an athlete. He’s one of the top guys in the league for a reason. I think when he needs to be mobile, he does a very good job of using that to his advantage.”
Burrow has been smart when deciding to take it himself. He’s averaging a career-high 4.9 yards per carry this season with 202 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.
Still, nothing is scarier than when Burrow has time in the pocket to pick a defense apart. Roberts knows that’s what he’s been doing all season and will look to do once again against the Steelers on Saturday.
“He’s controlling what he can control,” Roberts said. “But when it’s time for him to be Joe, he’s Joe.”
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