The Pittsburgh Steelers cruised into their bye week as they enjoyed a four-game winning streak. Now they will have to put that behind them as they look to earn a season sweep against their divisional foe in the Cincinnati Bengals. Defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence was someone that gave them trouble in the first meeting, as he had two sacks in the game.
Katie Stratman / Imagn Images
Nov 1, 2026; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II (97) enters the field before the game against the Tennessee Titans at Paycor Stadium.
On Friday, team insider Mark Kaboly mentioned him as a player to watch for Sunday's matchup. On the season, he has five sacks, but in that first matchup between these AFC North foes he earned a game-high sack total for the season.
Head Coach Mike McCarthy did a lot of shuffling with the offensive line this offseason. However, he made a tweak to it early on in the season and the group has started to gel really well for the team. They are also one of the strengths to the offense as it enters Week 10 with a 6-2 record. It will need to contain the Bengals' defensive tackle if it wants to earn a critical season sweep.
On Friday, Kaboly appeared on 93.7 The Fan in Pittsburgh to discuss the upcoming matchup. He felt that the offensive line did a good job against the massive lineman the first time around, but also gave him credit for the presence he brings. The Steelers' offensive line will need to do a great job of keeping quarterback Aaron Rodgers upright as Lawrence looks to wreak havoc.
“They did well against him [Dexter Lawrence] the first time, but he was still creating havoc from time to time," Kaboly said.
This matchup is also highly pivotal because the Bengals have an easier schedule down the stretch this year. Earning a sweep on Sunday night would put any potential tiebreakers in terms of head-to-head matchups to bed. They will need to do so by containing a player that was a big acquisition for the Bengals in the offseason.
To go along with his five sacks this season, he also has a fumble recovery as well. Protecting the ball will be a huge component to the game, as the Steelers will need to keep the ball out of the hands of Joe Burrow as much as possible.
Lawrence also has eight tackles for loss for Cincinnati, making him a strong force for the interior of the defensive line for them. Defense has been one of the biggest issues for the franchise since Burrow came into the league. This year is no different, as they are 25th in the NFL in total defense, allowing 354.9 yards per game. Rodgers will need to take advantage of that defense in a game that can very easily turn into a shootout.
Steelers Can Negate Lawrence By Leaning On One Critical Strength Of Their Team
Through eight games this season, running back Jaylen Warren has been the biggest strength to the offense for Pittsburgh. Leaning on him, and the running game on Sunday night, would be a great way to negate any potential havoc that Lawrence will look to impose in the matchup.
Their defense is also 25th in the league in rushing defense, allowing 126.6 yards on the ground through eight games this year. Warren should be a name that is called early and often in the contest, especially with a passing game that has struggled for the Steelers this year.
Barry Reeger / Imagn Images
Jaylen Warren jumps into the end zone after scoring a 50-yard touchdown against the Colts.
Despite injuries at the wide receiver position, McCarthy did a great job of navigating through them and have his group on a four-game winning streak entering the bye week.
They will need to keep that momentum going down the stretch, as they will see some other AFC contenders on their schedule in the upcoming weeks. The first big test will come on Sunday night in a hostile environment and they will need to have a keen eye on the Bengals' defensive lineman.
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