Bengals-steelers Preview: Burrow Climbs Past Mahomes in NFL History

WHO:

Bengals.com - NBC analyst Cris Collinsworth said Joe Burrow’s timing with Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins was “so exquisite,” and compared Burrow’s play to Joe Montana’s.

Bengals.com - Collinsworth said Higgins passed him into seventh place on Cincinnati’s all-time receptions list during the past three weeks and was fewer than 500 yards from passing him into sixth place.

Bengals.com - Collinsworth described Chase as “the best wide receiver and maybe the best running back at the same time,” citing his after-the-catch ability.

Bengals.com - Collinsworth said Cincinnati’s offense was “so much more passing game, quarterback-centric than I think anything we’ve seen,” and compared its short passing game to Bill Walsh’s approach.

bengals.com - Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, head coach Zac Taylor, wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, running back Chase Brown, and tight end Mike Gesicki are featured in the preview.

bengals.com - Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and running back Jaylen Warren are identified as key players; defensive tackle Derrick Harmon recorded the strip-sack that decided the Week 3 game.

bengals.com - Taylor said, “Joe is playing at an unbelievably high level right now,” and that it was “difficult to not put the ball in his hand on every play.”

Heavy NFL - The Bengals and Steelers are both 6-2 entering their matchup, which is for the outright AFC North lead.

bengals.com - NBC analyst Cris Collinsworth said Burrow was “MVP good” and that Burrow’s play reminded him “a little bit of Joe Montana.” He described Chase and Higgins together as a receiver pair unlike any he had seen.

steelers.com - Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy, game-management/quarterbacks assistant Tim Berbenich, defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, and linebacker Payton Wilson are among the people discussed.

WHAT:

Steelers.com - Pittsburgh activated defensive tackle Derrick Harmon from the Reserve/Injured List to its 53-man roster and released defensive back Terrell Smith.

Steelers.com - Harmon had 12 tackles, three solo stops, one tackle for loss, 1.5 sacks, and one forced fumble in four games this season before his injury-list placement.

bengals.com - In Cincinnati’s Week 3 loss at Pittsburgh, Joe Burrow completed 28 of 37 passes (75.7%) for 282 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions, posting a 123.9 passer rating. He led the Bengals to a touchdown or field goal on five of eight offensive possessions.

bengals.com - Cincinnati was the only NFL team to score at least 30 points in four consecutive games this season.

bengals.com - Pittsburgh allowed a season-low six points in its Week 8 win over Cleveland.

bengals.com - If Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins each record a touchdown catch, they would become the first pair of receiver teammates to score in four consecutive games since Houston’s DeAndre Hopkins and Will Fuller in 2017.

bengals.com - Chase’s 61 touchdown receptions lead the NFL among players since he entered the league in 2021. Higgins passed 50 career touchdown receptions and has 51.

bengals.com - Burrow recorded two rushing touchdowns in Week 8 against Tennessee and in the following game against Atlanta.

bengals.com - Burrow would match Peyton Manning’s five consecutive games with at least four total touchdowns; Manning achieved the feat during his 2004 MVP season with Indianapolis.

Bengals.com - Cris Collinsworth cited ESPN’s Adam Schefter’s statistic that Burrow averages 2.118 touchdown passes per game, the highest rate in NFL history.

Bengals.com - Collinsworth said, “I don't think there's ever been close to a pair of receivers like this,” and described the Bengals’ offense as more passing-game- and quarterback-centric than teams he had seen before.

bengals.com - Burrow led the NFL since Week 5 in completion percentage (77.0), touchdown passes (16), and passer rating (132.0). During Cincinnati’s four-game winning streak, he passed for 1,215 yards and 16 touchdowns.

bengals.com - Burrow is the fourth NFL quarterback with 16 passing touchdowns in a four-game span, joining Tom Brady (2007), Peyton Manning (2013), and Russell Wilson (2015 and 2020). He has recorded at least four total touchdowns in each of his last four games; four more against Pittsburgh would match Manning’s five consecutive games record.

bengals.com - Cincinnati averages 30.0 points per game, second in the NFL, and has scored at least 30 in four straight games, matching its team record from 1997. Pittsburgh allows 18.0 points per game, tied for fourth, and has held its last three opponents below 20.

bengals.com - Pittsburgh has 26 sacks, tied for fourth-most. Cincinnati ranks fifth in red-zone offense, converting 22 of 32 trips (68.8%); Pittsburgh ranks third in red-zone defense, allowing six touchdowns on 18 trips (37.5%).

bengals.com - Warren rushed for 127 yards against Cincinnati in Week 3. From that game through Pittsburgh’s Week 8 game, he led the NFL at 6.3 yards per carry and ranked fourth at 102.5 rushing yards per game; his most recent outing included a season-high 143 yards.

bengals.com - Chase has 61 career touchdown receptions, two short of Carl Pickens’ Bengals record for third place (63); Higgins has 51, two short of Isaac Curtis (53) for fifth. Both have scored in each of the past three games.

Heavy NFL - Burrow has overtaken Patrick Mahomes in an NFL statistical ranking, but the article excerpt does not specify the category or figures.

steelers.com - McCarthy is 2-0 on coach’s challenges; his successful challenge against Cleveland resulted in Harold Fannin Jr.’s fumble and a Steelers recovery.

steelers.com - Payton Wilson has six tackles for loss against the run, leading players at his position; he has seven total tackles for loss, tied with Nick Herbig and behind T.J. Watt.

steelers.com - Steelers defensive-line rotation includes Cam Heyward, Keeanu Benton, Yahya Black, Gabriel Rubio, and Kevin Jobity Jr. Opponents average 2.03 yards per carry with Rubio on the field and 0.25 with Jobity on the field.

steelers.com - Safety DeShon Elliott returned after a season-ending injury and has played two games since his return. He said his father’s illness led him to travel from the Dallas area directly to Cincinnati for a game; his father died less than a month later.

WHERE:

bengals.com - Cincinnati hosts Pittsburgh at Paycor Stadium; the game is also described as taking place in Cincinnati, Ohio.

bengals.com - Burrow’s Week 3 performance came at Pittsburgh’s Acrisure Stadium; the Bengals’ Week 9 win was in Madrid, Spain.

steelers.com - Steelers assistant Domata Peko returns to Cincinnati, where he played for the Bengals from 2006–16.

WHEN:

Steelers.com - Harmon returned to practice during the week of the Bengals game after missing the previous four games.

bengals.com - The Bengals-Steelers game is scheduled for Sunday Night Football, kicking off at 8:20 p.m. and airing on NBC, Cincinnati channel 5.

bengals.com - The preview says Burrow’s four-game streak followed Week 5; it also refers to matchups and team performances in Weeks 3, 8, and 9.

WHY:

bengals.com - The matchup is important because both teams are 6-2 and the AFC North’s outright first place is at stake.

steelers.com - McCarthy said Berbenich’s role includes game-management preparation and reviewing situational details with the team.

HOW:

steelers.com - Will Howard said Tim Berbenich discusses officiating-crew tendencies and unusual game situations in Saturday team meetings, including clock-management scenarios; Berbenich also reviews situations such as two-minute drills.

bengals.com - Cincinnati’s offense must face Pittsburgh’s pass rush and red-zone defense; the Steelers’ defense will seek to contain Burrow’s passing attack.

steelers.com - Berbenich works from the coaches’ box, identifies potential challenge situations, and reviews game scenarios, officiating tendencies, and clock management with players.

The 6-2 Bengals and Steelers meet with the AFC North lead at stake. Joe Burrow has thrown 16 touchdowns during Cincinnati’s four-game winning streak. Pittsburgh’s Derrick Harmon returns, while both defenses face high-powered offenses.