The Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals have had their fair share of intense, rivalry-like games over the years. The two will now face off in a divisional matchup to open up the 2022 season. That doesn't necessarily mean the two teams don't respect one another. As the final week of preparation for the game begins, several members of the Bengals organization are giving props to Pittsburgh because of certain units and players. The defense, Minkah Fitzpatrick and George Pickens highlighted what has been on Cincinnati's mind leading up to the season opener.
Pittsburgh Steelers safety, Minkah Fitzpatrick (#39) catches a ball with one hand at 2022 training camp. | Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Bengals star quarterback, Joe Burrow was very quick to compliment the defense, specifically the guys who play up near the line:
"They have one of the best front sevens in the league. They're going to get pressure on the quarterback. We're going to have a good game plan. I know the coaches are going to put the work in to help us and put us in positions to succeed. It's on us to go out and execute the game plan and the o-line is going to have a tough job. I'm going to have a tough job getting the ball out quickly and finding completions. That front is good."
Head Coach Zac Taylor talked about Fitzpatrick and his flexibility on defense:
"Minkah is a great player. He has come in and done a great job taking the ball away immediately when he got to Pittsburgh. That's been his M.O. You can tell he has tremendous leadership qualities. They're able to do a lot of different things with him. Will that change this year, who knows, we'll find out.""He's certainly a big piece of their defense. A guy that has been there now a number of years. They have a couple of guys that have been there a number of years. Their key component is their defense. They've been there. They know what their culture is about on defense. They've played at a high level and been a part of a lot of successful teams. I am sure that filters around to guys that are a little bit newer."
Burrow, although he has no say in what happens on the defensive side of the ball, touched on Pickens and how crucial it will be for the Bengals defense to have a plan to shut him down:
"He was a tremendous player in college that we thought highly of. I know that he had a real good preseason, so we have to be ready for him."
PITTSBURGH, PA - AUGUST 28: George Pickens #14 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on during the game against the Detroit Lions at Acrisure Stadium on August 28, 2022 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
Taylor also commented on the quarterback situation, explaining that the Steelers may have a few tricks up their sleeves and may not have shown Mitch Trubisky's full role throughout the preseason:
"They've had a guy [Mason Rudolph] in the system who has been in the quarterback room for a long time. They added a guy [Trubisky] who has been to the Pro Bowl and been successful. They added a first-round pick [Kenny Pickett] that they've seen play up close and personal for a long time. You have to feel confident they have done everything they can to put themselves in a good position there. I don't know what the offense is going to fully look like with those guys. I am sure there are some things they have withheld that we'll find out about on Sunday."
All compliments will go away once both teams hit the field on Sunday, but the Bengals leaders in the coaching room and on the field seem to have an enormous amount of respect heading into the matchup.
What are your thoughts on the comments from Taylor and Burrow? Let us know in the comment section below!
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