Steelers Stinker: Can Team Rebound After Week 3 Rout By Bengals?

PITTSBURGH, PA — The Steelers were supposed to stockpile wins during what was thought to be the easy part of the schedule this season. Instead, the Steelers are 1-2 after three weeks, have lost two consecutive games at Heinz Field and currently occupy the AFC North basement.

Things aren't going well.

NFL writers from across the country gave the Steelers a failed grade for Sunday's performance after the 24-10 loss to the Bengals and give an assessment of what comes next for the team:

• Brooke Pryor, ESPN: "With each passing week, the win against the Buffalo Bills feels more and more like a fluke; if the offense can't get it together and the defense can't play like the '85 Bears, that will continue to be the case."

• Nick Shook, NFL.com: "We're approaching an offensive crisis in Pittsburgh. After scoring 16 offensive points in Week 1 and 17 in Week 2, the Steelers fell short of that mark with a mere 10 Sunday. The worst part of their lack of production: The Steelers haven't been able to move the ball quickly, even when they go up-tempo."

• John Breech, CBS Sports: "Pittsburgh's offensive line was manhandled by the Bengals' formidable defensive line. The Steelers once again could not get their running game going, as Pittsburgh rushed for just 45 yards on 15 carries. Roethlisberger made two critical mistakes while struggling with his accuracy."

• Gary Gramling, Sports Illustrated: "Man, do the Steelers Miss T.J. Watt. You can see opposing quarterbacks breathing more easily in the pocket, especially when they work late into the down. Considering how listless they look on offense, Pittsburgh needs their biggest difference-maker back."

• Joe Rivera, Sporting News: "While the options for a future passer weren't exactly rampant (they never are) this past offseason for Pittsburgh, the Steelers opted to select Najee Harris in the first round to try and mask the issues of Roethlisberger. That hasn't exactly worked so far, and the 39-year-old looks markedly worse at his point than he did last year."

Next: The Steelers play the Packers in Green Bay, Sunday at 4:25 p.m.

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