Steelers Scouting Report: Week One at Cincinnati Bengals
Steel City Underground’s “Steelers Scouting Report” is a preview of each opponent Pittsburgh will face throughout the 2022-23 NFL regular season on a weekly basis, with analysis, injury news, and potential key matchups.
Week One of the NFL’s 2022-23 regular season is upon us, and the Pittsburgh Steelers will open the season on the road to go head-to-head against last year’s Super Bowl runners-up and the 2021 AFC North champion Cincinnati Bengals.
Bengals offense
There is plenty of talk by analysts around the league that the Bengals are favored to win the division again this season, and Cincinnati enters this weekend’s game as favorites across sports book betting lines.
After overcoming adversity to become the first quarterback to take the Bengals to the Super Bowl since Boomer Esiason, Joe Burrow dealt with missed time in training camp this summer due to a burst appendix. The young quarterback is still trying to gain back some bulk and work with an offensive line that has struggled to create cohesiveness.
Alex Cappa and La’el Collins both missed camp practices. Rookie Cordell Volson beat-out Jackson Carman for a starting spot at guard. The starting offensive line has yet to start together in a regular-season test and could be a potential liability in Week One.
Behind a bad line last season, Burrow was still able to stretch the field in the passing game.
Running back Joe Mixon returns after setting career highs in rushing yards, receiving yards, total yards, and touchdowns.
If the Bengals continue to develop, especially up front, their offense has a chance to be very dynamic.
The Bengals will have Tyler Boyd, Tee Higgins, and Ja’Marr Chase back as their core receivers. That trio was the best in combined receiving yards in the league last season.
Bengals defense
Cincinnati relied on a stout defense last season to get the ball back in the hands of their offense. They return all 11 starters from their Super Bowl LV team.
Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo is prepared to offer some exotic looks defensively, including dropping their defensive ends out into the zone.
Their defensive line ranked fifth in the NFL against the run last season, allowing just 102.5 rushing yards per game to opponents.
Cincinnati’s defensive secondary will be led by safety Jessie Bates who was reverted from the Exempt/Commissioner Permission list to the active roster earlier this week. With five veterans, including Mike Hilton, the Bengals look to continue making significant plays.
Injuries
As of Wednesday, the only players on the Bengals’ injury report were tight ends: Devin Asiasi, Mitchell Wilcox, and Drew Sample.
