The Cincinnati Bengals are riding high this season. After a short two-game skid in the middle of the season, Cincinnati has rattled off four straight wins. An elite offensive attack, paired with timely defensive brilliance, has led to Cincinnati's best form in the previous two seasons.
Now, the Bengals are set to take on the team that handed them their first setback this season. Cincinnati's hopes for their first 3-0 start since 2015 were dashed by the Pittsburgh Steelers back in Week 3. That, combined with their loss against the Jacksonville Jaguars the following week, put a damper on what was supposed to be an exciting start to the season.
Now, a rematch against their division rival is coming up in Week 10. This time, it's Cincinnati who's hosting the Steelers. What should the Bengals improve this time around to make sure that they come out on top against Pittsburgh?
Less costly penalties
After being one of the least-penalized teams in the league last season, the Bengals started the 2026 season quite sloppily. That was seen especially in the first three weeks of the season, when Cincinnati committed 25 penalties through the first three weeks of the year. That number has since normalized, with the Bengals ranking near the bottom of the league in most penalties committed.
Those penalties hurt the Bengals severely during their Week 3 game against the Steelers. A lot of those penalties were procedural errors, especially on offense. They were called for three false starts and one illegal formation during the game, errors that are simply unacceptable for a team of this caliber.
The Bengals have since cleaned up their operations: they've been called for false starts just three times since Week 3, and they haven't been called for an illegal formation again. Against an opportunistic defense like the Steelers, the Bengals' offense can't afford to be behind schedule. Avoiding these silly penalties will go a long way towards that pursuit.
Playing the run better
One of the Bengals' biggest weakness this season has been outside zone runs, especially towards the left side. The Steelers exploited that to their advantage in Week 3, which resulted in a big game for Jaylen Warren. Warren finished the game with 127 rushing yards, three receptions, and 49 receiving yards. That efficiency in the run game alleviated a lot of the pressure that the Bengals could have gotten on Aaron Rodgers.
Warren was on a tear before their Week 9 bye, going for over 100 rushing yards in three of their last four games. Cincinnati's run defense was significantly better in Week 9, though they were still suspectible to bouts of suddenly forgetting how to play the run. Bijan Robinson's 100 rushing yards came mostly off of big chunk plays early in the first and second half. Barrett Carter, in particular, needs to step up and be better in the run game. He's been the biggest weak point in the Bengals' run defense, taking poor angles and just getting caught at the wrong place at the wrong time in the run fit.
Special teams mishaps
What really did the Bengals in during their game against the Steelers, though, were two crucial mistakes by the special teams unit midway through the second half. After a rare stop by the defense that game, Bengals edge rusher Cedric Johnson committed a brutal roughing the punter penalty that kept the drive alive for the Steelers.
Then, in the fourth quarter, the Bengals were able to force yet another punt. However, Ke'Shawn Williams muffed the punt while trying to field it, allowing the Steelers to recovery it deep in Cincinnati territory. These two penalties resulted in a ten-point swing that ultimately dictated the game.
Williams was immediately cut by the team after that, and Dohnte Meyers hasn't had any fumbled in any of his return attempts. In a game that's likely going down to the wire, the Bengals' special teams unit cannot afford to make the same mistakes again.
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