The Pittsburgh Steelers are once again facing an AFC North opponent in Week 14 as they take on the Cleveland Browns for a second time in 2024. The Steelers lost the previous outing, having a subpar game from both sides of the ball. However, Pittsburgh turned it around in Week 13 against the Cincinnati Bengals and won 44-38 and had 520 yards of total offense. Although Pittsburgh's defense let up 375 yards (which isn't a surprise with Cincinnati's offensive weapons), the defense stepped up and made plays when the team needed them to. No game is perfect however, especially with some of the penalties committed by the Steeles players, like Joey Porter Jr.
Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Joey Porter Jr. makes a tackle during Week 13 against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Porter has been a great young cornerback for the Steelers and was a finalist for NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year Award last season. In Porter's rookie campaign, he was tasked with going up against stud receivers like DeAndre Hopkins, Amari Cooper, Davante Adams, Cooper Kupp, and Ja'Marr Chase. Through Week 12 of the 2023 season, Porter had only let up 277 yards and a touchdown.
Former Steelers quarterback and legend Ben Roethlisberger commented on Porter's penalties from Sunday on his podcast Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger. He recognized the mistakes Porter made, but also complimented his character and work ethic.
"The little concerns that I had a little bit watching the game, but not going to get too caught up in it, James [Harrison] and I talked about it was the penalties," Roethlisberger said. "You know, you got JPJ, got called for a lot of penalties and we’ve talked about that, that’s your double edged sword. You like the physicality, you like how he can follow receivers, you like how he shuts guys down, but you gotta cut down on those penalties because they’re going to bite you in the butt at some point."
Porter has continued to be the top corner for the Steelers in 2024, but a growing problem has kept occurring. Porter has been taking multiple penalties lately, which has allowed opposing teams to get in a better situation to score. On Sunday's game against the Bengals, Porter committed six penalties, with four of them being accepted. Three alone were pass interference penalties, something that can't happen during close shootout games like against the Bengals.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Joey Porter Jr. makes a tackle during Week 12 game against the Cleveland Browns.
Porter accused the referees after the Bengals game of having a target on his back for all the penalties he committed. Porter believes his play style is still good and will continue to play that way. Head Coach Mike Tomlin acknowledged Porter's penalties at his Tuesday press conference and said it was more a technical problem rather than his style of play.
Porter has had a lot of people to his defense, including Roethlisberger on his podcast. Roethlisberger went to the defense of Porter and pointed out that a weekend of bad play doesn't define a player.
"It doesn’t define you," Roethlisberger said. "As long as he doesn’t let it define him and he’s going back to work, which I know his work ethic, I know he’ll do, he’s a hard worker. He’s gonna come back this week and be ready to go to prove who he is and what he is and I think he’s an up and coming young lockdown cornerback in this league."
Porter will get a chance to redeem himself against the Browns in Week 14, but he'll need to make sure to lockdown Jerry Jeudy. Jeudy had one of his best games on Monday Night Football against the Denver Broncos when he went for 235 receiving yards and a touchdown.
Steelers' Defense Needs A Bounce Back Game Despite Bengals Win
The Steelers' defense is one of the best in the league, there's no arguing there, but they've had their weaknesses the past few weeks. Pittsburgh's defense has averaged the 19th most pass yards given up with 220.5 per game. There also has been a problem lately with huge chunk plays both on the ground and in the air.
Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Payton Wilson runs for a touchdown after the defense caused a turnover against the Bengals in Week 13.
Despite the chunk plays, the Steelers' defense does lead the league with 25 turnovers. The takeaways are almost split even with 13 interceptions and 12 fumbles. Game wreckers like TJ Watt have helped with these turnovers, as well as Nick Herbig, who has stepped in well in Alex Highsmith's absence. When the team needs the defense, they tend to step up and help close out the game.
Do you think Roethlisberger's take on Porter is accurate? Let us know in the comments below!
#Steelernation
