Steelers' Pat Freiermuth Has A Remarkable Track Record In Cincinnati

For the Pittsburgh Steelers, Some players just love certain stadiums. For Pat Freiermuth, that place is Paycor Stadium. The standout tight end has put up big numbers every time he has played in Cincinnati, and he heads back there this week for a first-place showdown with the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday night. Freiermuth does not have a great explanation for his success in the building, but the Steelers will gladly take another performance like the ones he has had there before.

In five career road games against the Bengals, Freiermuth has 29 catches for 414 yards and four touchdowns, according to Steelers.com's Brian Batko. He has had at least four catches and either 75 yards or a touchdown in every one of those games. That includes a two-touchdown night in last season's white-out game.

Batko also noted a family connection. Freiermuth's father, John, was born in Cincinnati. Freiermuth was asked about his success in the city on Thursday and admitted he could not explain it.

"I really, truly don't know. It's just one of those stadiums. But regardless of the stats and everything that I've had in Cincinnati, it is such a great place to play, such a good environment. Those fans, they hate us," Freiermuth said.

The Bengals will hold another white-out on Sunday, and Freiermuth said he is a big fan of those games. The Penn State product has played in plenty of them.

Steelers Tight Ends Have Become A Weekly Weapon

Freiermuth is having a strong season in his first year under Head Coach Mike McCarthy. He has 25 catches for 235 yards and five total touchdowns. He also scored his first career rushing touchdown in the 27-6 win over the Cleveland Browns before the bye. He is the team's short-yardage ball carrier on quarterback sneak-style plays, which the Steelers call "Nittany," and he has converted all four of his carries for a first down or a touchdown.

He shares the position with Darnell Washington, and the two have been productive together. Washington has 19 catches for 254 yards and three touchdowns. Since Week 4, at least one of them has scored a touchdown in every game. New tight ends coach Robert Kugler said Friday that the way they handle sharing the spotlight has stood out to him.

"They're very selfless. It's honestly impressive to see. Coming in, everybody said they're great guys and it's a great room. I've been lucky and blessed. These guys are awesome," Kugler said.

Kugler also pointed out that Freiermuth's football IQ has been valuable in a season with a new coaching staff and a new system. He said Freiermuth can step into any role, understands the offense conceptually and is tough enough to handle the blocking work that comes with lining up in-line. Washington, meanwhile, gives the offense a mismatch that most teams do not have because of his size as a blocker and a receiver.

Washington has become a bigger part of the passing game, too. He had three catches for 94 yards in the win over Cleveland, including a 58-yard gain, and offensive coordinator Brian Angelichio said this week that there is a real trust factor between Washington and quarterback Aaron Rodgers. At 6-foot-7, Washington is a tough cover even when a defender is in position, and his blocking lets the Steelers run behind double-teams on the inside.

That versatility could be important on Sunday night. The Bengals will focus on slowing down Jaylen Warren and the running game, and the Steelers' wide receivers have struggled to produce. Rodgers spread the ball to nine different receivers in the 30-27 win over Cincinnati in Week 3, and the tight ends could again be a big part of the plan. SteelerNation covered how DK Metcalf believes the offense needs to score every time it has the ball to keep pace in this game.

If history is any guide, Freiermuth will be one of the players most likely to deliver. He has never had a quiet game in Cincinnati, and the Steelers would love for that streak to continue with first place in the AFC North on the line.

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

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