Joe Burrow Faces T.J. Watt & Steelers Pass Rush: Bengals vs. Pittsburgh Week 3 Preview | Updates

The Cincinnati Bengals take their 2-0 record into Pittsburgh for their first AFC North matchup of the 2026 season, facing the 1-1 Steelers at Acrisure Stadium in Week 3. Cincinnati is coming off a 20-6 road win over the Houston Texans and enters Sunday with a +20 point differential and a league-best +3 turnover differential.
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Joe Burrow and the Bengals offense will face one of their toughest challenges yet against T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith and the Pittsburgh pass rush. The Steelers have recorded seven sacks through two games, tied for second-most in the NFL. Watt already has 3.5 sacks, while Highsmith has added three. Pittsburgh has also forced four turnovers and allowed just 16.5 points per game.

The Steelers have been particularly effective against the pass, holding Atlanta to 118 passing yards and New England to 191. The status of Joey Porter Jr. remains another important storyline after the cornerback missed Pittsburgh's first two games. His potential return would add another dimension to the matchup with Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.

On the other side, Cincinnati's rebuilt defensive front has been one of the biggest early-season developments. The Bengals pressured C.J. Stroud on 43.5% of his dropbacks in Week 2, with Jonathan Allen, Boye Mafe, Cedric Johnson, Cashius Howell and Dexter Lawrence II each producing at least four pressures. Cincinnati also held Houston running backs to just 18 yards on 14 carries.

That unit now gets Aaron Rodgers and a Pittsburgh offense that has struggled through two games. The Steelers are averaging only 11.5 points and 175 passing yards per game and have yet to reach 300 total yards in a game. Rodgers has attempted nine passes of 20-plus air yards but has yet to complete one. D.K. Metcalf has eight receptions on 19 targets, while Pittsburgh's rushing attack has produced a 31.8% success rate, tied for third-lowest in the NFL. Cincinnati Bengals

Chatterbox Sports breaks down Bengals vs. Steelers, including Joe Burrow against Pittsburgh's pass rush, Chase and Higgins against the Steelers secondary, the latest on Porter, Cincinnati's defensive front against Rodgers and the biggest keys to the Bengals potentially reaching 3-0 for the first time since 2015.