The Pittsburgh Steelers have been a bit of a conundrum during the 2023 season. The offense has seemed dull and lifeless, struggling to put points on the board, while the defense has shined at preventing opponents from doing exactly that. Now with the firing of Offensive Coordinator Matt Canada, and the promotion from within of running backs coach Eddie Faulkner and quarterbacks coach Mike Sullivan, all eyes are on the offensive play-calling as the team heads into their Week 12 game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Edge rushing phenom, TJ Watt, spoke to the media Friday about the unique challenges the defense will face this week with the absence of Bengals superstar Joe Burrow and how they plan to stop them from scoring through the air.
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Quarterback Joe Burrow #9 of the Cincinnati Bengals looks at his hand after throwing a pass in front of Odafe Oweh #99 of the Baltimore Ravens during the second quarter of Thursday night's game at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland.
Burrow's wrist was one of multiple injuries sustained during the Week 11 AFC North bloodbath against the rival Baltimore Ravens. Now the Bengals will have to rely upon backup Jake Browning to help them beat the Steelers in this Burrow-less remainder of their season. Watt recently spoke to the media and in a video posted to Twitter/X by 93.7 The Fan. He noted that the Steelers should not get complacent with Burrow being out.
"It's definitely different, but the quarterback that they have in place has been there, has been in the system, has been in the NFL for quite some time. He's a smart guy. So there's going to be a lot of challenges. I feel like he's gonna still be able to throw the ball around the yard if he wants to. Just like every other week, they are going to want to establish the run and if we don't stop the run early in the game, they are just gonna continue to try to do it. That's always the challenge week in and week out."
Browning certainly doesn't lack confidence. While speaking to the media recently, he told them he is used to winning, it's what he's always done. He was the Gatorade Football Player of the Year in high school during both his junior and senior years. As the quarterback at the University of Washington, he became the second true freshman to start for the Huskies.
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Bengals backup quarterback Jake Browning is ready to step in for an injured Joe Burrow.
He readily admits he has a chip on his shoulder. He has been a player that has had to fight for everything he's gotten, and nothing has been given to him. He said he is now ready to prove himself in the NFL and show the Bengals what he can do. Browning is in his fifth season in the NFL. He was signed by the Minnesota Vikings in 2019 as an undrafted free agent. They opted to waive him and sign him to the practice squad. In 2021, he was signed by the Bengals to their practice squad and in 2023 competed with Trevor Siemian for the backup job.
TJ Watt Said The Steelers Defense Will Need To Be Ready
The Bengals say that they plan to run the offense they would run if Burrow were playing and Browning has said that he doesn't want it "watered down," he can handle it. He told Head Coach Zac Taylor to call the plays he thinks will win. The Bengals also want to get the pressure off Browning and the ball in running back Joe Mixon's hands. They feel that will help the offense run more smoothly. Watt told Chris Adamski from the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that the defense is aware of that and they are planning for every contingency. He acknowledges the defense has to run differently when a team prioritizes getting the ball out quickly.
"Get your hands up. We're still trying to get after the quarterback any way we can. All we can do is really trust the guys on the back end to try to make them hold the ball, pump fake, do whatever to get them to hold the ball a split second longer, and hopefully, we can get to them. Otherwise, just being able to shut it down. Like I said, one batted pass is basically equivalent to a tackle for no gain. we need to find ways to continue to impact the game."
The Steelers know what it is like to lose to a backup Bengals quarterback. Most of us remember the Ryan Finley game in 2020. Burrow was out with a torn ACL and their backup Brandon Allen was out with a knee injury. Finley, who was gone from the NFL in less than a year after that win, was able to run the offense and stage a 27-17 win over Pittsburgh.
Kareem Elgazzar
Cincinnati Bengals backup quarterback Ryan Finley (5) carries the ball in the first quarter during the Week 15 win against the Steelers in 2020.
The Steelers' defense struggled against Cleveland Browns' backup quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson during their Week 11 loss, so they are aware that there are no guarantees. Watt and the defense know that they will have to once again bring their A-game to help the Steelers' offense as they piece together their new system.
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