Scouting Report: Bengals, Steelers clash in NFL Week 12
Steel City Underground will provide fans in Steelers Nation a pre-game scouting report of each of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ opponents during each week of the 2023 NFL regular season, comprised of items from top storylines and insights.
The AFC North has been called the NFL’s most competitive division during the 2023 regular season, and on Sunday, November 26, the Cincinnati Bengals host the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paycor Stadium for a Week 12 clash. We look at the top news and conversations surrounding the Bengals ahead of kickoff.
Browning as Bengals QB
The conversations comparing quarterbacks Joe Burrow and Kenny Pickett (of the Steelers) have lost some substance since Burrow suffered a season-ending injury and the Steelers released former offensive coordinator Matt Canada. Burrow and Pickett won’t face each other and so eyes turn, instead, to what Jake Browning brings as Cincinnati’s quarterback.
Browning will get his first NFL start against a divisional rival in the Steelers, and that’s a true test. The Steelers defense has been slugging it out with opposing offenses, and often being the deciding force, all season without backing down despite a rash of injuries.
Browning is considered a more-mobile quarterback, but it’s not expected that his coaches will ask him to do more than what he’s been practicing. “I’ve been in this offense for a while,” he told Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com this week. “I know the offense… I’ll get it to the open guys. Just get somebody open and call whatever is going to help us beat the Steelers and I’ll just play accordingly.”
Browning started his NFL career as an undrafted free agent with the Minnesota Vikings after playing collegiate ball at Washington. He learned under Mike Zimmer and Kevin Stefanski, spent time beside Kirk Cousins, had no preseason snaps in 2019, and then COVID happened. He was picked up as a free agent by Cincinnati and only played during the preseason the past couple of seasons.
When Browning was told that the last Bengals QB to win his first start at home was Boomer Esiason, the last QB to beat the Steelers in a first NFL start was Brett Favre, Browning seemed to have the answer for what he needs to do to put his name on the list:
“Play on time. Play accurate. Get the ball to the guys who are really good receivers, running backs. And then when the time comes, extend, and make plays with my legs.” – Jake Browning
This 100 seconds is Jake Browning in a nutshell. pic.twitter.com/cw6gqj2D4r
— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) November 22, 2023
Injury updates
The Bengals may be without wide receiver Tee Higgins (hamstring) for the third straight week. He didn’t participate in practice on Wednesday. Cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt (quad) and NT D.J. Reader (illness) were also non-participants.
DE Sam Hubbard (ankle) and WR Andrei Iosivas (knee) were limited in practice.
“We’ll see how the week goes for some of those guys. A couple of those guys that missed last week. I think it’s all moving in a really good direction with them. We’ll just kind of see where practice takes them this week.” – Head coach Zac Taylor
The official injury report will be worth watching throughout the week to get a better sense of who will be available on game day due to Taylor being careful in revealing where progress is.
For the bulletin board
The Bengals will be wearing the solid orange jersey tops (white numbering only) in their game with Pittsburgh, a look they hope gives them an extra edge as they’ve not lost a game when wearing the look.
An undefeated combo (literally) pic.twitter.com/jFYUESkvjS
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) November 22, 2023
"We believe in Jake and that's why he's here and that's why he's getting this opportunity." pic.twitter.com/jtPFA3pgz3
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) November 20, 2023
"I wasn't playing the game dirty. I never wish any harm on any player."#Bengals LB Logan Wilson responded to criticism toward his play during Thursday's game in Baltimore.
Logan also expressed appreciation for head coach Zac Taylor's forward approach to addressing it.
"That's… https://t.co/hP3mHTGF99 pic.twitter.com/9wGX4CQF8e
— Caleb Noe (@CalebNoeTV) November 22, 2023
Bengals warming up to Migos “Straightenin” which happens to be one of my favorite workout songs pic.twitter.com/zmiA3QwaNk
— Kelsey Conway (@KelseyLConway) November 22, 2023
