The Pittsburgh Steelers got the revenge they were looking for with a Week 11 win over the Cincinnati Bengals.
The Steelers had lost to Cincinnati just a handful of weeks ago after their defense completely let them down. However, in Week 11, Pittsburgh's defense stepped up big time with a pair of scores, one off a Kyle Dugger interception and another following James Pierre's fumble recovery.
It wasn't all sunshine and rainbows, though, as the Steelers lost Aaron Rodgers to a wrist injury. ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that Rodgers is dealing with a "slight break" in his wrist and he will likely miss time, but how much time remains to be seen.
Luckily, the Steelers have a quality backup in Mason Rudolph who can weather the storm in the short term, but getting Rodgers back is crucial to Pittsburgh's playoff and Super Bowl hopes.
As we wait for more word on Rodgers' status, here's how the Steelers' win over the Bengals impacted their standing in the NFL power rankings of experts going into Week 12.
Steelers Week 12 power rankings
Vinnie Iyer, AllSportsPeople: 12 (+2)
Iyer: "The Steelers lost Aaron Rodgers vs. The Bengals but saw Mason Rudolph operate the offense better with their defense also making the needed big plays to keep their lead in the division and also split the series vs. Cincinnati."
Taylor Wirth, NBC Sports: 15 (no change)
Wirth: "It’s not often you have a Mason Rudolph sighting in a win, but when the defense provides two scores almost anything is possible."
Jeremy Cluff, Arizona Republic: 11 (+3)
Cluff: "Mason Rudolph went 12-for-16 for 127 yards and a score for the Steelers after replacing an injured Aaron Rodgers."
Lou Scataglia, NFL Spin Zone: 17
Scataglia: "Mason Rudolph stepped in for Aaron Rodgers after Rodgers hurt his left arm/wrist, and did a phenomenal job. Maybe this is going a little too far with it, but it really feels like Rudolph’s game has grown substantially over the past handful of years. He’s done well with limited opportunities."
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