Zac Taylor Nearly Hired Steelers' Patrick Graham — Now They Meet at 2-0
Taylor interviewed Graham before landing on Al Golden. Sunday's 2-0 Bengals face a Steelers D that's allowed just 33 points in two games.
Two elite defenses point to a low-scoring slog in Pittsburgh.
- Steelers have allowed 33 points in two games
- Bengals also allowed 33 — 7 on a Burrow pick-six
- Both teams enter Sunday at 2-0
- Burrow: 1809 yds, 17 TD, 5 INT in 8 games (2025)
- Graph coached Dexter Lawrence in NY (2020-21)
Here's a fun what-if before Sunday's 2-0 showdown in Pittsburgh: Bengals coach Zac Taylor almost hired the man now running the Steelers' defense. Taylor confirmed this week that he interviewed Patrick Graham after firing Lou Anarumo following the 2024 season, ultimately landing on Notre Dame's Al Golden instead. Taylor didn't hide his admiration — he said the interview only raised his opinion of a coordinator he already respected for the scheme headaches he creates.
That backstory matters because the numbers say this game could turn ugly for the offenses. The Steelers have surrendered just 33 points across two games. The Bengals have allowed the exact same total — though seven of theirs came on a Joe Burrow pick-six, which tells you something about how tight both units have been. Whoever hits 20 points first probably wins.
Graham is 47 and cut his teeth in New England, where he was the Patriots' linebackers coach for their Super Bowl XLIX win over Seattle in February 2015. He's been a defensive coordinator since 2020 — two years with the Giants, then four with the Raiders and Maxx Crosby. The Bengals were even floated in Crosby trade chatter earlier this offseason, so the connections between these staffs run deep.
The Fantasy Fallout
Burrow sits at QB31 in our rankings (#130 overall), coming off a 2025 season where he threw for 1809 yards, 17 touchdowns and just 5 picks across eight games — good for 135 PPR points. His recent form is trending up: over his last five outings he's averaging +3.1 fantasy points above his season mark. That's the kind of momentum you normally want to ride.
The problem is the matchup itself. Graham's units are built to muddy the passing picture, and a Steelers defense allowing 33 points in two weeks isn't the buffet Burrow's floor needs. When two top defenses collide and the projected winning number is 20 points, fantasy quarterbacks don't feast.
If you've got a cleaner streaming option or a QB with a softer draw, this is a week to look elsewhere with Burrow. He's not a drop or a sell — the talent and the upward form curve are real — but Sunday's script leans toward a grind. Bench him if you can, and let this defensive rock fight play out without your Week starter caught in the crossfire.
