Steelers' Defense Subject Of Disdainful Comments From Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase: "Not Too Many Big Plays"

The Pittsburgh Steelers' defense was expected to do great things this season, and while they have not had the number of splash plays many expected, they have given their opponents trouble. Currently, at 8-3 and atop the AFC North, it is hard to deny that the Steelers have far outperformed most people's expectations this season. They are gearing up to play the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 13, and apparently, their AFC rival isn't all that worried about the Steelers. 

The Bengals are currently 4-7, but should not be underestimated. They have been in many close games and are better than their record shows. That is mostly thanks to the high-powered offensive duo of quarterback Joe Burrow and wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase. The two have connected for 73 receptions for 1,056 yards and 12 touchdowns this season. 

Burrow is an outstanding quarterback who has gotten the best of the Steelers during his career with a 3-2 record. He excels at escaping pressure and rarely throws an interception, having only four this season. However, his single-game record for interceptions came against the Steelers in 2022, when he threw four. Pittsburgh is in the top five in interceptions through 12 games in 2024 with 12. The Minnesota Vikings lead the league with 16. However, Chase recently told the media he isn't that impressed. 

"Not too many big plays," dismissed Chase. "A lot of interceptions were pretty much thrown to them."

While the Steelers' defense did not look stellar against the Cleveland Browns in Week 12, it has been relatively strong this season. Fox Sports ranks them eighth in overall defense, and while their passing defense hasn't been perfect, they are fourth against the run and are tied for third in scoring, allowing only 16.9 points per game on average.

Regarding interceptions, Donte Jackson leads the Steelers with four, the rookie Beanie Bishop Jr. is second with three, and several players, including Joey Porter Jr., Damontae Kazee, and Payton Wilson, all have one. Like with all defenses, the Steelers have capitalized upon the opportunities they have been given; we saw Bishop be able to do that against the New York Jets when he intercepted Aaron Rodgers twice. 

The disrespect isn't really that surprising. In fact, the Steelers and their players are used to it. Bishop, who stepped up while Cam Sutton was serving his suspension, has been completely overlooked as a candidate for the Defensive Rookie of the Year Award. 

The Bengals will not make this game easy on Pittsburgh. Regardless of record, the teams in the AFC North bring an intense dislike for one another to the field every time they play. Cincinnati will be looking to follow in the Browns' footsteps and put another ding in their strong season. However, the Steelers have shown up in the biggest games of the season so far, and they will be looking to end any hopes the Bengals have of making it to the postseason. 

One Steelers Playmaker Has Been Quiet

Steelers fans could always count on safety Minkah Fitzpatrick to bring the splash. However, Fitzpatrick has been notably quiet since 2022, when he had his last interception. He had the most interceptions of his career that season, with six, but he hasn't had one since. 

During the 2023 season, Fitzpatrick's lack of splash plays was blamed on injuries. The former Alabama standout was also forced to play in other parts of the field to be able to provide coverage and wasn't able to play "Minkah-ball." 

He was supposed to be freed up in 2024 to roam the backfield and ball hawk, but the turnovers still aren't there. According to multiple Steelers insiders, this might actually be part of their defensive plan. They aren't worried about individual stats, but instead about wins. Fitzpatrick is still making an impact, and the team is happy to win games. 

Do you agree with Chase, or is this just trash talk? Click to comment below.

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