This defense is the real deal

[Roland]

(09-13-2022, 02:26 PM)TheFan Wrote: Pittsburgh was the 21st ranked offense last year with Ben as QB. At worst Ben and Trubisky are equal with Mitch likely being better. 

The defense gave up 13 points in regulation despite the offense having 4 turnovers, 3 of which were around the 50 or closer. Even the TD Pitt did score was after a questionable PI following a failed 3rd down. Pittsburgh had 13 total drives:

1 drive of over 50 yards
9 under 20 yards with 6 being less than 10. 

What more do you expect a defense to do? This is the NFL.

The problem with the stats that you're quoting is that they could be the result of our defense playing well or their offense playing poorly. How do you judge that?   You eyeball it and then you look at the stats.

The defensive stats - sacks, hurries, tackles for loss, passes defensed, etc - confirm that the Bengals D didn't make a lot of impact plays.  The Steelers offense simply failed to take advantage.  Until the end when it counted.

I'm not saying that they played poorly.  I'm just saying that declaring them "the real deal" or "great" is a stretch after one test against a poor to mediocre offense with few real impact plays to show for it.