Round 1 of Bengals vs. Steelers is on deck this Sunday in the Steel City, so here are four key matchups to watch for if Cincinnati is going to pull out the victory for a 3-0 start.
Dexter Lawrence vs. Spencer Anderson
Lawrence has been feasting regardless of who he is going up against through the first two weeks of the season. On Sunday, he will be matched up at times against Steelers right guard Spencer Anderson. The Steelers will give Anderson plenty of help, as will all teams facing off against Sexy Dexy.
Anderson has been a weakness
through the first two weeks. So even when it is Jonathan Allen, TJ Slaton, Kris Jenkins Jr., or any other defensive tackle for the Bengals, Anderson will be having his hands full once again. According to PFF, Anderson has a 42.6 pass blocking grade through the first two games. He has been credited with allowing 4 pressures and 1 sack.
With the Bengals defense coming off of a 41-pressure performance, this could be a long day for Spencer Anderson, or whoever the Steelers decide to play at right guard this week.
Amarius Mims and Orlando Brown Jr. vs. TJ Watt, Alex Highsmith, Nick Herbig, and Jack Sawyer
Amarius Mims has been one of the best offensive tackles through the first two weeks of the season. He has not been credited with allowing a pressure in his first two games, even after facing off against one of the best pass rush tandems in the league with Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter in Houston last week.
Another tough test awaits him with TJ Watt. Watt has been one of the best pass rushers in the league over the last ten years. This year has been no different.
Watt has accumulated 3.5 sacks through his first 2 games. While he’s a great player, I have the utmost faith that Amarius Mims can hold his own when facing Watt. Mims played really well against Watt overall during last season, and looks even better this year.
Watt has been moving around the defense more to start the season, so Orlando Brown Jr. will also be tasked with facing off against Watt. Orlando Brown Jr. allowed three sacks during the week two game against Houston. They will need a better performance when Brown Jr. is going up against TJ Watt than what we saw when he was tasked with facing Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter.
The other edge rushers for the Steelers are no slouches either, with Alex Highsmith, Nick Herbig, and Jack Sawyer all able to generate pressure at a high rate. Highsmith has 3 sacks of his own through the first two games of the season. Mims and Orlando Brown Jr. against the Steelers’ pass rushers will go a long way in determining the outcome of this one.
Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins vs. Jamel Dean and Asante Samuel Jr. or Joey Porter Jr.
Joey Porter Jr. has yet to play this season for the Pittsburgh Steelers at corner. He has been in a contract dispute with the organization, and Coach Mike McCarthy said he had a setback with a back injury in practice last week.
Whatever the real issue is there, this is another week his status remains up in the air for playing. That puts even more emphasis on Jamel Dean and Asante Samuel Jr. to face off against Chase and Higgins on Sunday. Even if Porter Jr. plays, I am not sure he will be full-go. It also wouldn’t be surprising if this is another week he just doesn’t play at all.
Tee Higgins had 5 catches for 95 yards during the week two victory in Houston. Chase added 7 receptions for 75 yards with two touchdowns on the day. Meanwhile, Dean gave up 4 receptions on 6 targets, or a 66.7% completion rate against New England. Samuel gave up 4 receptions on 5 targets, for an 80% completion rate against him.
The Patriots were without their top receiver, AJ Brown, during the game, yet still pulled out a 20-3 victory over Pittsburgh. This could be a big week for the Bengals receivers in Pittsburgh.
DK Metcalf vs. DJ Turner
Metcalf has not had a hot start to his 2026 season. Metcalf has been targeted 19 times through two games, but has just 8 receptions for 67 yards, and has yet to find the end zone this year. The Bengals will be hoping to keep him in check again on Sunday.
DJ Turner played Metcalf tough last year, and that was part of his breakout into becoming one of the top young corners in the league. Turner had an 81.9 coverage grade during week two against Houston. He was sticky in coverage with great physicality.
What Turner hasn’t done yet this season is get an interception. He would love to end up with one similar to what he pulled off against Pittsburgh last season. Maybe even one that doesn’t have quite the difficulty level of ripping the ball out of his hands, while somehow staying in bounds with possession of the ball.
