Former Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin Lays Out Bold Plan For Beating Joe Burrow

The Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals will meet on Sunday Night Football with first place in the AFC North on the line, and one of the people breaking down the matchup knows both sides better than almost anyone. Former Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin, now an analyst for NBC, has already previewed the Week 10 showdown. Tomlin coached against the Bengals twice a year for 19 seasons, and his blueprint for Sunday night comes down to one battle: Pittsburgh's pass rush against Joe Burrow and Cincinnati's receivers.

Tomlin joined NBC's Football Night in America studio team in April after stepping away from the Steelers following the 2025 season, according to NBC Sports. He won 193 regular-season games in Pittsburgh, the ninth-most in NFL history, and never had a losing season. Now he gets to break down his old team from the studio, and he did not hold back on what he expects to see.

In a preview with Cris Collinsworth, Tomlin called it a matchup of strength against strength.

"It's good on good — it's Joe Burrow and that Cincinnati Bengal passing game versus T.J. Watt and the four-man rush of the Steelers."

Tomlin's key point was about numbers. He believes the Steelers cannot afford to send extra rushers at Joe Burrow, because that leaves too few defenders in coverage against one of the best passing attacks in football.

"You can't rush five against Joe Burrow and company, man," Tomlin said. "He'll pick you apart. It thins you out too much on the back end."

Steelers' Pass Rush Will Have To Win Four On Five

Instead, Tomlin expects Pittsburgh to drop seven players into coverage to limit Cincinnati's receivers, led by Ja'Marr Chase, and keep the ball in front of them. That puts the pressure on the front four. Tomlin said the game will come down to TJ Watt and company winning four-on-five against the Bengals' offensive line.

"They're going to deploy seven people to minimize those receivers and try to keep the ball in front of them," Tomlin said. "And it's going to be about four on five in terms of T.J. and company versus the offensive line or the protection of Joe Burrow."

That is a familiar plan for anyone who watched Tomlin's teams. For years, the Steelers built their defense around rushers like Watt, Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig getting home without much help. Now it will be up to Defensive Coordinator Patrick Graham and Head Coach Mike McCarthy to decide how much to trust that same idea.

The first meeting showed how close these teams are. The Steelers beat the Bengals 30-27 at Acrisure Stadium, according to Steelers.com. Both teams are now 6-2, and Cincinnati comes in hot after beating the Atlanta Falcons 34-17 in Madrid on Sunday.

Tomlin also pointed to the history of this rivalry. "That's been the texture of this series for a long time because of the significant players on both sides," he said. A win on Sunday would give Pittsburgh a season sweep and the inside track in the division.

McCarthy is aware of that, too. "We've got a chance to sweep the Bengals," he said Monday.

SteelerNation has already looked at what this showdown with Burrow could mean for Pittsburgh's season, and Tomlin's take adds an interesting layer. Few people have spent more time game-planning for Burrow than he has, and his advice is clear: trust the four-man rush, keep everything in front and make Burrow earn it.

Fans will hear more from Tomlin before kickoff. He is set to join Jason Garrett and Devin McCourty on an NBC conference call on Wednesday at noon ET, and Sunday will be the first Steelers game he covers for the network, according to NBC Sports.

Tomlin's time in the studio may not last forever. SteelerNation has covered the latest on his possible return to coaching in 2027. For now, though, he is giving fans an inside look at how a coach who faced Burrow for years would attack him.

Tomlin ended his preview with a message for fans planning to watch on Sunday night. "Bring your popcorn and get your cameras ready," he said.

Given the stakes, his old team will be hoping the four-man rush gives fans plenty to film.

This story was produced with the help of AI and reviewed by SteelerNation editors.

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