The Pittsburgh Steelers clinched a huge Week 3 division win against the Cincinnati Bengals, but you wouldn’t believe what former QB Ben Roethlisberger is buzzing about regarding their defense: T.J. Watt had zero sacks, and Roethlisberger thinks it’s a good thing. Seriously, he’s actually feeling *better* about the team because of it.
When the Stars Went Quiet, Who Stepped Up?
Okay, so the Steelers grabbed that crucial win, but let’s be real, their defense gave up 27 points to Joe Burrow and the Bengals. Fans were totally expecting T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith, those absolute game-wreckers, to just take over and dominate like they usually do. But Cincinnati’s game plan? It kept those guys locked down. Roethlisberger himself talked about this on his “Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger” podcast, admitting everyone was waiting for the big splash plays from their marquee edge rushers, and they just never came. “You kept waiting for it, and honestly, it just, it never came from Alex or T.J., and I’m not saying that to bring them down,” he explained.
The “Non-A Player” Blueprint Flexes on the Bengals
Here’s where it gets interesting, and it’s why Ben isn’t sweating the lack of sacks from his top guys. He’s all about how depth defines championship-caliber defenses, and that’s exactly what the Steelers showed off. Instead of the usual suspects, plays were coming from the “non-A players,” the guys you might not expect to be the headline grabbers. We’re talking Yahya Black, Derrick Harmon, Payton Wilson, and Patrick Queen all stepping up and making plays. Roethlisberger said it perfectly: “You got plays from almost the unexpected, which I think is going to go a long way down this road that we’re on because you expect T.J., Alex, Jalen Ramsay, Herby. You expect those guys to make the plays. When all of a sudden you got other guys making plays now too, I feel better about that.” Think about it: on Cincinnati’s final, decisive drive, Watt, Highsmith, and even Cameron Heyward weren’t even on the field! It was rotational guys like DeMarvin Leal and Nick Herbig who sealed the victory. That’s big-time.
Why This Could Be the Steelers’ Secret Weapon
So what does this really mean for the Steelers moving forward? It means they aren’t just a two-man show. Ben’s vision for them is clear: “In order to be the best team that we can be, we need the defense from Week 1 and 2, and this offense.” He believes that when the “unexpected” guys start making plays, it totally opens up the stars “on the outside.” This kind of depth is what takes a good team to a great one. It keeps defenses guessing and stops opponents from just keying in on one or two players. This early season trend of role players stepping up is definitely something to keep an eye on. It could be the secret ingredient that pushes them way further than anyone expects this season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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