Mike Tomlin believes he has the formula to slow down the Cincinnati Bengals’ explosive offense.

Ahead of the Steelers’ crucial Sunday Night Football clash with Cincinnati, the former Pittsburgh head coach shared how he would approach stopping Joe Burrow and his dangerous receiving duo.

Now an NBC Sports analyst after nearly two decades in Pittsburgh, Tomlin’s advice has sparked mixed reactions from NFL fans.

NFL Fans Question Mike Tomlin’s Advice for Stopping Joe Burrow

Tomlin stressed the importance of generating pressure. “First of all, if you don’t have a four-man rush, you’re running on the beach trying to stop these guys. Seriously, you need to be able to deploy seven people in coverage,” he said.

He also highlighted the need to double-team Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins to limit their impact. “It’s four-on-two if you want to slow them down,” he added.

Tomlin explained that the Bengals often use third-and-short situations to create one-on-one opportunities and attack downfield. He believes Pittsburgh must remain disciplined and generate pressure without sending extra defenders on blitzes.

However, his comments quickly drew criticism from NFL fans on social media. “Tomlin could never stop Burrow and company, so yeah, he knows all about it,” one fan wrote.

Another commented, “lol man Chase and Higgins lit up his formula.”

Some fans also questioned Tomlin’s credibility, suggesting the Steelers are better off without him. One commenter wrote, “Don’t listen to that man’s garbage takes. The team looks great without him blowing games.”

Another fan reminded him that Pittsburgh had already beaten Cincinnati early this year, saying, “Thanks, Coach, but we already beat them once this year without your help.”

Others felt Tomlin’s advice was easier to give than to execute. One user simply responded, “Easier said than done.”

Another took a more sarcastic shot, writing, “Bro tried to give the entire NFL the crabby patty formula but never ever did [explicit] to stop them when he was there.”

Mike Tomlin’s Record Against the Bengals

Despite the criticism, Tomlin’s overall record against Cincinnati was impressive. He went 28-11 against the Bengals, including a 27-11 regular-season record and a 1-0 mark in the playoffs.

He also went 8-6 against Zac Taylor, who took over as Cincinnati’s head coach in 2019.

However, the rivalry became more competitive after Burrow, who now leads all QBs with a 90.0 PFN QB Impact Grade, arrived in Cincinnati. The Bengals went 4-3 against Tomlin’s Steelers in games Burrow started, showing how difficult the quarterback and his offense were to contain.