Steelers GameDay Cheat Sheet: Week 16 vs the Cincinnati Bengals

by Joe Kuzma (joe_kuzma) on December 22, 2023

Steelers GameDay Cheat Sheet is a weekly series featuring a quick glance at the upcoming Steelers game, including odds, records, things to watch for, and how to watch/listen to the game.

Series Notes

All-Time Steelers lead, 69-39
- Last: Steelers Win, 16-10 (Nov. 26, 2023)
Home Steelers lead, 35-18
- Last: Bengals Win, 37-30 (Nov. 20, 2022)
Away Steelers lead, 34-21
- Last: Steelers Win, 16-10 (Nov. 26, 2023)
Playoffs Steelers lead, 2-0
- Last: Steelers Win, 18-16 (Jan. 09, 2016)

The Coaches

Steelers: Mike Tomlin
- At Franchise: 170-100-2 (17)
- Overall: 170-100-2 (17)
- Versus Opponent: 24-9
Bengals: Zac Taylor
- At Franchise: 36-42 (5)
- Overall: 36-42 (5)
- Versus Opponent: 4-5

Gameday Information

Date: Saturday, Dec. 23
Time: 4:30 p.m. ET
Location: Acrisure Stadium
Pittsburgh, PA
Capacity 68,400 // Natural Grass
TV: NBC // Peacock // Locally WPXI-TV
- Noah Eagle (play-by-play)
- Todd Blackledge (analysis)
- Kathryn Tappen (field reporter)
Satellite Radio
- Steelers Broadcast: Sirius 85, XM/SXM 225, Internet 826
- Bengals Broadcast: Sirius 82, XM/SXM 226, Internet 806
- National Broadcast: Sirius 88, XM/SXM 88, Internet 88
National Radio: Westwood One Sports
- Mike Watts (play-by-play)
- Mike Mayock (analysis)
Locally: 102.5 WDVE-FM (Pittsburgh) & 970 WBGG-AM (Pittsburgh)
(48 affiliates – see below)
- Bill Hillgrove (play-by-play)
- Craig Wolfley (analysis)
- Max Starks (field reporter)
- Missi Matthews (field reporter)
Referee: Craig Wrolstad

SCU Steelers Coverage

Scouting report: Bengals visit Steelers in NFL Week 16

Team Leaders

Leaders	Steelers		Bengals
Passing	Kenny Pickett	201/324, 2070 yds, 6 TDs	Joe Burrow	244/365, 2309 yds, 15 TDs
Receiving	George Pickens	52 rec, 814 yds, 3 TDs	Ja’Marr Chase	93 rec, 1156 yds, 7 TDs
Rushing	Najee Harris	183 rush, 723 yds, 4 TDs	Joe Mixon	211 rush, 815 yds, 8 TDs

Team Rankings

	CIN	PIT
Home Record	5-3-0	4-4-0
Away Record	3-3-0	3-3-0
Record vs. Spread	6-6-2	7-7-0
Points Scored/Game	21.9 (14th)	15.9 (28th)
Points Allowed/Game	22.2 (20th)	20.0 (9th)
Takeaway Diff.	+11 (2nd)	+7 (5th)
Pass Yds/Game	234 (13th)	177 (28th)
Rush Yds/Game	84 (31st)	110 (16th)
Def. Pass Yds/Game	254 (27th)	225 (20th)
Def. Rush Yds/Game	128 (28th)	121 (22nd)

Steelers Notes

QB MASON RUDOLPH is expected to make 1st start of season. Has 5-4-1 record in 10 career starts, with 13 TDs vs. 10 INTs. Is 2-0 with 98.1 rating in 2 career starts vs. Cin.
RB JAYLEN WARREN had 68 scrimmage yards (40 rush, 28 rec.) last week. Has 55+ scrimmage yards in 6 of past 7. Had 62 scrimmage yards (49 rush, 13 rec.) in Week 12 meeting. Needs 48 scrimmage yards for 1st-career 1,000-yard season.
RB NAJEE HARRIS has 75+ scrimmage yards in 3 of past 4 at home. Aims for his 4th in row vs. Cin. with TD & 3rd in row with 95+ scrimmage yards. Warren (952) & Harris (872) are only pair of AFC RB teammates each with 850+ scrimmage yards this season.
WR DIONTAE JOHNSON aims for 4th in row with TD catch & 3rd in row with 55+ rec. yards. Had 50 rec. yards in Week 12 meeting & has 50+ rec. yards in 5 of his past 6 vs. Cin.
WR GEORGE PICKENS aims for 3rd in row vs. Cin. with 55+ rec. yards. Has 490 rec. yards (98 per game) & 4 rec. TDs in 5 career home games vs. division, with 70+ rec. yards in each game.
TE PAT FREIERMUTH set career highs in catches (9) & rec. yards (120) in Week 12 meeting. Aims for his 4th in row vs. Cin. with 75+ rec. yards.
LB T.J. WATT had 2 sacks last week, 21st-career game with 2+ sacks, tied with his brother, J.J. Watt, for 5th-most by player in 1st 7 seasons since 1982. Has 0.5+ sacks in 7 of past 8. Had 2 sacks & FF in Week 12 meeting. Leads NFL with 16 sacks in 2023.
DT CAMERON HEYWARD has TFL in 6 of past 7. Aims for his 5th in row vs. Cin. with sack.
DT LARRY OGUNJOBI had 3rd sack of season last week.
S MINKAH FITZPATRICK had PD last week. Has 5+ tackles in 2 of past 3. Has INT in 2 of his past 3 vs. Cin.

Bengals Notes

QB JAKE BROWNING completed 29 of 42 atts. (69 pct.) for 324 yards & 2 TDs vs. INT with 97.7 rating last week. Is 5th QB since 1950 with 95+ rating in each of 1st 4 career starts. Has 76 comp. pct. in 4 starts, 2nd-highest comp. pct. by QB in 1st 4 career starts since 1950. Aims for 3rd in row with 2+ TD passes & has 320+ pass yards in 2 of past 3. Has rush TD in 2 of past 3.
RB JOE MIXON aims for 6th in row with 60+ scrimmage yards & 4th in row with rush TD. Aims for 4th in row on road with 100+ scrimmage yards & TD. Has 13 games with 60+ scrimmage yards this season, tied with Christian McCaffrey for most in NFL.
RB CHASE BROWN (rookie) aims for 4th in row with 50+ scrimmage yards.
WR JA’MARR CHASE is 1 of 3 in NFL (Stefon Diggs & Tyreek Hill) with 80+ catches, 1,000+ rec. yards & 7+ rec. TDs in each of past 3 seasons.
WR TEE HIGGINS had 61 rec. yards & 2 rec. TDs last week. Has 60+ rec. yards in 4 of past 5. Had 9 catches for 148 yards in last road meeting & has 100+ rec. yards in 3 of 5 career games vs. Pit.
TE TANNER HUDSON led team with 5 catches last week.
DE TREY HENDRICKSON aims for 7th in row with 0.5+ sacks, 6th in row with full sack & 3rd in row with 1.5+ sacks. Has 0.5+ sacks in each of 6 road games this season. Has sack in 4 of 5 career games vs. Pit., incl. in Week 12 meeting. Has career-high 15 sacks in 2023.
DE MYLES MURPHY (rookie) had 3rd sack of season last week. Had sack in Week 12 meeting.
DT B.J. HILL is 2nd DL since 2000 with INT in consecutive games within a season (Gaines Adams in 2008). Aims for 4th in row with PD.
LB GERMAINE PRATT aims for 4th in row with 10+ tackles & 3rd in row with 0.5+ sacks.
CB MIKE HILTON had 2 PD, TFL & 2nd INT of season last week. Aims for 6th in row with TFL. Had 2 TFL in Week 12 meeting.