Stillers 34, Bungals 12 ...... Nov 16, 2025 …………Game # 10
Stillers-Bungals Postgame Analysis and Grades
The 5-4 Stillers hosted the 3-6 Cinci Bungals on a windy afternoon with 35+ mph gusting winds. PIT held a 7-6 lead after 1Q and then 10-6 at the half. In the 2H, the Stillers got 2 freebie defensive TDs off a Dong INT return and a Dong fumble return, along with some solid work by Rudolph, to cruise to an easy win.
Grades:
QB: Rodgers got the start. Good opening drive for a TD. Poor misfire to DK, 3d & 3, 9:20 2Q…DK was open on the flag. Injured his wrist while getting hit just after a pass was released, late 1H, and did not return. Had a spotty 1H. C
Rudolph started the 2H, due to a wrist injury to Rodgers. Was quietly efficient and effective, including designed rollouts to his right. Wasn’t shabby in relief. B+
RB:
Warren – big gain off a power pitch, 1st series, for 35 yards. Got injured after a -2 flare pass, 9:38 3Q. He returned a few minutes later. Solid game with 10 carries for 62. B
Kaleb J. – rotted the bench in the 1H. After Warren got injured, ran a plunge, 3Q, for 3 yards. Good 7 yard gain on a plunge, later in the drive. Flagged for a blatant facemask on a carry, mid 4Q.
Gainwell – snared an 11-yard flare/TD pass, 1st series. Good 12-yard run, late 2Q. Big grab and run of 20 on 3d & 11, 4Q. Big gain on a screen a few plays later. Seemed to really pour it on in the 2H with Warren hobbled. 7 grabs for 81 isn’t too bad, Not shabby. A-
FB: rarely if ever used.
WR:
Metcalf – flagged for OPI on a pick, late 2Q. Flagged for OPI on a slight push-off on a backshoulder fade, 3Q, which was completed for like 25 yards. Had 5 grabs for 49, which is average. C+
Austin – On 3d & 8, 1Q, he cleverly grabbed a pass for 5 yards. This was his ONLY grab of the game. Folks, this ain’t nowhere near enough out of a WR2. Nowhere near. D-
Rom Wilson – failed to haul in a short sideline pass, late 2Q. Grabbed a 1st down pass on 3d & 11, 3Q, off a clever near-pick that allowed him to be wide open. This was his only grab of the game, which ain’t nowhere near enough in today’s NFL C-
Skowronek – played sparingly at WR.
TE:
Pat FryBoy – had 1 grab for 19, which included a deft cut to gain extra yards.
Jonnu Smith – flagged for a facemask (declined), late 2Q. Targeted twice and had zero catches. This guy is an extra shiny toy who serves such little purpose due to a crowded TE room. C
Darnell – Gained 14 on a 3d & 21 dumpoff, mid 2Q. Big 31-yard catch and rumble, late 2Q. Rumbled for 18 on a 3d & 17, 3Q. Solid blocking as well. A
Con Heyward – ran a push-tush for a 1D, 1st series. Was actually stopped short of the line of gain on a 4th & 1 tush push, next series, but somehow the ref crew more or less over-turned the spot of the initial ref and gave PIT the 1st down.
OL: Overall, the line (Jones, Seumalo, Frazier McCormick, Fautanu) had a okay game.
Seumalo returned to action after missing last week’s game. There was some leakage and harassment of Rodgers, who obviously took some punishment and injured his wrist in the process. The run blocking was decent, although CIN was missing both starting Des. I’d like to see a bit more consistency down the stretch. B
DL:
Heyward – got mauled at the POA, 1st series, which allowed a GAPING hole and a hefty ground gain of 15 yards. Next play - Obviously, Cam Heyward gave up on the play in the middle of the Bengals TD pass because he thought he was held. Nothing will be said. That's leadership and coaching, as @Tomlin_Sense will verify and maybe has beat me to mentioning. Scam was flagged for illegal use of hands on this TD play.
Had 0 solos, 2 As at halftime. Finished the game by ROLLING THE DONUT, with ZERO solos and 5 slop assists. Gee, he’s just so vaunted. D-
Benton – Decent game. Like last week, is playing 3 times better than Sep and Oct. B
YaYa Black – played adequately. Seems to be growing and becoming more accustomed to the rigors of the NFL.
Harmon – Had 1 solo. Need to see more out of a 1st rounder. C
LB:
Queen – Had 1 solo at halftime. That said, he did have an outstanding fill and stick on the 2-point plunge, 1Q, which stopped the RB cold and well short of the goal line. THIS is the kind of play I expect from a starting ILB making some $14M per season. Finished with 5 solos and seemed to be much more into this game that most of his outings. B
Pey Wilson – Poor angle on the 3d & 4, first play of 2Q, in which Chase easily skirted him for the 1D. Had only 2 solos, which ain’t terribly impressive.
Watt – good tackle on flare pass, 1st play by Cin, for a 1 yard loss. Flagged for roughing the passer, early 2Q, when he drove Jacco into the ground. Had just 1 solo, which is meager. B-
Highsmith – sat out due to some lame pec injury. Apparently he had an injured pecker.
Herbig – flagged for offsides, first series. Flushed Jacco, early 2Q, with a speed move. His pressure and harassment caused an Inc pass, 9:02 2Q. Slashed wide and sacked Jacco, 10:00 4Q. Solid game. B
Malik Harrison – saw some PT. Good run stop, fighting off a block, 4:00 3Q.
Sawyer – got tooled for a TD pass, 1Q.
DB
Joey Porter Jr. - played solidly. Was rarely if ever burned.
Slay – sat out due to injury.
Dugger – nearly grabbed an INT, which woulda been a pick 6, late 2Q. DONG INT, Kyle Dugger ! Pass was right in his gut. Pick 6 for the TD, late 3Q.
Jalen Ramsey - jarred loose a short completion, 3:45 3Q. Follishly got into scuffles with Chase in the 4Q of a tight game. Not only took a silly, needless 15-yard penalty on 4th and inches, but was ejected as well early in the 4Q. What a fool. Unlike hockey, punching an opposing player while he is wearing a helmet WITH a facemask, is jackassed stupidity at its worst. Really stupid. D-
Echols – suffered a non-contact leg injury, early 4Q.
Peppers – Seemed to only play STs.
Pierre – solid tackle on RAC, 1st series, for a 1 yard gain. Knocked away an underthrown deep ball, early 2Q. Bear in mind – the pass was at least 9 feet underthrown. 3d & 10, and the supposed ALL PRO James Pierre flails and fails to remotely bring down Fant, who then rumbled for a 15 yard gain, late 3Q. Had a Dong fumble recovery and 32-yard TD return in garbage time, late in the game. Soon enuf, he’ll be nominated for the All Pro team by the Pgh fan base. B
Chuck Clarke – came in when Ramsey got ejected.
Spec teams:
Waitman – adequate punting. I enjoy how trustworthy this fellow is on 99% of his punts, unlike the likes of Jordan Cherry. A
Boswell – booted a couple easy FGs, although the wind was tough.
PeePee Austin stopped a punt from rolling into the endzone so the Steelers could start at the seven yard line, rather the 20. The ball was rolling at like 15 mph and had a 99% surety of going not only into the EZ, but THROUGH the EZ, yet PeePee felt the need to field the ball. Moron.
OC: Art Smith had the luxury of facing a soft CIN defense that was missing both starting DEs The offense had a variety of struggles after the game-opening TD march.
.
3d & 2 on the CIN 12, mid 3Q, and Arthur Smith goes EMPTY SET despite how well the running game had clicked on this drive and that he was using a BACKUP Qb. Could have either run the ball, or gone play-action. Rudolph was unable to find anyone, and then just flung the ball away to settle for the FG. This kind of moronic over-thinking is what drives me mad with King Arthur. C+
DC: Austin at least had the sense to study the video of the past CIN game 3 weeks ago, and apply different schemes. It worked. Gee, maybe this numbskull should have made these same adjustments at halftime 3 weeks ago. B+
HC: Mike Stogelin will be all proud and pompous for whipping up on a hapless team, at home. This was a should-win game, obvisly. I wasn’t pleased with the lack of discipline on what is a veteran-laden team. These next 3 weeks will give us a good look at how almighty Big Michael is or is not. B+
Synopsis: A divisional win over the pesky Bungals. Now, on the road to face D Bears, who are a somewhat surprising 7-3.
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