Pittsburgh Steelers Week 12 Recap: BLAME CANADA!!
Tyler Yasembousky, Contributor
The Bengals–Steelers rivalry is a historic one. The two teams have played each other twice a year since becomingdivision rivals in 1970.
Originally placed in the AFC Central following the 1970 AFL-NFL Merger, two teams currently compete in that division's successor, the AFC North. The rivalry would intensify in the 2000s when the Steelers took the Bengals out of the playoffs and also injuring Carson Palmer when they were headed to their fifth Super Bowl victory.
The Steelers lead the overall series, 69–39. The two teams met twice
in the postseason, with the Steelers winning both games after the
2005 and 2015 seasons. So, while this is definitely a real rivalry, it’s
been mostly a ONE SIDED rivalry in favor of the Steelers.
Looking at both teams in 2023, the Bengals are the ones who were
Super Bowl contenders heading into the season.They were just in the Super Bowl two years ago losing to the LA Rams in a great game 23-20.
With Joe Burrow as their QB, the Bengals were actually my pre-season pick to face the Eagles in the Super Bowl. (I had the Eagles beating them for the championship)
Unfortunately for Cincinnati, Joe Burrow had a season ending injury
against the Ravens on Thursday Night Football. Thus ending any
Super Bowl hopes that the team had.
Without Burrow, the Steelers were the favorites to win the game. But, we just fired our offensive coordinator, Matt Canada, after being out gained in every single game of the season. A move the Steelers have only ever made one time, in the entire history of the team.
That took place in the 40s ! That tells you how rare it is for Pittsburgh to fire a coach midseason it just does not happen. But unfortunately for Canada, THIS HAD TO HAPPEN.
We needed to breathe some new life into this team and honestly,
Canada’s offense just wasn’t working. It truthfully never worked
since he got hired.
Canada joined the Steelers as quarterbacks coach in 2020 and was
elevated to OC in 2021. In 44 games as the OC, the Steelers never
ranked better than 23rd in yards and 2st in points under Canada. In
2023, Pittsburgh currently ranks 28th in yards and points.
The passing game with Kenny Pickett has been particularly brutal.
Pittsburgh ranking 31st in yards and 31st in TDs in 2023 (finished
32nd in TD passes last season). The Steelers have generated fewer than 400 total yards in 58 straight games, including the entirety of Canada's run as a play-caller.
Sunday's 13-10 loss to the Cleveland Browns was also brutal. The Steelers only generated 64 total yards, including 15 net pass yards, in the first half. It was the second time the Steelers had zero points and fewer than 70 total yards in the first half of a game this season.
For the game, Pittsburgh generated 77 net passing yards, the fewest
since Devlin Hodges was under center in Week 17, 2019.
How would the Steelers do without Canada?
They would have their first game of the season out gaining their
opponent !!!! They also had over 400 yards which hasn’t happen
since Matt was hired! The Steelers beat The Beengals 16-10. Would I like a game not to always come down to the wire? Yes.
Would I want Kenny Pickett to start throwing some touchdowns?
Yes. (He actually had one that was called a drop and Pittsburgh
didn’t challenge)
But, a win is a win especially this late in the season with playoffs
coming up soon.
AFC North standings
Ravens 9-3
Steelers 7-4
Browns 7-4
Bengals 5-6