> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://nine-straight-threes.ghost.io/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Well look at that, a good old-fashioned barn burner - URL: https://nine-straight-threes.ghost.io/well-look-at-that-a-good-old-fashioned-barn-burner/ - Published: 2026-09-28T13:35:55.000Z - Updated: 2026-09-28T13:35:55.000Z - Author: Chris Mueller - Tags: Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers, Mike McCarthy, Cincinnati Bengals, NFL ### The Steelers just played one of their most entertaining games in years --- The NFL is a funny league, insofar as most of its most rabid fans staunchly adhere to the "it's a week-to-week league" and "any given Sunday" maxims, while also freaking the hell out about their favorite teams every single week, based on what happens in a three-hour window on Sunday afternoon. Steelers fans are, of course, no different, making sweeping proclamations and snap judgments on a series-to-series basis. Lest you think I am speaking down to the audience, I am of course as guilty of this as anyone. That said, I am trying to be better, which means trying to expect the unexpected, and therefore assuming that my first gut instinct about a game is often wrong. So it was that I immediately approached the Steelers' Week 3 tilt with the Bengals with suspicion. It seemed much too easy to predict that Cincinnati, fresh off a 20-6 suffocation of Houston, would prove too much for the Steelers. The narratives were all right there in the open: - The Steelers' offense was cooked after a hideous loss in New England. - The Bengals' defense, anchored by Dexter Lawrence, was vastly improved through two weeks. - Cincinnati had Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Joe Burrow, and the Steelers did not. - Aaron Rodgers was as washed as a quarterback can be. - The Steelers were going to break in two new starters on the offensive line, so growing pains were to be expected. So I ignored them. I decided to show a little faith in the Steelers, despite thinking that the line in the game, which was Cincinnati -3.5, was a little light. I picked them to take the field at Acrisure Stadium, fight valiantly...and lose, 20-17\. But they would cover, and great teams cover, as we all know. I say all that to say this: Even though I know the NFL is an unpredictable league by its basic nature, it was still jarring to see the Steelers do what they did Sunday afternoon. [Subscribe To Nine Straight Threes](#/portal/signup/free) They looked, for the first time in a very long time, like a real, genuine, honest-to-god, modern NFL offense. Whether you want to go with Jack Buck's "I don't believe what I just saw! I don't believe what I just saw!" or Al Michaels' "Do you believe in miracles? Yes!" is up to you. But either one nicely summarized how I felt about what I was watching. --- Something was different right from the jump in this one. This tweet does a nice job of capturing that. > This is the 1st time in Aaron Rodgers career he has multiple 20+ air yard pass TD in the 1st quarter of a game > > He was 0/11 on those deep passes this season entering today[pic.twitter.com/DOMplG9JLl](https://t.co/DOMplG9JLl?ref=nine-straight-threes.ghost.io) > > — Doug Clawson (@doug\_clawson) [September 27, 2026](https://x.com/doug%5Fclawson/status/2104265638042832900?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=nine-straight-threes.ghost.io) Rodgers was razor-sharp early, and it was obvious that he and McCarthy had the Bengals on their heels. The script to start the game produced a touchdown off a nice bunch formation concept that got Roman Wilson a free release so he could run right by a confused, flat-footed Bengals defensive back for about as easy a score as you're going to see (though Wilson didn't catch it quite cleanly, which would foreshadow something less fun later in the afternoon). The tweet above shows a touchdown that stands as one of my favorite play designs I've seen the Steelers run in, well, it's been a long time. Why don't we just go with that? > McCarthy using insert motion, be still my beating heart > > — Jon Ledyard (@LedyardNFLDraft) [September 27, 2026](https://x.com/LedyardNFLDraft/status/2104263919573561647?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=nine-straight-threes.ghost.io) Insert motion is essentially motioning a player (frequently a tight end) behind the offensive line and then having them "insert" themselves as a run blocker. It's a concept the Rams in particular have used frequently in the last year or so. A wrinkle is that if you have a wide receiver like Ben Skowronek, who's happy to block and has reliable hands, you can get sneaky and run play action off of it. In this case, the Bengals took the cheese and Skowronek was as wide open as anyone can be. It was a great concept that had Cincy so fooled that Rodgers got to play pitch and catch. [Share This Post](#/share) The best part about the fast start? It didn't really stop. Yes, the Steelers had some sloppy plays, questionable penalties and one very odd tackle by the turf monster derail some of their momentum, but they never stopped moving the ball, never looked like they had run out of answers for whatever Cincinnati tried to throw at them. McCarthy was in his bag all afternoon, consistently coming up with concepts that got receivers open, or opened yawning holes in the running game. Jaylen Warren racked up 127 yards on 17 carries, and would have had closer to 200 but for a questionable holding call on D.K. Metcalf that nullified an 87-yard burst in the fourth quarter. It wasn't just McCarthy calling better stuff and Rodgers executing it that was noteworthy; the offensive line, featuring tw0 new starters in Brock Hoffman and Max Iheanachor, looked the best it has all season, by far. Iheanachor was a revelation, consistently winning his pass-blocking reps and doing stuff like this: > Very encouraging first career start for rookie OT Max Iheanachor. Only allowed 2 pressures on 37 pass-blocking snaps per PFF. Struggled with some high side rushes, but the ability to anchor vs. power while still being able to match speed was outstanding [pic.twitter.com/1DeSn5TIRS](https://t.co/1DeSn5TIRS?ref=nine-straight-threes.ghost.io) > > — Mike Renner (@mikerenner\_) [September 28, 2026](https://x.com/mikerenner%5F/status/2104543837154849224?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=nine-straight-threes.ghost.io) Rodgers, in turn, trusted his protection more, climbed the pocket more, and generally looked like a player more interested in producing dangerous plays downfield than one primarily concerned with getting rid of the ball and saving himself from hits. > Aaron Rodgers had a 3.19 second time to throw today, his highest as a Steeler. > > On dropbacks longer than 2.5 seconds: 11/21, 213 yards (10.1 yards per attempt), 3 touchdowns + 1 pick > > 15 attempts at lest 10 yards downfield -- most as a Steeler! > > — Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) [September 27, 2026](https://x.com/BenjaminSolak/status/2104316104969424929?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=nine-straight-threes.ghost.io) --- Despite all those positives - and there were more, believe it or not - the Steelers still needed Cincinnati to turn into the Bungles to actually win the game. A roughing the punter personal foul and a fumbled punt return put 10 points on the board for the Steelers. In case you didn't check, they won the game by three. Wilson turned what should have been a nice completion into an interception by channeling Metcalf's hands. There were other missed opportunities, and still occasional bouts of Rodgers turning towards the sideline with some rather discouraging words. > Aaron Rodgers let em know 😭😭 > > That play f\*\*\*\*\*\* sucks a\*\* [pic.twitter.com/4mVSH0vSsr](https://t.co/4mVSH0vSsr?ref=nine-straight-threes.ghost.io) > > — Heismans (@HeismansIG) [September 27, 2026](https://x.com/HeismansIG/status/2104329047031574582?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=nine-straight-threes.ghost.io) The defense, stout through two weeks, mostly got carved up by Joe Burrow - until they didn't, which is all anyone really should care about on that side of the ball in this one. Also, please do not ask about the timeouts. Anything but the timeouts. All told, it was a thrilling game, a good game, but not a perfect game. But it was a game that the Steelers won, despite the fact that most people were dismissing their chances before the opening kickoff. It remains to be seen whether or not McCarthy, Rodgers and the rest of the offense will be able to build on this performance, particularly since they've got a short-week road date on Thursday with the Browns, a team that is, incredibly, 6-1-1 at home against the Steelers since 2018\. After all, it is a week-to-week league. What we all saw this past week, at least, is cause for some actual optimism. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup/free)