Steelers GameDay Cheat Sheet: Week 1 vs the Cincinnati Bengals

by Joe Kuzma (joe_kuzma) on September 10, 2022

Steelers GameDay Cheat Sheet is a weekly series featuring a quick glance at the upcoming Steelers game, including odds, records, things to watch for, and how to watch/listen to the game.

Series Notes

All-Time: Steelers lead, 67-38
- Last: Bengals Win, 41-10 (Nov. 28, 2021)
Home: Steelers lead, 35-17
- Last: Bengals Win, 24-10 (Sept. 26, 2021)
Away: Steelers lead, 32-21
- Last: Bengals Win, 41-10 (Nov. 28, 2021)

The Coaches

Steelers: Mike Tomlin
- At Franchise: 154-85-2 (16)
- Overall: 154-85-2 (16)
- Versus Opponent: 22-8
Bengals: Zac Taylor
- At Franchise: 16-32-1 (4)
- Overall: 16-32-1 (4)
- Versus Opponent: 3-3

Gameday Information

Date: Sunday, September 11
Time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
Location: Paycor Stadium
Cincinnati, OH
Capacity 65,535 // FieldTurf
TV: CBS/Paramount Plus (KDKA-TV plus other local affiliates – see regional coverage below)
- Ian Eagle (play-by-play)
- Charles Davis (analysis)
- Evan Washburn (field reporter)
Satellite Radio
- Steelers: Sirius 82, XM/SXM 228, Internet 806
- Bengals: Sirius 134, XM/SXM 383, Internet 826
Radio: Steelers Radio Network (48 affiliates – see below)
- Bill Hillgrove (play-by-play)
- Craig Wolfley (analysis)
- Missi Matthews (sideline)
- Max Starks (sideline)
Referee: Shawn Hocculi

Steelers TV Coverage

This week’s game will be broadcast locally on Pittsburgh CBS outlet KDKA channel 2, and other local affiliates.

Regional broadcast image courtesy of 506sports.com – Steelers coverage in RED.

Week 1 2022 Steelers TV Coverage

Steelers TV Affiliates (Subject to regional coverage/blackouts)

KDKA (CBS/2 – Pittsburgh)
WTAJ (CBS/10 – Altoona)
WHP (CBS/21 – Harrisburg)
WOLF (FOX/56 – Scranton)
WFXP (FOX/66 – Erie)
WCMH (NBC/4 – Columbus OH)
WKBN (CBS/27 – Youngstown OH)
WTOV (FOX/9.2 – Wheeling WV)
WQCW (CW/30 – Charleston WV)
WWCW (CW/21-27 – Roanoke VA)
KYUR (ABC/13 – Anchorage AK)
KATN (ABC/2 – Fairbanks AK)

Game Capsule

LEADERS (2021)	Steelers	Bengals
2021 RECORD	9-7-1 (Lost AFC Wild Card)	10-7 (Won AFC North; Lost Super Bowl LVI)
COACH VS. OPP.	Mike Tomlin: 23-8	Zac Taylor: 3-3
PTS. FOR	20.2	27.1
OFFENSE	315.4	361.5
PASSING	Mitchell Trubisky (’20, Chi): 199-297-2,055-16-8-93.5	Joe Burrow: 366-520-4,611-34-14-108.3
RUSHING	Najee Harris: 307-1,200-3.9-7	Joe Mixon: 292-1,205-4.1-13
RECEIVING	Diontae Johnson: 107-1,161-10.9-8	Ja’Marr Chase: 81-1,455-18.0-13
PTS. AGAINST	23.4	22.1
DEFENSE	361.1	350.8
SACKS	T.J. Watt: 22.5	Trey Hendrickson: 14
INTs	Ahkello Witherspoon: 3	Logan Wilson (LB): 4
TAKE/GIVE	+2 (22/20)	0 (21/21)
PUNTING (NET)	Pressley Harvin: 42.6 (38.0)	Kevin Huber: 46.4 (41.0)
KICKING	Chris Boswell: 135 (27/29 PAT; 36/40 FG)	Evan McPherson: 130 (46/48 PAT; 28/33 FG)

Steelers Notes

QB MITCH TRUBISKY makes Pit. debut. Started 50 games over 5-year career, totaling 10,652 pass yards & 73 TDs (64 pass, 9 rush). Completed 25 of 32 atts. (78.1 pct.) for 271 yards & had 2 TDs (1 pass, 1 rush) for 112.4 rating in only career start vs. Cin. (12/10/17 w/ Chi.). Is 3-0 with 100.5 rating in 3 career starts vs. AFC North.
RB NAJEE HARRIS led all rookies with 1,667 scrimmage yards (1,200 rush, 467 rec.) last season & ranked 2nd with 10 TDs (7 rush, 3 rec.). Led all RBs with 74 catches in 2021. Totaled 667 scrimmage yards (111.2 per game) in 6 division games last season.
WR DIONTAE JOHNSON set career highs in catches (107), rec. yards (1,161) & rec. TDs (8) in 2021. Had 9 catches for 95 yards in last meeting. Has 6+ catches in 4 of 5 career games vs. Cin. Had 5+ catches in each of 8 road games last season.
WR CHASE CLAYPOOL had career-high 956 scrimmage yards (860 rush, 59 rec.) in 2021. Aims for his 3rd in row vs. Cin. with 80+ rec. yards.
TE PAT FREIERMUTH ranked 2nd among rookies with 7 rec. TDs last season & had TD catch in both games vs. Cin.
LB T.J. WATT led NFL with 22.5 sacks in 2021, tied for most by player in single season since 1982. Is 2nd player (HOFer Reggie White) since 1982 with 13+ sacks in 4 straight seasons. Since 2017, leads NFL with 72 sacks, 3rd-most by player in 1st 5 seasons since 1982. Has sack in 5 of his past 6 vs. Cin.
LB ALEX HIGHSMITH set career highs in sacks (6) & TFL (15) in 2021.
DE CAMERON HEYWARD had 10 sacks & 15 TFL last season. Had sack in last meeting. Aims for his 5th in row vs. division with sack.
S MINKAH FITZPATRICK led all DBs with career-high 124 tackles in 2021.

Bengals Notes

QB JOE BURROW set franchise records in pass yards (4,611) & TD passes (34) last season & ranked 2nd in NFL with 108.3 passer rating. Became 3rd QB ever selected in 1st round of NFL Draft to start Super Bowl within 1st 2 seasons. Has 6 TDs (5 pass, 1 rush) vs. 2 INTs for 97.4 rating in 3 career starts vs. Pit. Totaled 1,319 pass yards (439.7 per game) & 10 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 140.7 rating in final 3 home games of 2021.
RB JOE MIXON ranked 4th among RBs with career-high 1,519 scrimmage yards (1,205 rush, 314 rec.) & 16 TDs (13 rush, 3 rec.) in 2021. Rushed for career-high 165 yards & 2 TDs in last meeting. Aims for his 5th in row vs. division with rush TD & 4th in row with 110+ scrimmage yards.
WR JA’MARR CHASE ranked 4th in NFL with 1,455 rec. yards last season, most by rookie in Super Bowl era. Totaled 368 rec. yards in 4 playoff games, most-ever by rookie in postseason. Had 391 rec. yards & 3 rec. TDs in final 2 home games in 2021.
WR TEE HIGGINS set career highs in catches (74) & rec. yards (1,091) in 2021. Had 6 catches for 114 yards & TD in last meeting & has rec. TD in 2 of 3 career games vs. Pit. Aims for his 3rd in row vs. division with 100+ rec. yards & TD catch.
DE TREY HENDRICKSON ranked 5th in NFL with career-high 14 sacks last season. Is 1 of 2 in NFL (T.J. Watt) with 13+ sacks in each of last 2 seasons. Had sack & FF in last meeting & had sack in each of 5 division games in 2021.
LB LOGAN WILSON led team with career-high 98 tackles & 4 INTs in 2021 & was 1 of 2 LBs (Shaquille Leonard) with 90+ tackles & 4+ INTs.
S JESSIE BATES had 88 tackles in 2021 & ranks 3rd among DBs with 406 tackles since 2018. Has PD in 3 of his past 4 vs. Pit.