Friday, November 29

Winning is the only focus: There's only one thing linebacker T.J. Watt wants on Sunday.

And that is a win over the Cincinnati Bengals.

However it happens, whatever his personal stats are, he doesn't care.

The only thing that matters to Watt is winning, something he has been preaching since the start of the season.

Watt's stats haven't been the norm for him the last few games and it's not because of a lack of effort. It's because teams are scheming left and right to try and stop him from wrecking games.

"I'm trying to do whatever I can to help the team win games," said Watt. "It seems like there's a lot of schematics being thrown my way this year. We're trying to figure out how to combat it week in and week out. Those guys opposite of me have done a great job. Everybody up front has done a great job of continuing to find ways to create pressure, even in the games that I'm not able to.

"If we're winning and we're taking care of business and guys are getting after the quarterback, I have no frustration. Obviously, I would like to play a part in it and I'm trying to do my best to navigate that. But like I said, when you throw that many schematics, it's not always easy to continually make plays, play in and play out like it has been.

"I am not about the individual stuff this year. I'm not harping on my individual performance. Yes, I want to continue to succeed and make as many plays as I possibly can. If it frees up other guys in the process, great.

"More than anything, I'm just ready to get this loss taste out of our mouths and move forward. We have a great opportunity this Sunday."

Watt knows it won't be easy though. The Cincinnati Bengals might have a 4-7 record, but they aren't a 4-7 team by a longshot.

They are loaded with talent, and on the offensive side of the ball it starts with quarterback Joe Burrow, receivers Ja'Maar Chase and Tee Higgins and running back Chase Brown.

"They can put up points and they can put up points in a hurry," said Watt. "They have a lot of dynamic playmakers. The running back is doing a lot of great things. We didn't see him last year. We'll see him this year for the first time. I think he's doing some great things for them and obviously all those other skill players go with it.

"And Joe is Joe. He makes a lot of plays. Impressive football team, but it's a good challenge for us this week, like it is every week."

Burrow doing the 'Joe is Joe' things oftentimes can mean extending plays well beyond what a defense prides itself on, and Watt knows that is something they have to focus on.

"We've been going against him for quite some time," said Watt. "He presents a lot of challenges scrambling to throw downfield. Not saying that he won't run, but it creates a lot of stress on the front four or five, how many guys we are sending to keep him in the pocket, to try to make those guys life in the back end a little bit easier because it's really hard to plaster coverage, especially when you have so many weapons like No. 5 (Higgins) and No. 1 (Chase)."

Oh, what a month: On Sunday, when the Steelers play the Cincinnati Bengals, the calendar will flip and that means one thing.

December football has arrived.

It's the time of year when the road gets narrow, when it might be cold outside, but the competition is hot.

It's the final push, the time that separates teams.

"My experience last year at Thanksgiving, that's when people are making their playoff run and playoff push to submit their spot in the playoffs," said linebacker Preston Smith. "That's when things kick off and get way more serious because you realize there's only a few more opportunities left to give yourself a chance for postseason play and submit yourself for your opportunity to win a Super Bowl.

"And it all starts in December, right after Thanksgiving."

The Steelers kick off December with another AFC North battle, this time taking on the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium on Sunday. It will be the third AFC North game in a row, and it will be the start of the final push.

"December is like a mini-playoff, like the playoffs before the playoffs," said Smith. "You go out there and see the best efforts, and give your best effort, and then go out there and finish the season out strong.

"Once December hits, you see everybody's emptying their tank and they are giving their best effort, and you start to see the best ball being played in December."

The Steelers will have to play their best ball this week against the Bengals and quarterback Joe Burrow, who has been on fire as of late, even if it's not showing in the win column.

Through 11 games, Burrow has completed 274 of 408 passes for 3,028 yards and 27 touchdowns, while only throwing four interceptions.

Burrow completed 34 passes for 428 yards and four touchdowns in a 35-34 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 10, while he had 28 completions for 356 yards and three touchdowns in a Week 11 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, 34-27.

"You just can't let him get into a rhythm," said Smith. "He makes some great passes. He gets the ball to his players and puts them in position to make plays. We know what he can do.

"You can't be a guy that can take your team to the Super Bowl, and you don't have ability to win games. A lot of their games have been close losses. They're just a few plays away from winning.

"You have to make sure you eliminate all those opportunities for them to be in a close game or take away all opportunities for them to win games."

Nothing like it: Tyler Matakevich's eyes light up when he talks about AFC North football.

The special teams ace, and linebacker, played the first four years of his career with the Steelers, before spending the next four in the AFC East with the Buffalo Bills.

Now that he is back with the Steelers, and back in the North, he is basking in playing in the types of games the Steelers will be facing on Sunday in Cincinnati.

"I was telling guys last week that these AFC North games are just different," said Matakevich. "It doesn't matter if you play them in the beginning of the season or later. But those games just mean a little more the further in the season they go.

"It's just that much more intense. You look at the history, and those games in December mean so much. It's cold out, you see everyone's breath, and guys are making big hits and stuff.

"That's what the AFC North is."

Matakevich does have something to compare it to with his experience in the AFC East, but in his mind, it just doesn't compare.

"There's nothing like the AFC North," said Matakevich. "You know what you're getting before the game starts. You know it's about to be a long, physical, hard-nosed, hard fought football game.

"Someone's going to come out on top, but it's the type of game that you're not going to know until the very end of the game. You always say I hope we get out there and beat the crap out of them and stuff, but these games always come down to like the last possession.

"That is just what the AFC North is about."

And when it comes to AFC North football in December, you can just throw it all out the window because it's on a completely different level.

"You've got to love December football," said Matakevich. "I was telling Payton (Wilson) some stuff. A lot of these young guys, if they were in college, the season would be almost over, they would be getting ready for their bowl game.

"Here, we are just getting started. We're starting to crank it up a little bit because now all these games mean something. I think that's an important part that guys try to tell these young players, how important each of these games are. Every game is important, but once you get to December, every single game is so important."

Wilson has been listening to Matakevich and the other veterans, as well as getting some good tips from special teams coordinator Danny Smith.

"Every game matters, and obviously all season it does," said Wilson. "But I think Danny Smith summed it up pretty well. He said we haven't really done much. All we've done is put ourselves in a position to be in it.

"We have a lot of football to play in. Every single one of these games matter, especially since every single one of them are almost divisional opponents for us.

"We have to continue to execute and prepare like it's game one, week one, just keeping that same attitude."

Wilson has been watching the way the veterans are handling this point of the season, making sure he is mimicking the things they are doing so he is ready for the long haul.

"It's the professionalism they have when it comes to their bodies, how they survive 17 games, plus three preseason games, plus the postseason, if you're lucky enough to make it," said Wilson. "It's just been really cool to see guys like Elandon (Roberts) take such good care of his body in the way that he goes throughout his week. And T.J. (Watt), Cam (Heyward), Minkah (Fitzpatrick), all those older veteran guys taking care of their bodies. It shows a lot."

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Thursday, November 28
Happy Thanksgiving

No margin of error: Thanksgiving is a day when families gather around the table to enjoy a big meal, give thanks for all of their blessings, and then sit back and relax as the turkey and pumpkin pie settle in.

For linebacker Elandon Roberts it's all of that and more.

It's the day when football changes.

Earlier this season, Roberts was talking about getting things corrected on defense at the early stages of the season, because when Thanksgiving hits, things are different.

"It's big at the beginning of the season to get them things corrected, so after Thanksgiving, when this football thing really gets amped up, you're locked in and focused on everything," said Roberts leading into the Monday night game against the New York Giants.

When the Steelers take on the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday at Paycor Stadium, football after Thanksgiving will officially be on the table.

And Roberts can't wait.

"Exactly. This is the time," said Roberts. "It's just different.

"Every team right now is fighting for their seeds. Every team is thinking we can't lose any more. You start seeing teams who are in the thick of a division fight.

"This is big-time football. The margin of error is small after Thanksgiving for every team. To sum it all up, the margin of error is small after Thanksgiving and every team knows it."

With that knowledge, knowing the margin of error is minimal, attitudes can change. Sure, there is intensity from Day 1 of the season. But it's a little bit different right now.

"Absolutely. Absolutely," said Roberts. "Every game you're going to be in the thick of it in this league. You know you are not going to blow people out.

"Every game after Thanksgiving is going to come down to the end."

Nothing like the North: Linebacker Preston Smith is preparing for just his fourth game with the Steelers after the team acquired him via a trade with the Green Bay Packers, but it's the third AFC North game that he will be a part of.

And he is already loving what kind of football the division brings.

"I've adapted pretty quick," said Smith. "Coming in and playing the last two of my three games here against an AFC North opponent, it's been intense.

"I'm loving it. I love the rivalries and the intensity of the games. It's pretty exciting to be a part of it."

Smith doesn't mind the fact that this will be the third straight division game, with a fourth straight one on the horizon, as it takes things up a level at a time of year when the heat is on.

"In order to get to the playoffs, you want to win your division to give yourself at least one home game," said Smith. "You have to win your division to give yourself an opportunity to play in the postseason. And what better time to fight to win your division, than playing against a division opponent.

"It's been great. This being the third in a row, if we want to win our division, this is what you get. This is what you ask for, to play against division opponents and play against them at their best or worst, however it may come. You want to play against them no matter how it's lined up."

Knowing what the defense can do: For the third straight week, the Steelers are facing an AFC North foe as they battle to hold onto first place in the division.

The Steelers are 8-3 overall, 1-1 in the division, while the Bengals are 4-7, 1-2 in the division.

As everyone knows, though, when it comes to AFC North play, throw records out the window.

Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow has been playing lights out football, even if it hasn't shown in the win column the last few weeks.

Nose tackle Keeanu Benton knows containing Burrow is going to be a key, but the defense has to focus more on what they do as a unit than what Burrow is capable of.

"First of all, I think it's us going out there and knowing what we can do as a defense," said Benton. "Being confident in our defense and what we've done up to this point.

"It's hard to get him uncomfortable. But when you put quarterbacks down a couple times, it's going to make them uncomfortable and make them watch the rush and they can't read their keys as good.

"I think we should be able to get after him with the defense we have this year."

Burrow has been sacked 26 times through 11 games, but one area where he hasn't had any issues is with interceptions. He has thrown only four interceptions, something the Steelers are hoping to change this week.

"When we played Baltimore, everyone said they didn't fumble, but we found a way to do it," said Benton of the Steelers defense that forced two fumbles. "I think it's just a challenge for our defense that we've got to go out there and make it real."

And there is never a better time to 'make it real' than now. It's the time of year as Coach Mike Tomlin says, the road gets narrow.

"December football hits different," said Benton. "It's the attrition part. Obviously, guys could be banged up. Teams aren't what they were in the beginning of the season. Teams could either excel or they could decline throughout December ball for sure.

"I think the key is staying healthy. Making sure that you're communicating still. Don't take your foot off the gas in terms of communicating with your teammates. Making sure everything's aligned, making sure you're taking care of your job and not trying to do too much. Not thinking you're too good."

Scharping knows who they are: The Steelers' first trip to Cincinnati will be offensive lineman Max Scharping's second visit to the NFL city he called home in 2022 and 2023.

"I actually went back earlier in the year when I was on P-squad (the practice squad) with Washington," Scharping said. "It'll be good to see the guys again. It'll be a good time. It's always been a good AFC North (Division) rivalry. I'm excited about going back. It should be a good game."

Scharping appeared in 31 games for the Bengals over his two seasons in Cincinnati. But it doesn't take a player with his intimate understanding of the team and the operation in Cincinnati to have a grasp of what will be waiting for the Steelers on Sunday afternoon at Paycor Stadium.

"You know who their playmakers are," Scharping maintained. "Obviously, they have (quarterback Joe) Burrow, all the (wide) receivers (Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Andrei Iosivas among them), Chase Brown's a pretty good up and coming running back.

"I wasn't there with Mike Gesicki but everything I've heard said he's a pretty good tight end."

Scharping, 28, broke into the NFL as a second-round pick of the Texans out of Northern Illinois in 2019. He spent three seasons in Houston prior to playing the last two in Cincinnati. The Steelers signed Scharping off Washington's practice squad in October.

He recalled Cincinnati as an equal-opportunity participant when it comes to the twice-annual confrontations with the Bengals' AFC North brethren.

"They're all tough, that was the consensus," he said. "Every single game you're playing in this division is going to be a tough game. I don't know if there was a specific hierarchy or not. It was just 'AFC North Week,'" whenever the Steelers, Ravens or Browns showed up next on the schedule."

Scharping emphasized the Steelers would be wise not to read anything into the Bengals' 4-7 record during preparation.

"It's a good team," he maintained. "Their record doesn't really reflect how good of a team they are. We gotta be prepared and approach the week like it's a real test, and it will be. I'm sure (Burrow) is trying to motivate the guys and get them on the right track. They play us twice a year so they know they're going to get another shot but they want this one at home, for sure."

-- Blog entry by Mike Prisuta

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Wednesday, November 27

Ready for a battle: The Steelers will face a Cincinnati Bengals team on Sunday that is hungry to get back in the win column after losing their last two games and fighting to get back into the playoff race at 4-7.

And if there is one thing veteran defensive tackle Cameron Heyward knows, the Bengals are going to bring everything they have this week to accomplish that.

And the defense has to be ready.

"I think when your backs are against the wall, you are aggressive," said Heyward. "But I think they're aggressive in every game. Sometimes they have been in fourth-and-two and go deep, try to steal yards. But when you've got an offense like they have, you have to be aggressive."

The fourth-and-two play Heyward was referencing was against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 11. The Bengals, who at the time were trailing, 27-13, were facing a fourth-and-two at the Chargers 42-yard line in the third quarter. Burrow hit receiver Tee Higgins in stride inside the five-yard line for a 42-yard touchdown.

Heyward is well aware what the combination of Burrow, Higgins and all-everything receiver Ja'Marr Chase can do to a defense, and understands they have to be ready for anything and everything.

"You've got two top-flight wide receivers and a really good quarterback that can sling it around to everybody," said Heyward. "We have to bring four-man pressure, five-man pressure, whatever you do, you've got to get pressure on him because he is elite at extending plays, buying extra time. I talked about those two wide receivers. If you give them a crease, they are going to make a big play."

While Burrow might differ at quarterback from Lamar Jackson, who can take off and run at any point, he does still have a 'mobility' of sorts that the defense has to be aware of.

"It's mobility, but it's not mobility to run and take off," said Heyward. "It's mobility to extend plays. So, we've got to do a good job of rushing. Guys have to get off blocks, have to keep making moves. And then our defensive backs can't sell out to stop the run because he'll dice you up."

So many weapons: Joe Burrow.

Ja'Marr Chase.

Tee Higgins.

The combination, along with other weapons, can be a recipe for disaster for an opposing defense when they go against the Cincinnati Bengals offense.

In the Bengals last two games, both of them losses, Burrow became the first quarterback in NFL history to have at least 50 passing attempts, 350 yards and three touchdown passes with no interceptions in consecutive games.

Burrow completed 34 passes for 428 yards and four touchdowns in a 35-34 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 10, while he had 28 completions for 356 yards and three touchdowns in a Week 11 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, 34-27.

Chase has 73 receptions for 1,056 yards and 12 touchdowns this season. He lit it up with 11 receptions for 264 yards and three touchdowns against the Ravens in Week 10 and has three 100 plus yard games this season.

Higgins, who has been hampered by injuries this year, came back with a vengeance in Week 11 against the Chargers with nine receptions for 148 yards and a touchdown.

It all makes for a deadly combination, including when you factor in running back Chase Brown.

"It's a great offense," said cornerback Donte Jackson. "A lot of great players. They've been playing a lot of great ball. It's going to just take everybody executing, detailing and playing a full game together."

Jackson knows with the combination of Chase and Higgins, the secondary is going to be tasked with a lot this week. The key is, just doing their job.

"It's an awesome tandem," said Jackson. "One of the best duos, if not the best duo, in this league. Chase has been unbelievable. And they've got arguably one of the best quarterbacks in this league throwing him the ball man.

"It doesn't get any better than that on offense. That's why I say it's going to take all 11 guys detailing their job and executing. It's definitely going to take a full defensive effort because they have a lot of playmakers and a lot of home run hitters.

"Explosive offense that comes to stadiums to run you out defensively."

Jackson is familiar with Burrow and Chase, as all three of them are LSU products, and knows what they bring to the table.

"Burrow has been lights out basically since he stepped foot in this league," said Jackson. "He's one of those guys who just has that killer instinct that you want at the quarterback position. His ability to throw the ball and not make any bad decisions with the rock. The killer instinct is one of those traits that he has that not a lot of guys possess at this level.

"And Chase, he's a home run hitter that can turn a quick screen into a 90-yard touchdown, can turn a quick slant into one. A guy that's very dynamic on the perimeter. Also, their back, No. 30 (Brown), he's a really good downhill guy.

"Definitely an explosive offense with a lot of weapons that can beat you in different ways."

Ramping it up: Linebacker Alex Highsmith is hoping to be back on the field on Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals as he is fighting to return from an ankle injury that sidelined him the last two weeks.

There is nothing Highsmith wants more than to be a part of AFC North football, especially after missing the Ravens and Browns games.

"The intensity is definitely ramped up," said Highsmith. "These last couple, especially starting off with the Ravens and going Thursday night against the Browns. We thrive in these type of moments.

"We have to thrive in being uncomfortable in these situations, because it's obviously tougher playing back-to-back-back division games. But we know what type of team we are, what type of players we have. We just have to continue to get better."

And the defense will have to be at their best on Sunday against a Bengals offense led by quarterback Joe Burrow.

"They're the dynamic and great offense that they've always been," said Highsmith. "Joe is playing great, Ja'Marr (Chase) is playing great. Tee (Higgins) is back for this game as well.

"They're a dangerous offense like they have been the past few years, and we know that we've got to get after them, especially up front. We have to bring a lot of pressure. The goal is start fast and jump on them early because times where we have been successful is when we have taken the ball away and we get sacks, forced turnovers. So that's what we got to do.

"We've just got to be relentless on the defensive side because they've got a lot of weapons and they're a good offense, so we've got to get after them."

Back to work: Defensive tackle Montravius Adams Sr. returned to practice today but remains on the Reserve/Injured, Designated for Return List.

The Steelers have a 21-day window to either activate him to the 53-man roster, or he remains out for the remainder of the season

Adams was placed on the Reserve/Injured List on Oct. 22 with a knee injury. He appeared in seven games before his injury, recording eight tackles, five of them solo stops, and one sack.

For his career, Adams has played in 92 games with 24 starts. He has 117 career tackles, 57 of them solo stops, and two and a half sacks.

Adams was originally drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft. He spent four seasons with the Packers before signing with the New England Patriots in 2021. He also spent part of the 2021 season with the New Orleans Saints, before the Steelers claimed him off their practice squad.

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Tuesday, November 26

Focused on the small things: Receiver Calvin Austin is one of only two Steelers who have made their way into the end zone in the last two games, scoring a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Browns.

But he isn't worried about the lack of red zone efficiency.

In the loss to the Browns last Thursday night, the Steelers were 1 for 2 in the red zone, while in the win over the Ravens they were 0-4.

"It's just focusing on ourselves and details, small things, execution," said Austin. "That's been our primary focus this week.

"Obviously when you don't execute it is usually something that you're doing. Defenses obviously have a great game plan, and sometimes a bend but don't break defense. But at the end of the day when you look back at it, if we're kicking field goals and not getting points, it's always something that we're doing. It's something that can be fixed."

While they didn't come out with the ultimate goal of a victory against the Browns, getting the ball in the end zone in the fourth quarter was a key.

"You can look back at those plays and see how everybody executed," said Austin. "A lot of times when you see those plays happen, it comes from every guy doing their assignment. Nothing really too crazy or anything.

"Obviously you have those big time plays and stuff, but sometimes just doing the simple things, doing your 1/11th, doing everything correct and getting the job done."

Getting the job done will be a key this week as the Cincinnati Bengals are a team that is looking to get back in the win column after losing the last two games.

"They've got a good pass rush," said Austin. "We always just focus on ourselves. Obviously, every defense is going to present some type of challenge. We know if we execute, whatever defense, whatever challenge it is, we'll be ready."

Hoping to be back: After missing the last two games with an ankle injury, linebacker Alex Highsmith is hoping to be back on Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals.

But, despite the desire to return, there is nothing definitive yet and it might be a few more days until his status is confirmed.

"I think later this week, Thursday, Friday it's going to really be more determined what I'll be able to do," said Highsmith. "I'm just progressing every day. My goal is to be back, it's an AFC North battle so I am eager to try to get back out there.

"I've just got to be confident and make sure that I can play on it. So, I'm just getting better every day."

Having his back: While many have tried to come down hard on offensive tackle Broderick Jones for penalties that have been called against him this year, Coach Mike Tomlin has always had his second-year starter's back.

And for good reason.

Tomlin knows what Jones is capable of.

"He's a young guy," said Tomlin of Jones, who is 23-years old. "He's younger than the rookies at his position, to put perspective on it. He's got growth in all areas ahead of him, but he also has an awesome skill set. We're experiencing some bumps and bruises associated with on-the-job training. I have no intentions of blinking, and neither does he, and we'll just keep working."

Knowing Tomlin has his back is something that gives Jones that extra push, something that makes him keep fighting.

"It's just something to continue to build off of," said Jones. "As long as you keep pushing, that one percent each and every day. Everything's not going to be perfect. Even though we're chasing to be perfect, nothing's going to be perfect.

"But at the end of the day, Coach T(omlin) always tells me he has tremendous faith in me and believes in me. I feel like I can do anything coming from Coach T. I feel like it gives me a little bit more confidence. I always had confidence within myself. But just hearing him say that it gives me a little bit of an extra boost. It's just good knowing he has my back."

And the entire line has each other's backs. It's a unit that works as one, and that is something that Jones knows has to be a focus this week against the Cincinnati Bengals.

One area where Jones knows work needs to be done is with the struggles getting into the red zone, coming away with seven points and not three on offensive drives.

In the win over the Ravens the Steelers only points came off of six Chris Boswell field goals. The offense didn't get the ball into the end zone against the Browns until the fourth quarter, after being kept out for seven straight quarters.

"Honestly, it's just us not executing," said Jones. "All 11 guys being on the same page. We've just got to do a better job with that because if we can get down in the red zone, we can push through the red zone. That's honestly how I feel about it.

"I'm pretty sure everybody feels the same way around here about it because we know the talent we have, and we know what we're capable of. We've just got to continue to get better in that aspect of football. I think that's one of our main focuses this week. So, I'm excited to see what it looks like on Sunday."

Jones said it's a similar story with their struggles in short yardage, everyone working as one to make things work.

"It's the same thing," said Jones. "It's all 11 guys being on the same page at the same time and executing. I feel like that's all it is.

"Football is about runs just like any sport. You're going to have your ups and downs, the trials and tribulations. You've just got to continue. As long as everybody's on the same page, I feel like we'll be all right in the long run.

"This is the time to do it, get everything right for everybody to be on the same page, make that run at the end. That's what I'm looking forward to."

Perspective on records: The Steelers' loss last Thursday in Cleveland was their third to a team entering Week 13 with a sub-.500 record (the 5-7 Colts, the 4-7 Cowboys and the 3-8 Browns).

Of the Steelers' eight victories, conversely, five have been achieved against teams that would reach the postseason if the playoffs started today (the 6-5 Falcons, the 7-5 Broncos, the 7-4 Chargers, the 7-5 Commanders and the 8-4 Ravens).

That doesn't necessarily add up, unless you factor in what defensive tackle and defensive captain Cam Heyward considers the handful of plays that invariably prove most impactful in any game.

In Cleveland, that came down to, among other things, a three-phase failure to make a play that needed to be made late. The offense couldn't convert a third-and-4 with an opportunity to move the chains and run out the clock. The special teams responded with a 15-yard punt. And the defense allowed a conversion on fourth-and-3 on the way to surrendering the game-winning touchdown.

"We just didn't make enough of those critical plays in those moments," Heyward lamented.

For the Steelers, those were atypical results in what head coach Mike Tomlin likes to refer to as the "weighty downs."

"We've stepped up in those critical moments," Heyward continued. "But on the flip side, those three losses we've had, we haven't had those moments. We're trying to change that where, no matter what team, we gotta have those winning moments."

Next up is a game at Cincinnati against the 4-7 Bengals, whose lineup includes the NFL's leading receiver (wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase, 1,056 receiving yards), the NFL's sacks leader (defensive end Trey Hendrickson, with 11.5) and quarterback Joe Burrow (third in the NFL with 3,028 passing yards and tied for the league lead with 27 touchdown passes).

"I think we're playing a really good team," Heyward maintained. "The roster is very good. And you look at their losses, they come down to those critical moments."

Among the Bengals' seven setbacks are a one-point loss to 10-1 Kansas City, an overtime loss and a one-point loss to Baltimore, a five-point loss to Washington and a seven point loss to the Chargers.

The winning points in the Chargers game, Cincinnati's most recent action on Nov. 17 in Los Angeles, were scored with 18 seconds left in regulation. It's no wonder Heyward anticipates another tight game coming up on Sunday at Paycor Stadium, one destined to be decided by a handful of critical snaps.

"The team that dominates that and gets off the field or scores in those moments is going to win that game," Heyward said.

-- Blog entry by Mike Prisuta

Practice squad update: The Steelers signed linebacker Julius Welschof to the practice squad.

Welschof was signed originally signed by the team as an undrafted free agent following the 2024 NFL Draft.

He started at defensive end for Charlotte but had his 2023 season cut short due to injury, playing in four games. He began his career at Michigan where he played in 35 games. In 2022 he played in all 14 games.

He is from Miesbach, Bavaria, Germany.

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