Mason Rudolph Saves Christmas! Bengals vs Steelers Week 16 Highlights | 5 Star Matchup

From Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers on December 23rd, 2023 in Pittsburgh, PA.
Well it may have been 5 seasons of 5 Star but it seems we're right back where we started, with Mason Rudolph stepping in, and this time, playing absolutely spectacularly.
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[@5StarMatchup]

You sticking with Mason? Or back to KP?

[@SideEfxMayInclde]

Mason all dayy, get well soon KP8 :)

[@Yesimkaleb]

Stick with Rudolph

[@bradthekiller4489]

Mason until he proves otherwise, Im a KP8 fan and people say you shouldnt lose the job to injury but to be fair he wasnt setting the place on fire when he was playing. But if hes healthy and Rudolph is struggling put him in.

[@grottyband8052]

KP if he’s 100%

[@RabidRabbitMC]

Mason!!

[@macattack3668]

My favorite part about this game was that after we got a 24-0 lead and Tee Higgins scored that long touchdown, every Steeler fan (myself included) thought “They’re gonna find a way to make this a competitive game”. Mason came back out and pushed the Bengals right back into the dirt which is something that we almost never see from this team after getting a multi score lead

[@jacobhart28]

we almost never see it because we almost never see this team get a multi score lead

[@itzyaboiaj4829]

Yup

[@CompleteProducer84]

Yes exactly. I was telling my friend that I literally cannot remember the last time we got a lead early, and maintained it the entire game without letting the other team get back into it

[@isitsustainable820]

Shows you how much Kenny and Mitch make this team sink like a lead balloon

[@moalston4203]

​@@CompleteProducer842018 2020 there a few blowouts Titans 45-17 Bengals 27-3

[@RabidRabbitMC]

That third down conversation near the goal line said everything about Masons' commitment to win the game. If he can bring it the rest of the season, we will be doing OK!

[@danfrank6304]

That play showed me that he's gotten past everything that happened back in 2019 and 2020. He looked scared after being out for a few games with concussions and I kind of expected him to still be that way.

[@jeffersonhartley2673]

Mitch had a similar situation and slid short. I said the same thing you did.

[@5StarMatchup]

Bingo

[@marcgottlieb9579]

@@danfrank6304 I know its asking to much, but I don't go for running the last 10 yards with the ball in one hand...Asking would probably lead for a demand to be traded :)

[@jasaranewman978]

So enjoyable! What a difference one lil ole week makes. What a difference a mature Mason Rudolph makes! We smiled the whole game.

[@MrJimmydean1]

Awesome recap. Love the money ,money, money sound clip!

[@Steelers4life6969]

This was such an amazing game of football to watch. First time all season we looked like such a competent football team and it was cool seeing Mason get his redemption. Merry Christmas 5 star match up team

[@mc1993]

Imagine having a Steelers Highlight channel, and having, for once, actual highlights to celebrate. How crazy is that? Thank you Mason Rudolph Sir, may we have another?

[@5StarMatchup]

So much fun lol. Can't believe my luck 🤣

[@Dee-nonamnamrson8718]

Your wish has been granted.

[@mc1993]

@@Dee-nonamnamrson8718 Is it too much to ask for one more? :)

[@JohnHoien-o1l]

Really good video.. very festive. Loved this .. I've called for it since ESPN roasted Mason.. and since the team picked up Tribisky I've been like .. wow they never gave Rudulph a fair shake.. Well here it is - let him roll.

[@SharkBaitSHRKB]

yeah this is def the best qb game since big ben retired no question about it. no ints 2 tds and an amazing passer rating. absolutely

[@steelflyers]

Well sir...I have to say that no matter what...we got a 5 STAR PLAY OF THE GAME for this one! (Actually could have picked a few others but who am I to argue?) This is by far EPIC stuff and WE LOVE IT and WANT some more of it! Filed under things you want to see more of. As for me....I guess we will have to wait until our Radio Show to find out how I feel about who to start next week!! THANK YOU for such awesomeness!!!

[@5StarMatchup]

THANK YOU

[@duelistalliance1071]

The stadium singing the song afterwards. Priceless.

[@5StarMatchup]

you know we can complain a lot about the steelers, but they've been pretty good to us on christmas!

[@luisd8917]

At your introduction when mentioned "not even a duck" I was expecting the former qb Hodges. 😅

[@mc1993]

The biggest difference is we scrapped the dink-n-dunk passing to routes only designed to progress the down, and be only an extension of the run. The kind that gets Pickens 5 receptions for 19 yards... We went aggressive on the route tree, using mostly motion routes designed for YAC, and most importantly Rudolph, who always had the best deep ball of the squad, hit them in stride, allow for rac. It made life easy for the OLine and it showed. I'm really interested to see what type of offense they use vs Seattle.

[@isitsustainable820]

The biggest difference is we had someone nearly average playing QB, instead of trotting out the Kenny/Mitch dumpster fire

[@mc1993]

@@isitsustainable820 Review the Pickett Bengals game. Same style of offense, but Muth was the target. Same statistical outcome. Difference is, KP isn't consistently accurate on his deep ball, and Mason chose GP. Right now, MR is better than KP, but it is the aggressive offense that allows him to be.

[@5StarMatchup]

Two of my faves having a civil discussion. Love this community

[@mycalbrooks8161]

“Mason freakin Rudolph” as a clip of him being sacked is perfect for how this season has been lmao

[@koswimmer1]

i be throwing like that second td to pickens on madden and somehow the corner becomes an 8 foot giant and defends it, smh. still what a great game to watch, hopefully our favorite reindeer goes to the city of starbucks to play even better. hope everyone on the comments had a great christmas and happy new year to everyone on 5SMU.

[@grottyband8052]

So let me get his history straight: 2018: Never played, Ben refused to mentor him 2019: took over with little notice in week 2, got hammered in week 5, Myles Garrett in week 11 (still played like crap), benched in week 12 for duck, came back in week 16 then got reinjured and Pitt misses the playoffs 2020: backup, didn’t play 2021: meh performance vs Detroit. Backup narrative staying strong 2022: third stringer 2023: nothing to lose, balls out This man deserves an award

[@chuckyjamesamartin1968]

2020 he had a pretty good game against Cleveland in Week 17

[@5StarMatchup]

Bingo

[@mc1993]

Mason Rudolph reached his Josh Dobbs character arc in the NFL.

[@just_2swift]

@@mc1993Lies. This is masons team now

[@mc1993]

@@just_2swift ? You're aware Josh Dobbs isn't on the Steelers right? You do know what Dobbs did this season?

[@Cutter-wh1fs]

Thanks goodness it’s mason getting the start!! He is the most deserving of it, I feel like he gave both sides of the ball a huge spark

[@SharkBaitSHRKB]

we need this energy for the next 2 games. explosive effective offense and stifling defense. also we need the QB play that happened against the bengals idc who does it.

[@DaRizat]

I know you're just a man and a man can only take so much but we need these even if we play fucking terribly. They are just too good and we have to laugh so we don't cry! These were sorely missed the last couple of weeks! Just my two cents, but I look forward to these even in times of misery. Happy holidays!

[@5StarMatchup]

Appreciate you! I just used the last couple weeks to experiment with me actually talking to the camera to express my frustration. I'm glad you want the show in bad weeks but the reality is it's so so much work and I end up saying the same stuff anyway, and literally they do a fraction of the views because people are so bitter. Just like to experiment. Stick with us and watch what we put out either way, guarantee it's worth the time!

[@DaRizat]

@@5StarMatchup for sure man, totally understand all that! Much love.

[@destanicollins6303]

Shoutout to Mason! I really hope he gets the start next this week.

[@7Roeth]

I noticed too when watching this game that Mason opted to use Alan Robinson. I had wondered why he wasn't used more. He should be open sometimes with all the attention George and Diontae draw.

[@5StarMatchup]

Problem is 8 never gets through progressions

[@countof3everybodyOD]

Seeing Pouncey get so fired up got me fired up. He was about that life. You swing on our QB it’s on sight, as the kids say

[@donovansign3140]

Kenny and Mitch make it look so Hard 😢😢

[@isitsustainable820]

Amazing what this team can accomplish with even remotely decent QB play

[@5StarMatchup]

They really really do

[@nrg6245]

You can tell Kenny wasn’t happy. But Mason is the better QB as of rn. His deep balls have always been awesome. He rallied this team to 34 points. Kenny has never done that in like 10 plus starts.

[@frankvisnikar4318]

Elite video as always

[@5StarMatchup]

Thank you brother

[@geraldogonzalez4209]

Thank you for what you do and Merry Christmas!

[@5StarMatchup]

Same to you!

[@isitsustainable820]

If Kenny was QB: Overthrows Pickens by 10ft at 2:39 Leads Pickens out of bounds at 8:15 Takes a sack at 10:39

[@moalston4203]

Your opinion

[@deadlimerence]

​@@moalston4203watch the film kid

[@Gungadin0112]

A very good precise opinion moalston@@moalston4203

[@MrREAPERsz]

Pickett can't even throw far enough to lead Pickens out of bounds lmao

[@5StarMatchup]

Pain. The people constantly defending Pickett to me are hilarious. It's the literal opposite of Rudolph 5 years ago lol.

[@juanrangel2411]

Mason nose was glowing red 😂😂 my guy knew it’s win or selling insurance

[@5StarMatchup]

Rudolph the red nosed state farm agent

[@wickedsickfunkyfreshroller2037]

All we needed this whole season was average qb play.

[@isitsustainable820]

Even less than that. Mason’s performance gives you additional perspective on just how bad Kenny and Mitch are.

[@MrREAPERsz]

He looked average without snaps with the starters. Give the reindeer more snaps in practice

[@5StarMatchup]

Literally lol

[@dryhuh]

I'm holding onto my Mason Rudolph apology. If he does it again I'm buying a jersey 🤣

[@leomoneymaker8894]

I'm calling Warren the "Electric Meatball" from now on. 😆😆

[@5StarMatchup]

⚡🧆⚡🧆⚡

[@yrn_glucose]

The electric meatball is such a fitting nickname for Warren! Earned a sub dude 👍

[@Yesimkaleb]

The story of how Rudolph saved Christmas

[@duelistalliance1071]

Never bet against anyone named rudolph on christmas

[@duelistalliance1071]

😂

[@chiphazzard8173]

It took me 1 quarter of watching Mason be patient, sit in the pocket, look past read #1. Mason was calm cool and collected, every game with pickett was hectic. Mason MIGHT have just a little bit of #7 in him.

[@LindaCarlson-nf1cl]

An anxiety free finish. Can't remember the last time we had one of those! Don't know if Mason will get to play next week but after what he did compared to Trubisky, Trubisky has to go. Do what they can to keep Mason. We still don't know for sure about Kenny. I didn't see KP play at Pitt but he doesn't do stupid shit and turn the ball over.

[@chuckyjamesamartin1968]

Week 11 of 2020, I think. When we played a Jags team starting Jake Luton

[@LindaCarlson-nf1cl]

@@chuckyjamesamartin1968 Seems like forever ago!

[@moalston4203]

@@chuckyjamesamartin1968 the jags before TLaw

[@jamesyoung2280]

They keep crapping on Rudolph talking about bringing in veteran QB. Just make him QB#1. He's earned it

[@JaggNastyyy]

Bruh he freaking commentary was lit asf 😂🎅🏻

[@5StarMatchup]

You're lit asf

[@xXSTEEL-LEGENDSX]

This really convinced me of what we should do moving forward ride with the hot hand 👏🏾

[@TheOneLC7]

“Let me check my notes” lmaooooooo

[@jeffersonhartley2673]

Should've been the starter for the last 2 years.

[@tylerreynolds8832]

Signing Scrubitzky was an insult to Mason. Rudolph deserves the start and to be the #2, at the very least.

[@frankrice6935]

I said it Last Year and all this Year as well. Mason Rudolph DESERVES another chance... And it's about time Mike Tomlin listens to the crowd!!!!

[@moalston4203]

Don't follow the crowd do what is best for you

[@moalston4203]

Mike Tomlin needs to do what is best for the steelers not the fans who are tried of losing a playoff game I will take a playoff game every year we just need wins in the big game

[@chuckyjamesamartin1968]

It looks like barring a much better week at practice than Mason, he's sticking with Mason. Thank the lord.

[@XTheeKing]

The 2020 an this season has really tested my patience as a Steelers fan but goddamn IM BUYING BACK IN WE STILL HAVE HOPE 🖤💛 HERE.......WE.........GO

[@GageRyanVideo]

As the internet's most notorious "Mason Rudolph is fine" stans, this feels like vindication, especially from all the jagoffs saying Trubisky was somehow better than him. Kenny Pickett has shown me enough to maybe give him another chance down the line, but there's no doubt Mason earned another shot. Mike Tomlin NEVER. EVER. EVERRR. plays the hot hand, so I fully expect Pickett to be back under center ASAP, but I guess we'll see what happens. Great job Mase Rude. It was good to see him have this performance in front of his parents, after everything he's been through.

[@isitsustainable820]

What has Kenny shown you. He’s historically bad and isn’t getting better. Steelers should dump him and Mitch this off-season.

[@5StarMatchup]

I don't think you dump pickett but for me, if rudolph were to finish strong, I'm having a conversation about whos the starter. I agree Pickett simply hasn't shown enough.

[@chuckyjamesamartin1968]

Mason doesn't need to put up huge numbers, as long as he LOOKS as good as he did on Saturday, we can definitely win out and make some noise in the playoffs. Unlike Kenny who takes almost no risks, and Mitch who takes incredibly uncalculated risks, Mason was attacking Cincinnati deep when the plays were there and he also went through his progressions better than any Steeler QB of the last 2 seasons. For what it's worth, if you took his last 3 starts and put them over a 17 game season, he'd be on pace for 4,800 yards, 28 touchdowns, 11 interceptions, and a passer rating of about 89. If he was just a touch better in the efficiency department, you'd think we had Tom Brady out there. Glad Tomlin didn't get in his own way, he is likely going with Rudolph this week. Also, if we win out, we have an incredibly high chance to make the playoffs. We should hope Batimore wins, because they'll rest their starters in Week 18 if they have that 1 seed clinched.

[@lordstian4233]

ONE MORE GAME FOR RUDOLPH!

[@moalston4203]

Surely for fluff this up

[@BettisRubio]

THE WHATEVER FUCK YOU AT THE END WAS HILARIOUS

[@mattbryant8320]

Ride it out with mason. As much as I like kp I don’t think he would have made half of those throws mason did.

[@isitsustainable820]

He would’ve airmailed them or taken sacks.

[@5StarMatchup]

Fair

[@jbsmm2112]

Kenny was looking decent before he was hurt, but Mason has earned a start, at least this week.

[@deadgoose2476]

That’s the point I make as well, KP was looking legit for a minute but then he got hurt, but I’ll take Mason over Mitch any mf day, Mitch was a problem for us and I made that a point when they tried Mitch over Mason and KP the first time

[@isitsustainable820]

Kenny was at no point looking decent. He’s historically bad.

[@HellxAngelz]

@@isitsustainable820Dude doesn’t know football. It’s his 2nd year. He’s got time to grow just like Pickens. Settle down.

[@jbsmm2112]

Kenny looked good after Canada left and immediately got hurt

[@mc1993]

The ran the same style of offense in each Bengals match-up, but Muth had most of the targets. GP got mostly short routes, but when he did go deep, it was a flip of the coin if Pickett could actually hit him. Mason always had the best deep ball of the bunch, this game plan allowed him to showcase that.

[@55TheInTIMidator55]

The safety literally jumped on the ground on the first Pickens touchdown but instead all the analysis on Twitter was, “What an incredible talent Pickens is.”

[@cmwhiting1]

Bullshit. Pickens was going to the end zone because he was in “the zone” and no one was going to stop him.

[@mc1993]

It's called taking a bad angle. It happens. He did dust the rest of the defenders in route to the house. Now, if that was Pickens' only play, you might have a point. However, you know, there was the rest of the game...

[@AbleAnderson]

Rudolph absolutely earned another look, no question in my mind. You can just say you wanna give Kenny as much rest and chance to heal as fully as possible. Then if Mason is awful in Seattle you go back to Kenny for the Ravens game and make some big decisions this offseason.

[@remedythis-dreamworld]

Electric meatball 😂😂

[@5StarMatchup]

⚡🧆

[@TheScott21385]

That roast was great. Kinda done with Tomlin getting to 8 or 9 wins leaving us with another early 20s 1st round pick

[@5StarMatchup]

Appreciate it

[@charlesboyer5712]

Been waiting for this!🥳🥳

[@Haesyx]

I like how Mason just took what the defense gave him Why can't they teach the other QBs to do that?

[@isitsustainable820]

Because the other QBs are inept

[@deadlimerence]

Kenny can't see the field

[@anonymousanonymity2815]

All week I was telling my dad "rudolph is going to save christmas". I was joking at first, but I was starting to believe it by Saturday. At the end of the half on those third downs my dad was just going "just run the ball and eat clock". LET. MASON. COOK. I've been saying for YEARS that the tlak about Rudolph being like the worst QB who's ever existed was some of the most absurd, ridiculous talk in this fanbase. Take his Browns game from 2019 out of the picture and his career numbers before this game are actually pretty good for a backup. Hearing the stadium thunderously chanting his name (which should've been included imo) was just awesome. Oh, and the biggest Christmas miracle was Tomlin winnning both challenges.

[@zacward8806]

I would literally just watch these for the Boswell clip😂cause it's........Money.....Money.........money!

[@tasmith7012]

Blasian Beef Boy🤣🤣🤣

[@amcapepittsburgh1748]

RUDOLPH HANDS DOWN STARTS THIS WEEK

[@rio6524]

I was one of the few Steelers fans who always thought we never gave Rudolph a fair shot. He came into a pretty crappy situation between two bad offensive coordinators and COVID happening plus a very weak Steelers O-Line and team all around. Nothing was catered to him or put in place to help him succeed. They paid Tribusky so they had to play him but the rumor for the past couple of seasons was Rudolph looked better than Tribusky. Also, I believe it would look bad on Tomlin if they paid Tribusky only to have Rudolph come in and do way better because for some reason Rudolph is hated in Pittsburgh and I can’t understand why he just needed more development. Everyone wants a Mahomes or Herbert off rip and that’s not how QBs work.

[@5StarMatchup]

I've been screaming this all since season one in 2019. They really never treated him fairly. Good for him ballin out.

[@rio6524]

@@5StarMatchupI hope he balls out this game because if he doesn’t you know there’s going to be the “see I told you” people

[@mc1993]

@@rio6524 Watch the route tree vs the Seahawks and you'll know what type of game to expect.

[@rochellereif8421]

GO Rudolph Steelers GO GO Steelers GO 🙌

[@NachtjagerVII]

Second best game I've been to.

[@williamcecil7173]

I’m not gonna lie him getting whacked in the head and not going down made me like him

[@GOJI1990]

How the pickens stole Christmas

[@5StarMatchup]

🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲

[@BIGMIKE360AMUSEMENTS]

When was the last the Steelers had a 24-0 lead? It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish!

[@Sillygoober89977]

Hes back

[@SteelixtheSteelersfan]

After the 3rd touchdown in the first half I called my wife crying. She asked me what was wrong and I told her "nothing is wrong as a matter of fact everything is right" and then told her about the steelers Christmas miracle and she hasn't stopped making fun of me. I will take it this was a breath of fresh air 😂

[@Gabigirl1911]

Electric meatball 🤣

[@chetdavis3775]

Even when Kenny was 100% he never went down field the way Mason did this game...With the weapons we have according to their skill set we have to go down field....I feel like Mason should start until he shouldn't start period ...

[@thetristanstone4049]

Sorry it was never Matt Canada the QBs just sucked!!! Mason is an NFL QB that is why they won. You talking heads were all WRONG!!! Damn I Love being Right! Go Mason!!!

[@princeofthelake]

🐐

[@5StarMatchup]

🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐

[@Yourbarberleftyou]

First off Jaylens not blasian he’s Samoan/black just to correct you you should give us Polynesians credit they deserve but love the rest of this video man

[@5StarMatchup]

Oh really, I'd seen many refer to him as such. But that's why I backed off of that one the last couple weeks, don't like projecting identity. Appreciate you my man, much respect!

[@JAGL716]

If mason starts right after kennys injury wed be in the playoffs already

[@keenaniscool]

Mason is Better

[@moalston4203]

If he keeps playing like this yea this was 1 game performance

[@moalston4203]

Talent wise not really

[@5StarMatchup]

Hard to argue

[@slave2tyranny]

GO STEELERS!

[@beamerball666]

I know Cincinnati is bad on defense, but we gotta at least start Mason in Seattle

[@bigl261991]

I wait for that money, money, money ,money, moneyyyyy everytime😂

[@SharkBaitSHRKB]

who is getting the start against seattle? is it mason or kenny?

[@geraldogonzalez4209]

Mason

[@moalston4203]

​@@geraldogonzalez4209OFC till he loses or plays bad

[@5StarMatchup]

2

[@gertgaming7351]

Man I love KP8, but damn keep Rudolph in. He’s cookin with gas and let him cook

[@5StarMatchup]

with you

[@CesarLopez-k7c]

He looked like Tom Brady in his prime

[@lamontcurry7033]

Calvin Austin needs more plays

[@moalston4203]

Hell yes

[@moalston4203]

Hell yes

[@ericmeiselbach8629]

Going with “the hot hand” at qb is what is foolish, and never happens with an established starter. Mason played great, and so has Browning. How’s that working out for them today? I like Mason and have no problem with him starting but Tomlin will start Kenny if he’s healthy enough, as he should.

[@5StarMatchup]

If your "established starter" is throwing .5 TDs a game in 2023, you don't have an established starter.

[@tonygonzalez958]

If kenny is 100% he should start.

[@CesarLopez-k7c]

People still think it was Canada's at fault

[@johnboxler8989]

Mason. You just have to

[@5StarMatchup]

Agreed

[@jacobhart28]

QB1

[@5StarMatchup]

Easily

[@NoOneYaKnow666]

I'd stick with Mason. He did what he did.

[@TheSlizzap]

Imo, kenny looked just as good against the Bengals. A couple of broken tackles or greater separation on long throws and the games would have identical.

[@isitsustainable820]

No he didn’t.

[@5StarMatchup]

Imo not really. Kenny played good against the Bengals but I never seen him in two years make the throw Mason did in the play of the game

[@TheSlizzap]

@@5StarMatchup Kenny made that throw against the bengals. The throw that Mike Hilton barely tackled GP by grabbing his shirt and diving at his legs. 8:08 in the nfl highlights. That’s basically the same throw in the same situation, right in the bucket. Only difference is Mike Hilton just barely grabbing the jersey to slow him down.

[@frangardner6865]

Rudolph should be the starting quarterback! The Steelers are like a slow burning dumpster fire and that is attributed to a lack of leadership! Tomlin is like a slick talking Obama... All words and no results! He needs to go coach another team and the Steelers need a different type of leader. It is nothing personal.... It's all about results or in this case lack of which! Keep Rudolph in and at least the games will be exciting!

[@richardwrask497]

The only decent game Pickett had was against Cincinnati. Rudolph had a big game against Cincinnati. The problem is Cincinnati sucks.

[@55TheInTIMidator55]

When the Steelers win, they lose. Tomlin will never get fired, the team will never win a playoff game again and forever and ever the wheel of mediocrity will spin. I hate this team so much.

[@bengrassi854]

Trubisky should not be on any roster next year...Steelers have 0 reason to keep him

[@amcapepittsburgh1748]

Tomlin is a horrible coach. Most overrated in the league