PFF: Steelers’ Red-Zone Offense Against Bengals’ Red-Zone Defense Could Define Game

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Entering Sunday’s Week 13 matchup between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium, much of the attention centers on the Black and Gold coming off a disastrous loss to the Cleveland Browns on the road in Week 12 on Thursday Night Football.

Within that loss, the Steelers’ red-zone offense again drew some negative attention. Pittsburgh failed to finish in one of its two trips into the red zone, leading to plenty of questions and criticism regarding the Steelers’ plan of attack inside the 20-yard line.

Currently, the Steelers have the NFL’s 30th-best red zone offense in the NFL , ahead of only the Dallas Cowboys and the New York Giants. Yikes.

The Steelers have been a mess down there, utilizing far too many personnel packages to try and find answers, taking some bad penalties that throw them off schedule , and simply failing to make plays or finding ways to scheme up plays for playmakers.

Fortunately for the Steelers, they have a great opportunity to have a bounce-back game in the red zone on Sunday against the Bengals, which could help them iron out some kinks and get on track moving forward. The Bengals have the NFL’s 31st-ranked red zone defense, ahead of only the Cowboys.

For Pro Football Focus’s Bradley Locker, the Steelers’ red zone offense against the Bengals’ red zone defense is a key matchup that could define the game on Sunday.

“Even in its dismal road showing at Cleveland last Thursday, Pittsburgh moved the ball into enemy territory fairly well. Issues arose in the red zone, though — a common refrain for much of this year. The Steelers rank 26th in red-zone EPA per play, converting only 44.7% of drives entering the opposing 20-yard line into touchdowns — the fourth-worst rate in football. Dovetailing with that is bad red-zone play from Russell Wilson, whose 53.8 PFF passing grade ranks 25th out of 35 qualified quarterbacks,” Locker writes . “Meanwhile, the Bengals’ defense hasn’t done well to limit opposing offenses deep in their territory. Cincinnati ranks 31st in red-zone EPA per play allowed, permitting touchdowns on a whopping 75% of red-zone possessions — the worst figure in the NFL.”

Since Russell Wilson stepped into the Steelers’ starting lineup, he’s struggled in the red zone. That has … Read More