Pittsburgh Review

The Pittsburgh Steelers' defense showed promise despite their recent loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, as noted by defensive coordinator Teryl Austin. The team was defeated 19-17, but they managed to halt quarterback Joe Burrow's streak of throwing for at least 250 yards and three touchdowns in eight consecutive games. Burrow completed 36 of 47 passes for 277 yards, but only one resulted in a touchdown.

The Bengals were restricted to a single touchdown on four visits to the Steelers' red zone. Before facing Cincinnati again, the Steelers focused on improving their defense against motions, stacks, and bunches. Free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick highlighted this emphasis, which seemed effective during the game.

Austin anticipates that these formations will continue to challenge his team. "Absolutely, because that's what people do," he stated. "They're gonna move people... We've gotta be able to handle the movements."

Looking ahead to their playoff opener against the Baltimore Ravens, Austin is preparing his defense for the challenge posed by quarterback Lamar Jackson and running back Derrick Henry. Both players are considered among the best in their positions.

"When I look at this team... it really runs through No. 8 (Jackson) and No. 22 (Henry)," Austin remarked. He stressed the importance of containing both players.

In a previous matchup against Baltimore on November 17th, Henry carried 13 times for 65 yards and scored a touchdown but also lost a fumble in an 18-16 victory for Pittsburgh. However, during their regular-season rematch on December 21st in Baltimore, Henry ran for 162 yards on 24 carries in a game that ended with a Ravens victory of 34-17.

"We've got to do things better than we did last time," Austin emphasized regarding defending against Henry's explosive runs early in games. By limiting these plays from developing early on, Austin hopes his team can focus more effectively on stopping Jackson as well.