Steelers Stand Pat at the Deadline — Now the Roster They Kept Has to Beat Cincinnati

The Pittsburgh Steelers had a chance to change their season on Tuesday afternoon, and they chose not to take it. When the NFL trade deadline passed at 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday, November 10, Pittsburgh had made no moves. The roster that is 6-2, tied atop the AFC North and riding a four-game winning streak is the roster that will finish the season — starting Sunday night, November 15, at 8:20 p.m. ET at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati (NBC/Peacock), where the Bengals, also 6-2, wait with first place in the division on the line. What Pittsburgh tried, and what it got This was not a front office that ignored the phone. Reporting after the deadline — Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, via Steeler Nation — said the Steelers discussed three wide receivers: Jacksonville's Brian Thomas Jr., Indianapolis' Josh Downs and Tennessee's Calvin Ridley. None of them landed in Pittsburgh: - Josh Downs went to Kansas City, with the Chiefs sending fourth- and fifth-round picks to Indianapolis. - Brian Thomas Jr. stayed put after Jacksonville told teams he was not available. - Calvin Ridley was never traded, and reporting from Steeler Nation said a recent legal incident at Nashville airport soured Pittsburgh on a deal. It is the second straight year Pittsburgh did not acquire a wide receiver at the deadline. ESPN's Brooke Pryor summed up the front office's position: Pittsburgh has maintained it does not want to give up significant draft capital until it has a clear future quarterback plan. General manager Omar Khan kept his full allotment of picks. The rest of the AFC did not stand still That is what stings. Of the AFC teams with six or more wins, only Pittsburgh and Cincinnati made no deadline move — and Cincinnati at least had a deal for defensive end Arnold Ebiketie agreed before backing out over a compensatory-pick cost, per Steelers Depot. Everyone else loaded up: - The 6-2 Jacksonville Jaguars made three trades, adding defensive tackles Jordan Davis and Davon Godchaux and safety Jessie Bates III. - The 7-1 Buffalo Bills sent a second-round pick for safety Amani Hooker. - The 7-2 Denver Broncos added linebacker Daiyan Henley from the Chargers. - The Kansas City Chiefs landed Downs, the receiver Pittsburgh wanted. PFF graded Pittsburgh's deadline a C, noting the receiver room ties for last in collective PFF receiving grade and that depth behind cornerback Jamel Dean is thin after the earlier Joey Porter Jr. trade to Dallas. That grade is an opinion, not a stat — but the underlying problem it points to is real, and Sunday night will test it immediately. The bet Pittsburgh is making: health instead of help Head coach Mike McCarthy told reporters Monday that any deadline decision would be made independent of the team's receiver injuries. With no trade, that room now depends on players coming off injured reserve: - Michael Pittman Jr. (foot/plantar fascia) — On IR since early October and eligible to return, but his 21-day practice window had not been opened as of the latest reporting, and DK Network's Week 10 injury report (updated Tuesday, November 10 at 7:15 p.m. ET) says he resumed running last week with no clear timeline to come off IR. McCarthy said Monday, "I think Michael is getting close," pointing to more work on Tuesday and Wednesday. Treat a Sunday return as a long shot unless this week's practice reports change that. - Roman Wilson (finger) — On IR and not eligible to return until Week 11, so he will not play in Cincinnati. - Ben Skowronek (calf) — Listed as questionable with limited practice participation in the latest depth-chart/injury roundups. - Secondary — Cornerback Brandin Echols (hamstring) was inactive in Week 8 and his Week 10 status was listed as TBD; defensive back Doneiko Slaughter (hamstring) has also been listed out in Week 10 roundups. That leaves DK Metcalf and rookie Germie Bernard leading the receivers into the biggest game of the season, with quarterback Aaron Rodgers working behind an offense that, per the Bengals' official Week 10 scouting report, ranks 17th in points per game (22.5) and 16th in yards per game (328.4). The matchup, by the verified numbers - Records: Pittsburgh 6-2, Cincinnati 6-2 — tied for first in the AFC North. Pittsburgh holds the tiebreaker after winning the first meeting. - Last meeting: Steelers 30, Bengals 27 in Week 3. - Scoring: Pittsburgh has scored 180 points and allowed 144 (+36). Cincinnati has scored 240 and allowed 175 — the Bengals' offense is the more explosive unit, Pittsburgh's defense the stingier one. - Streaks: Both teams have won four straight. Cincinnati's fourth came Sunday in Madrid, a 34-17 win over Atlanta. - Setting: Sunday Night Football, Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati's annual "White Bengal" game, per Bengals.com. Projection — clearly a projection Projection, not a reported fact: This game comes down to whether Pittsburgh's defense — 144 points allowed in eight games — can slow a Cincinnati offense averaging 30 points a game (240 in eight) enough for a short-handed receiver room to keep pace. If Pittman's practice window opens this week and he is active Sunday, Pittsburgh's chances improve materially; if he is not, the Steelers are asking Metcalf, Bernard and the run game to win a shootout on the road. Either way, the winner leaves Sunday night alone in first place in the AFC North with the head-to-head sweep (Pittsburgh) or the split and the lead (Cincinnati) — which is exactly why Tuesday's quiet deadline will be judged by Sunday's result. The Steelers bet on the roster they have. In four nights, we find out if they were right.