Steelers' Nick Herbig Sends Direct Message To Ja'Marr Chase In Defense Of Jalen Ramsey

The Pittsburgh Steelers came into the Week 11 contest against the Cincinnati Bengals needing a win. The Steelers did just that, defeating the Joe Flacco-led Bengals 34-12 on Sunday. Pittsburgh’s offense was a bit up and down, but both the running game and passing attack got going. Jaylen Warren powered through the Bengals’ defensive line, while the Steelers’ quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers and Mason Rudolph connected on key passes, keeping Cincinnati off balance. The Steelers’ defense also played a major role, forcing multiple turnovers and limiting the Bengals to just one touchdown. 

By the fourth quarter, Pittsburgh had built a commanding lead, setting the stage for a dramatic and controversial finish. With just around 13 minutes left in the game, Steelers defensive back Jalen Ramsey and Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase got into a heated altercation. 

Ramsey threw a punch to Chase’s helmet, leading to an immediate disqualification for the Steelers cornerback. The incident drew attention from players and officials alike, as both benches briefly emptied and tempers flared. While the Steelers maintained control of the game despite losing Ramsey, the moment overshadowed what had been a strong team performance up to that point.

After the game, Ramsey claimed that Chase had spit on him during the altercation, which he said provoked his reaction. Chase, however, denied the accusation, creating a tense back-and-forth between the two players in the aftermath of the contest. After the game, Steelers rising star linebacker Nick Herbig spoke to the media. He was directly asked his thoughts on Chase being accused of spitting at Ramsey.

"I mean I don't know," Herbig said. "If he did that, that's lame."

Regardless of the details, the incident highlighted the intensity and rivalry between the two teams, and it left fans and analysts debating who was at fault. 

Despite the controversy, the Steelers walked away with a decisive victory, keeping their playoff hopes alive and proving that they could dominate a team led by a veteran quarterback like Flacco. Herbig continued to talk about his thoughts on Ramsey.

"Yeah, just trying to mediate it," Herbig said. "You know five is a heck of a player and a heck of a dude. I am so glad he's a Steeler. I love that guy. I have his back 100%. Whatever happens, happens."

As for the Steelers, it was a disappointing blow to lose a defensive back who had been playing safety so well. Ramsey made the transition to safety seamlessly and had been performing at a high level. With the secondary already dealing with injuries, Pittsburgh simply cannot afford to have star players disqualified. That said, if he was truly spit on, it could explain why Ramsey reacted the way he did. Still, Steelers fans weren’t thrilled to see him ejected from the game, and neither was Mike Tomlin.

Steelers' Defense Fixed Lots Of Past Mistakes Against Bengals

The Steelers played the Bengals on the road in Week 7 and struggled big time to contain Chase, Tee Higgins, and Flacco. The Bengals racked up 470 yards of total offense in that game. On Sunday in Week 11, however, the Steelers defense performed much better, limiting Cincinnati to just 297 yards of total offense and only 12 points. 

That’s a huge improvement, especially considering how poorly they played the first time around. Now the Steelers are 6-4, but all eyes are on the injury to Rodgers. The quarterback went down and missed the second half on Sunday, but Rudolph came in and played well in his absence, helping the team secure the win.

What grade would you give the Steelers defense for how they played on Sunday against the Bengals? Let us know in the comments below! Please feel free to share your Steelers takes with me on X @anthonyghalkias and follow me. I will respond!

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