Key for Bengals is to protect Burrow from Steelers
While Bengals quarterback Burrow has only played the Steelers once, he’s fully aware of the challenges their defense presents. For the last three years, the Steelers ranked No. 1 in the NFL in sacks, and in his first game facing Pittsburgh, Burrow was sacked four times, twice by All-pro outside linebacker T.J. Watt.
“They have great players and great scheme to back it up, and they have, obviously, T.J. Watt and Cam Heyward,” Burrow said. “Now, they’ve got Melvin Ingram over there. We played him last year too. He’s a really good player, so they got a lot of different guys that can create pressure from a lot of different ways.”
Burrow might not have to face Watt at full strength. Watt has been dealing with a groin injury and has been limited in practice this week.
Burrow and his teammates are looking for a bounce-back performance offensively. After being sacked four times and taking nine hits against the Bears, the pressure is on the entire unit and coaching staff to ensure the Steelers’ defensive front doesn’t wreck the game.
“We’ve just got to be better all around,” Burrow said. “I can be better, backs can be better, O-line can be better, receivers can be better, coaches can be better. We can all be better. That’s what you try to do each week.”
Rothlisberger hopes to be ready
Steelers quarterback and former Miami University Redhawks standout Ben Roethlisberger told reporters Wednesday he’s going to do everything he can to play against the Bengals despite an injury to his left pectoral muscle.
He said the injury bothered him for most of Sunday’s 26-17 loss to the Raiders.