Mark Madden: The Steelers are Russell Wilson’s team now. That’s a good thing

What we do in life echoes in refreshing sports notes. The gods have spoken!

• The Steelers are no longer built on defense, pounding the ball on the ground and dominating possession. They’re built on Russell Wilson. That gives them a better chance than all of the above. Ten receivers caught passes at Cincinnati. Wilson uses the entire field. He’s a professional quarterback. The offense is reborn.

• It’s good that the Steelers know they can win a high-scoring shootout, because that’s what the NFL more than occasionally demands. (Cincinnati has a terrible defense, which weakens this notion.)

• The Bengals offense would score 60 points on the Bengals defense. Joe Burrow is one of the NFL’s top five quarterbacks, but Cincinnati is 4-8 and has zero chance at the playoffs.

• T.J. Watt has the odd spectacular game. Witness two sacks, a forced fumble and three tackles for loss at Cincinnati. But Cam Heyward is the MVP on that defense. His consistency dictates. Heyward had a sack, two tackles for loss and deflected a pass that got intercepted. He can be spectacular, too.

• Wideout George Pickens isn’t very bright and lacks accountability. He had 74 yards receiving at Cincinnati but gave back 30 via unsportsmanlike conduct flags. The Steelers need to draft a receiver, find another in free agency and ditch Pickens in the offseason. His contract expires after the 2025 campaign, but extending him for big money would be stupid. Pickens’ idiocy too often undoes his ability. (Pickens can’t be a lame duck on an expiring contract next season. He’d go totally cuckoo.)

• Mike Tomlin said that Pickens needs to “grow up” but also said that Pickens “has a target on his back.” Tomlin should note that Pickens put that target there himself. It hurts the Steelers. Pickens got illegally wrenched to the turf prior to Cincinnati’s first-quarter pick-six but no call. Pickens is a proven pain in the backside that won’t get an officiating break. Which further dilutes what Pickens does.

• Cornerback Joey Porter Jr. got called for six penalties at Cincinnati. Four were accepted. He committed two fouls on the same play. But I’m not worried. Porter is immensely talented and his attitude is in the right place. He just had a bad day against Tee Higgins, an excellent receiver. Porter will bounce back.

• Kansas City is said to be shaky and vulnerable despite being 11-1. That’s because of a lot of victories that are razor-thin and lucky. But perhaps the Chiefs are just laying low ‘til playoff time, when the real games start. They won the last two Super Bowls, after all. The Steelers wouldn’t beat them.

• Pitt went from 7-0 to 7-5. Disintegrated completely. I’m not sure who’s at fault besides everybody. They should skip the bowl game. Ending this season would be a mercy killing.

• Penn State lost the big game to Ohio State a month ago, but the Nittany Lions still find themselves in the Big Ten championship game and a lock to make the College Football Playoff. Any criticism of coach James Franklin is nit-picking. He got Penn State to where it wants to be.

• The flag-planting shenanigans and subsequent brawl after Michigan won at Ohio State reflected the immaturity of college football: Not just the players, but those who coach it. Players have the excuse of youth, but the adults in charge should demand a lot more. Sore losers and abysmal winners are an embarrassing fit, and it happens all over college football. But that’s bro culture. I bet Pat McAfee loved it.

• The Penguins have won three in a row via better goaltending, improved systematic efficiency, a renewed commitment to blocking shots and a power play that’s scored in six of the last eight games. It’s nice in the moment, but won’t get a playoff berth. I’m worried it gets the Penguins closer to 17th place than 32nd. This season is about getting future assets and lots of balls in the draft lottery. Unless they win the next three.

• The Penguins’ core three is often spoken of. But winger Bryan Rust has been with the team since 2014, has two Stanley Cups, has developed into a respectable goal-scorer and still labors mightily for the cause every night. He’s an OG, a real Penguin, and has commitment to the logo that a lot of the current roster’s old-timey mercenaries obviously lack. Rust won’t get a statue. But he should have everybody’s respect.