Steelers Absolutely Need To Have 'An Alex Highsmith-Type Game' To Beat Bengals In Week 18

   

The Pittsburgh Steelers desperately need to rebound in the season finale and end this horrible losing streak. If they win, they will most likely get a favorable matchup in the playoffs, either on the road against a struggling Houston Texans team, or maybe even a home game against the Los Angeles Chargers if things fall their way. If not, they may have to go on the road with no confidence or momentum and face the Baltimore Ravens. If they want any chance of even being competitive in the playoffs, they have to win Week 18. 

Steelers Absolutely Need To Have 'An Alex Highsmith-Type Game' To Beat Bengals In Week 18

While making an appearance on 93.7 The Fan, Super Bowl champion Bryant McFadden was asked what the Steelers need to do to secure a victory in Week 18 on both sides of the ball. Defensively, he brought up one player in particular. 

"Defensively, this got to be an Alex Highsmith-type game... TJ [Watt], clearly he's not 100%, and I think -- in terms of the extra attention that he's going to receive, regardless of him not being 100% -- it paves the window of opportunity for Highsmith," explains McFadden.

During Weeks 16 and 17, TJ Watt had plenty of issues. He has only recorded seven total tackles, one tackle for loss, and one pass defended. He has not been creating the splash plays that the Steelers have been used to. Like with every other team, they need to use the "next man up" mentality. If Watt is having issues, Alex Highsmith needs to step up. 

Watt rolled his ankle during the team's Week 15 game, and with the team playing three games in 11 days, there are legitimate concerns on how injured he was in each of those contests. With the mini-bye week after Christmas, Watt should hopefully heal up, be ready to ball out, and help send his team to the postseason on a high note. If not, Highsmith should be able to step up.

Steelers' Usual Secret To Victory Is Especially Key Against Bengals

McFadden also brought up the fact that the Steelers historically have success against the Cincinnati Bengals when they get pressure on the quarterback. It's been a generation since Pittsburgh has generally not been able to consistently rattle any Cincinnati passer.

"Our edge rushers have always had success against Cincinnati, even going back to my playing days," says McFadden. "It's something about our edge rushers; when they see Cincinnati, they see sacks."

Even though the last meeting between the Steelers and Bengals resulted in a shootout, Pittsburgh's edge rushers got a pair of strip sacks that would eventually decide the game. Both Watt and Nick Herbig forced a fumble, and those plays resulted in 10 points, including a scoop-and-score on the latter sack. 

On Hard Knocks: In Season With The AFC North, there was even a clip of Head Coach Mike Tomlin explaining that the Bengals paid big money to get a new left tackle because of how Highsmith completely abused the previous one. The Steelers responded to that message by attacking Burrow from both sides and making life insanely hard on their offensive tackles.

The Steelers' defensive identity has always been their pass rush, going back to Dick LeBeau's legendary zone blitz, or even further back when "Mean" Joe Greene was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year and the catalyst of the Steel Curtain dynasty. It's who they are, no matter what era of football is being played or who is on the coaching staff.

Unfortunately for the Bengals, that means they have to deal with that level of pressure twice per year. They can't expect their quarterback to just sit in a clean pocket for 60 minutes, no matter how great he is or who his blockers are. This is the AFC North, and if you can't handle the likes of Highsmith and Watt breathing down your neck consistently, good luck trying to win the division.