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27 Sept, 18:00 BST
Acrisure Stadium
Newer statistics are in the Lab. The published game review is unchanged. Explore latest stats →
The Steelers found enough explosive production and special-teams stability to outlast a Bengals aerial attack that kept pressing through the final whistle.
This game · verified box score
Explore the game dataJaylen Warren turned a feature workload into Pittsburgh’s most complete fantasy performance, pairing volume on the ground with useful receiving work. His efficiency and near-every-down presence made this more than a touchdown-dependent line.
Joe Burrow distributed three passing touchdowns while Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins controlled the meaningful volume. The Bengals’ loss came despite a passing attack that remained concentrated around its established primary options.
Roman Wilson, Darnell Washington and Ben Skowronek each delivered a consequential scoring or yardage play, giving Aaron Rodgers answers beyond the Steelers’ more heavily deployed perimeter receivers.
Burrow was composed in defeat, completing 28 of 37 passes for 282 passing yards and three passing touchdowns. He played every offensive snap, and his 86.49% catchable-throw rate supports the quality of the overall distribution. But a lost sack fumble proved costly in a game where Pittsburgh converted its opportunities. Rodgers countered with 292 passing yards and three passing touchdowns, though his one interception and 77.42% catchable-throw rate underline a less clean performance. His output nevertheless beat a modest two-game prior fantasy baseline.
27 Sept, 18:00 BST
Acrisure Stadium
Newer statistics are in the Lab. The published game review is unchanged. Explore latest stats →
The Steelers found enough explosive production and special-teams stability to outlast a Bengals aerial attack that kept pressing through the final whistle.
This game · verified box score
Explore the game dataJaylen Warren turned a feature workload into Pittsburgh’s most complete fantasy performance, pairing volume on the ground with useful receiving work. His efficiency and near-every-down presence made this more than a touchdown-dependent line.
Joe Burrow distributed three passing touchdowns while Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins controlled the meaningful volume. The Bengals’ loss came despite a passing attack that remained concentrated around its established primary options.
Roman Wilson, Darnell Washington and Ben Skowronek each delivered a consequential scoring or yardage play, giving Aaron Rodgers answers beyond the Steelers’ more heavily deployed perimeter receivers.
Burrow was composed in defeat, completing 28 of 37 passes for 282 passing yards and three passing touchdowns. He played every offensive snap, and his 86.49% catchable-throw rate supports the quality of the overall distribution. But a lost sack fumble proved costly in a game where Pittsburgh converted its opportunities. Rodgers countered with 292 passing yards and three passing touchdowns, though his one interception and 77.42% catchable-throw rate underline a less clean performance. His output nevertheless beat a modest two-game prior fantasy baseline.
Expected points describe the value of the opportunities received. Both figures use full-PPR scoring.
Chase ran 40 routes and transformed 12 targets into nine receptions, 98 receiving yards and a touchdown. That 32.43% target share was a commanding focal-point role, and it followed a two-game prior sample in which he averaged 6.5 targets. Higgins complemented him with six receptions for 90 receiving yards and a touchdown on 38 routes. His 93% offensive-snap share confirms that Cincinnati’s two premier wideouts were on the field for virtually every consequential snap. Dohnte Meyers was the quieter riser, drawing five targets on 24 routes after a far smaller two-game route baseline.
Verified route counts. Route volume alone does not establish a future role.
Warren’s 127 rushing yards came on 17 carries, a 7.47 yards-per-carry eruption supported by 3.83 rushing yards over expected per attempt. He also ran 26 routes, which matters for a back whose receiving role can determine his weekly ceiling. Those 17 carries were well above his 10.5-carry average across the two-game prior sample. The rest of Pittsburgh’s running-back room was barely involved: Lew Nichols III and Travis Homer each received one carry, leaving Warren with unmistakable control of the backfield.
Roman Wilson supplied the high-value receiving line, turning six targets into 60 receiving yards and a touchdown despite running only 19 routes. Darnell Washington was even more efficient in his complementary role, producing 67 receiving yards on three receptions while playing 76% of offensive snaps. Washington’s output sharply exceeded his 12.5 receiving-yard average across the two-game prior sample. Pat Freiermuth remained involved with four targets and 23 routes, but the production flowed elsewhere. DK Metcalf’s 37 routes and 95% snap share preserve his central deployment, even as his five targets resulted in a restrained 31 receiving yards.
Chase Brown retained Cincinnati’s lead rushing work with 13 carries and 61 rushing yards, while his 70% snap share kept him comfortably ahead of Samaje Perine. Yet Brown drew only two targets on 22 routes, a notable reduction from his 5.5-target average across the two-game prior sample. Perine ran 13 routes and handled three targets, preserving a smaller passing-down role. At tight end, Mike Gesicki made his limited opportunity count: three receptions, 37 receiving yards and a touchdown on 23 routes. Tanner Hudson added two receptions on nine routes, but the rest of the Bengals’ tight-end usage remained peripheral.
Chris Boswell was flawless, making three field goals on three attempts with a 44-yard long field goal, plus three extra points on three attempts. Evan McPherson matched the clean finishing, making two field goals on two attempts, including a 50-yard long field goal, and all three extra-point attempts. Pittsburgh’s D/ST recovered two opponent fumbles while allowing 27 points; Cincinnati’s D/ST countered with two sacks and an interception but allowed 30 points. Neither defense produced a touchdown, making the turnover edge and dependable kicking especially important.
Game-only statistics. Receiving PPR per route uses receiving production only. Week 1 observations are not established season trends. Missing data is kept separate from zero.
Statistics checked 29/09/2026. Reports and the Lab use the same published evidence edition.
Expected points describe the value of the opportunities received. Both figures use full-PPR scoring.
Chase ran 40 routes and transformed 12 targets into nine receptions, 98 receiving yards and a touchdown. That 32.43% target share was a commanding focal-point role, and it followed a two-game prior sample in which he averaged 6.5 targets. Higgins complemented him with six receptions for 90 receiving yards and a touchdown on 38 routes. His 93% offensive-snap share confirms that Cincinnati’s two premier wideouts were on the field for virtually every consequential snap. Dohnte Meyers was the quieter riser, drawing five targets on 24 routes after a far smaller two-game route baseline.
Verified route counts. Route volume alone does not establish a future role.
Warren’s 127 rushing yards came on 17 carries, a 7.47 yards-per-carry eruption supported by 3.83 rushing yards over expected per attempt. He also ran 26 routes, which matters for a back whose receiving role can determine his weekly ceiling. Those 17 carries were well above his 10.5-carry average across the two-game prior sample. The rest of Pittsburgh’s running-back room was barely involved: Lew Nichols III and Travis Homer each received one carry, leaving Warren with unmistakable control of the backfield.
Roman Wilson supplied the high-value receiving line, turning six targets into 60 receiving yards and a touchdown despite running only 19 routes. Darnell Washington was even more efficient in his complementary role, producing 67 receiving yards on three receptions while playing 76% of offensive snaps. Washington’s output sharply exceeded his 12.5 receiving-yard average across the two-game prior sample. Pat Freiermuth remained involved with four targets and 23 routes, but the production flowed elsewhere. DK Metcalf’s 37 routes and 95% snap share preserve his central deployment, even as his five targets resulted in a restrained 31 receiving yards.
Chase Brown retained Cincinnati’s lead rushing work with 13 carries and 61 rushing yards, while his 70% snap share kept him comfortably ahead of Samaje Perine. Yet Brown drew only two targets on 22 routes, a notable reduction from his 5.5-target average across the two-game prior sample. Perine ran 13 routes and handled three targets, preserving a smaller passing-down role. At tight end, Mike Gesicki made his limited opportunity count: three receptions, 37 receiving yards and a touchdown on 23 routes. Tanner Hudson added two receptions on nine routes, but the rest of the Bengals’ tight-end usage remained peripheral.
Chris Boswell was flawless, making three field goals on three attempts with a 44-yard long field goal, plus three extra points on three attempts. Evan McPherson matched the clean finishing, making two field goals on two attempts, including a 50-yard long field goal, and all three extra-point attempts. Pittsburgh’s D/ST recovered two opponent fumbles while allowing 27 points; Cincinnati’s D/ST countered with two sacks and an interception but allowed 30 points. Neither defense produced a touchdown, making the turnover edge and dependable kicking especially important.
Game-only statistics. Receiving PPR per route uses receiving production only. Week 1 observations are not established season trends. Missing data is kept separate from zero.
Statistics checked 29/09/2026. Reports and the Lab use the same published evidence edition.