Are you paying close attention? What was the whole point of the Pittsburgh Steelers acquiring Jalen Ramsey in their blockbuster trade with the Miami Dolphins? Yes, Miami wanted to get Ramsey's contract out of the building, but Pittsburgh ended up being the team who wanted him the most, mostly out of desperation. The Steelers will need to slow down the Cincinnati Bengals' aerial attack.
Right now, I look at the Bengals and Steelers jockeying for second place in the deep AFC North behind the Super Bowl-contending Baltimore Ravens. Although Baltimore may be my way-too-early pick to win this year's Super Bowl, I think this division will only get two teams into the playoffs again. I am leaning towards it being the Bengals, strictly because I think their offense can do amazing things.
Pittsburgh is going all-in on one year of Aaron Rodgers, for some unbeknownst reason. While I do think their defense will once again carry them to a near-.500 record, the decision to move on from veteran safety Minkah Fitzpatrick to land a mercurial player out on the perimeter in Ramsey was a bit odd. Did they not have this with George Pickens at wide receiver? Ramsey is a better player, but still!
Regardless of how the pieces fit, this trade was all about stopping Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.
Jalen Ramsey comes to Pittsburgh to keep Cincinnati at bay in division
The way I see it shaking out in the AFC North, if the Ravens do not repeat as division champions, something went horribly wrong for them. Baltimore has the best quarterback, the best front office, the best secondary, and so many other things working for it when it comes to where their three division rivals stand. That being said, their greatness does not get in the way of other's successes.
For Pittsburgh, maybe the Ramsey trade and the Rodgers signing helps gets them over the top? It has been a painfully long time this the Steelers last won a playoff game. T.J. Watt was in college at Wisconsin the last time that happened, in a world before 28-3 became a never-ending punchline for me personally. Again, this move by the Steelers is all about keeping pace with their division rivals.
While Ramsey can only guard one of them at a time, potentially neutralizing either Chase or Higgins throughout a game could be a way to keep the Steelers in their rivalry games with the Bengals. Pittsburgh is the steadier of the two franchises, while Cincinnati has greater variance, and therefore, more upside. This move does raise the Steelers' floor just a bit, enough to the point where it matters.
Slowing down the Bengals' offense will be challenging, but may Pittsburgh with Ramsey can do this?