Week 3: Bengals @ Steelers

[HoosierCat]

Meyers will probably get more snaps but I would guess the biggest beneficiary will be Gesicki. They might as well just list him as a WR (and be honest snd change All to FB while they’re at it).

[HoosierCat]

First injury report. We got Allen (knee) and Hill (Achilles) as DNP today. Hopefully that improves but Navy might get his first action Sunday if not. Giant have a bunch of guys sitting too.

https://www.bengals.com/news/steelers-bengals-injury-report-week-3-2026

[Coltsguy451]

Looking forward to watching Lawrence shut down the non-existing running game and Poops-my-pants QB continually eat turf. We're jolly green giants walking the earth with guns...

 

[volcom69]

1 hour ago, HoosierCat said:

First injury report. We got Allen (knee) and Hill (Achilles) as DNP today. Hopefully that improves but Navy might get his first action Sunday if not. Giant have a bunch of guys sitting too.

https://www.bengals.com/news/steelers-bengals-injury-report-week-3-2026

Damn hoping Allen is alright, that guy has been awesome watch so far. Sounded like Zac was saying guys will get some rest during the week, so hopefully that is just part of it. 

[Allentown21]

Rodgers really is a glaring example of overstaying your welcome. Not just in sports but life. It's just completely meh at this point. I also think McCarthy will be fired after this year.

 

And I'm someone who thinks Rodgers might be the most talented QB in his prime I've ever seen. His 2010 Atlanta playoff game is still this most jaw dropping qb performance I've ever seen

 

 

[HoosierCat]

I’m grateful for Rodgers, since he’s the biggest reason for Pitt’s current run of mediocrity. What the Steelers desperately need is a couple awful years to put them in position to draft, say, a franchise QB and his stud WR. Instead, with Rodgers they’re just good enough to finish around .500, putting them out of the running for any truly blue chip talent. Please continue, Steelers.

[ArmyBengal]

I took a look at a comparison in what Yoshi was getting in each of the first two games and then Dohnte and Colbie.

Yoshi got 71 snaps and had 3 receptions on 4 targets.
Dohnte and Colbie combined got 40 snaps and had 2 receptions on 3 targets.

While there may not be much more in the way of targets, their snap counts should both increase.
Thing is, I like what Dohnte brings to the offense when simply getting the ball in his hands.
Call it quick screens, those little tosses as they go in motion and then still capable of taking the top off.

Nothing against Yoshi and I know Burrow likes him, but I'm hoping to see him get more opportunities like that.
It will also be interesting to see what more Colbie can do and his size is a matchup problem for the defense.
I'm thinking another possible redzone target is far from unwanted.

When opportunity comes knocking.......

[ArmyBengal]

Put me in the camp that was happy to see Rodgers return as well.
I shouldn't be this way, but there's something about seeing him get blasted in a sea of defenders that makes me smile.

I also don't think McCarthy was a good fit for the Steelers either.
Not sure what it is, but he's not the type of guy I think of when I think of Steelers coaches.
Something seems off about that team and I'm not sure what it is, but I like it.

[HoosierCat]

https://heavy.com/sports/nfl/pittsburgh-steelers/spencer-anderson-injury-nfl-news-bengals/ 

Quote

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy may be weighing whether or not to make changes along the offensive line in Week 3. After a new development that surfaced Wednesday night, McCarthy might have to.

Steelers insider Mark Kaboly reported starting right guard Spencer Anderson broke a bone in his right leg 11 offensive plays into the New England Patriots matchup on September 20. Anderson never left the game but his status is not certain going forward.

“It can be classified as a bone chip, according to a source, which brings severe pain that can be eased somewhat by rest, but it’s usually only fully fixed through surgery,” wrote Kaboly.

Well that sounds like fun.

[HoosierCat]

https://www.essentiallysports.com/nfl-active-news-joey-porter-jr-faces-breach-of-contract-risk-ahead-of-steelers-week-three-clash-with-bengals/ 

Posted just to illustrate sports media BS. If this were the Bengals, the story would be all about how the Bengals are cheap and this is why they’ll never win, blah blah blah. But since it’s the Steelers, we’ll, you know it’s complicated and corners are overpaid now and maybe he’s really hurt who knows, etc.

[COB]

31 minutes ago, HoosierCat said:

https://www.essentiallysports.com/nfl-active-news-joey-porter-jr-faces-breach-of-contract-risk-ahead-of-steelers-week-three-clash-with-bengals/ 

Posted just to illustrate sports media BS. If this were the Bengals, the story would be all about how the Bengals are cheap and this is why they’ll never win, blah blah blah. But since it’s the Steelers, we’ll, you know it’s complicated and corners are overpaid now and maybe he’s really hurt who knows, etc.

So great.  The Steelers think they’re special.  Hey, you’re a Steeler for life!  We drafted this legacy kid because Steelers.  
 

Then the kid turns into a diva locker room cancer.  
 

We couldn’t really ask for much more from the Steelers these days.  

[COB]

2 hours ago, ArmyBengal said:

 

I also don't think McCarthy was a good fit for the Steelers either.
Not sure what it is, but he's not the type of guy I think of when I think of Steelers 

The Steelers are flailing about, and McCarthy is a great example of it.  
 

McCarthy is, above all else, a teacher of quarterbacks.  His fingerprints are all over the development of the modern quarterback-centric NFL offense.  He coached Joe Montana, Rich Gannon, Alex Smith, Brett Favre, Aaron Rogers, and Dan Prescott.  
 

So what do the Steelers do?  They hire him into one of the most run and play defense oriented cultures in the NFL.  Then they sign the one QB who is essentially uncoachable, and oh by the way, that uncoachable qb already worked with Mike in a situation that was described as toxic, and it is a known fact that Rogers thinks McCarthy has a low football IQ.  So two games in and Rogers is already doing his “it’s my fault for not telling the coach what isn’t working” routine.  The most passive aggressive bullshit ever.  The obvious implication in that statement is that McCarthy is too stupid to discern what is happening on the field so he’s calling the wrong plays.  
 

All these years of Steelers bullshit.  And finally, it’s the devil’s chickens coming home to roost.

[TJJackson]

I just hope and pray this isnt a trap game

Always come to division games assuming it will be a tough fight regardless of the opponents record or perceived strength/weakness

The Bengals should on paper win this easily but the games arent played on paper

Give me a win, even 3-0, and no injuries and im happy

Make sure a second blocker (preferably a TE) is designated to double Watt on every play.  If he is handled, release as a checkdown receiver

[ArmyBengal]

40 minutes ago, TJJackson said:

Give me a win, even 3-0, and no injuries and im happy

I don't disagree with this in the least.

[volcom69]

Well looks like Allen is a DNP again today which sucks, not sure it’s anything serious, didn’t hear that or even see anything against the Texans. 
 

No underdog this week looks like they all picked the Bengals to win. 
 

That will be my main thing this week to watch, other years when they looked good they went into these games they should win and flop like they thought they could just win. I want to see that physical football they played against the Texans again show that they are the big dogs in the North!! 

[HoosierCat]

Possibly good update, Allen’s status is still DNP for Thursday but the reason is now rest/knee. Hill still DNP (Achilles) tho.

[HoosierCat]

Looks like GOD-El is at it again.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/50021366/nfl-fines-49ers-kyle-juszczyk-imitating-chugging-beer

Quote

Cincinnati Bengals wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins are also subject to fines for a celebration they have debuted this season. After big plays, the pair will rest their left hand beneath a bent right arm, which slowly unfurls into a first-down motion. Chase said it was something he and Higgins wanted to do ahead of this season and said it is homage to "The People's Elbow," a move popularized by WWE wrestler Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.

Personally I think the elbow thing looks dumb as hell, but I’m not the one on the teevee doing it so I don’t really care. But as the story says the league has been fining a bunch of players for innocuous celebrations. Go back in your hole Roger. No one wants this.

[HoosierCat]

23 hours ago, TJJackson said:

I just hope and pray this isnt a trap game

It’s not. It’s an egg game, meaning that this is a game in which the Bengals historically come out and lay an egg.

They’re off to a very solid 2-0 start. The media is starting to buy in and huge piles of good press are hitting the locker room. The AFCN preseason favorite Baltimore stumbled against a mediocre Saints team last week, leaving Cincy alone in first place. Now they have a chance to whip a listless Steelers squad, move to 3-0 overall, 2-0 in the AFC and 1-0 in the division. That puts them in a very strong position for a postseason berth already and provides some cushion against future losses. It’s not a must-win by any means, but this is the kind of situation that separates contenders and pretenders.

And when put in this position, the Bengals routinely shit the bed. Whether you call it paying too much attention to the press clippings, or not being able to handle success, or an egg game, it’s all the same thing. That’s what concerns me. They will make a statement Sunday. Question is whether that statement will be that they are for real, or just same ol’ Bengals.

[volcom69]

1 hour ago, HoosierCat said:

It’s not. It’s an egg game, meaning that this is a game in which the Bengals historically come out and lay an egg.

They’re off to a very solid 2-0 start. The media is starting to buy in and huge piles of good press are hitting the locker room. The AFCN preseason favorite Baltimore stumbled against a mediocre Saints team last week, leaving Cincy alone in first place. Now they have a chance to whip a listless Steelers squad, move to 3-0 overall, 2-0 in the AFC and 1-0 in the division. That puts them in a very strong position for a postseason berth already and provides some cushion against future losses. It’s not a must-win by any means, but this is the kind of situation that separates contenders and pretenders.

And when put in this position, the Bengals routinely shit the bed. Whether you call it paying too much attention to the press clippings, or not being able to handle success, or an egg game, it’s all the same thing. That’s what concerns me. They will make a statement Sunday. Question is whether that statement will be that they are for real, or just same ol’ Bengals.

Yup I agree with all of this and what alwsys puts doubts in our head. I’m so ready to see a different team for once, one that we don’t have to sit here wonder what will show up. I know they are not winning every game, but to see them play dominant football each week is what I want to see. I still can’t believe how physical they looked against the Texans and if they can do that week in and out they will win a lot of games.

Ready for the offense to take that next step and hopefully it’s this game. They are not in midseason form just yet.

So let’s just hope they want it more and don’t think just walking in will win this game, or all the talking heads talking good things gets to them. I’m so ready for this team to be 3-0 not sure the last time we saw that was. 

[HoosierCat]

2015. Started 8-0. Another case of what might have been.

[volcom69]

7 minutes ago, HoosierCat said:

2015. Started 8-0. Another case of what might have been.

Ah yes the year Dalton broke his thumb, and all hell broke loose after Hill fumbled, what could have been. 

[ArmyBengal]

Thanks for bringing up a memory I had all but forgotten.

Happy Friday bitches...

[HoosierCat]

11 minutes ago, ArmyBengal said:

Thanks for bringing up a memory I had all but forgotten.

Happy Friday bitches...

They call me Kill. Buzz Kill. 

[COB]

3 hours ago, HoosierCat said:

They call me Kill. Buzz Kill. 

It’s not working on me.  I’m driving the bandwagon.

[ArmyBengal]

I read “They call me” and what immediately came to mind is…

”I guess that’s why they call me, they call me the working man”

Coming to Cincinnati October 23rd.