The Pittsburgh Steelers are leading the Cincinnati Bengals 24-0 at halftime. That is close to the most points this team has scored all season long and they did it in the first half. This is the first 24-0 lead the Steelers have had at halftime since 2016 against the Kansas City Chiefs. Pittsburgh will get the ball back to start the half.
QB Mason Rudolph has 12 completions on 19 attempts for 193 yards and a touchdown. The offense is cooking and the defense has three turnovers including two interceptions and one turnover on downs near the goal line.
START OF SECOND HALF
The kickoff resulted in a touchback.
1st and 10, Mason Rudolph complete to Jaylen Warren for 6 yards. 2nd and 4, Harris up the middle for 3 yards. 3rd and 1, Harris up the middle for a first down.
1st and 10, Rudolph complete to Miles Boykin for 6 yards. 2nd and 4, Harris up the middle for 2 yards. 3rd and 2, deep ball to Calvin Austin III, but incomplete with too much air under it. The Pressley Harvin III punt went just 35 yards to the 20-yard line.
1st and 10, Jake Browning complete to Tee Higgins over the middle for and 80-yard touchdown. The Bengals went for two and a shovel pass to Joe Mixon in the flat while under pressure. 24-8 Bengals.
The kickoff resulted in a touchback.
1st and 10, Rudolph complete to Darnell Washington for 8 yards. 2nd and 2, Warren up the middle for a yard. 3rd and 1, a deep pass to Pickens who broke free of the defender for a 66-yard touchdown. Pickens is up to four catches for 195 yards and two touchdowns. 31-8 Steelers.
The kickoff resulted in a touchback.
1st and 10, T.J. Watt deflected the pass at the line. 2nd and 10, complete to Higgins for 8 yards. 3rd and 2, Browning complete to Higgins for 14 yards with Watt in his face.
1st and 10, Drew Sample caught the pass and ran up the left sideline for 16 yards. Highsmith called offsides, but the penalty was declined.
1st and 10, Browning incomplete and Myles Jack should have intercepted the deflection. 2nd and 10, incomplete in the short middle with Chandon Sullivan in coverage. 3rd and 10, Browning complete to Tanner Hudson for 5 yards. 4th and 5, incomplete pass to the left sideline and another turnover on downs.
1st and 10, Najee Harris bounced outside and stiff armed DJ Turner for a gain of 4. 2nd and 6, Trey Hendrickson sacked Rudolph. 3rd and 12, incomplete pass. The Steelers will punt from their own 30. The punt went 38 yards and was fair caught at the Cincinnati 32.
1st and 10, Mixon off right tackle for 13 yards up the sideline.
1st and 10, Browning complete to Boyd for 4 yards. 2nd and 6, Browning complete to Andrei Iosivas for 11 yards.
1st and 10, Browning complete to Tyler Boyd for 6 yards. 2nd and 4, a deep completion to Iosivas. It looked like he was barely out of bounds with his hand hitting before his foot, but Mike Tomlin challenged the ruling on the field of a catch. They reversed the ruling on the field. The Bengals are charged their first timeout. 3rd and 4, Browning under pressure by Nick Herbig and the pass was incomplete. Joey Porter Jr. called for defensive holding for an automatic first down.
1st and 10, just outside the red zone, Browning complete to Chase Brown for 2 yards. 2nd and 8, Iosivas dropped what would have been a first down. The pass was a little high. 3rd and 8, Browning along the right sideline for 15 yards. Porter in coverage on that reception.
1st and 10 in the red zone, Mixon up the middle for 2 yards. 2nd and 8, on the tenth play of the drive, Browning sacked by Alex Highsmith for a loss of 7 yards. 3rd and 15, complete to Mixon for 2 yards. They sent the game to a break to change over to the 4th quarter, but they reviewed that Mixon catch and ruled it incomplete. The Bengals are attempting a 35-yard field goal and it is good. 31-11 Steelers.
END OF 3RD QUARTER: 31-11 STEELERS
The kickoff resulted in a touchback.
1st and 10, Warren around the left end for 1 yard. 2nd and 9, Warren up the middle for 5 yards. 3rd and 4, Rudolph had a wide open Diontae Johnson streaking up the field, but Rudolph missed him. Would have been another long score. Harvin’s punt went 39 yards and was returned 5 yards to the Cincinnati 35-yard line.
On 1st and 10, a pass complete to Mixon for no gain and holding on Jonah Williams trying to slow down Watt. 1st and 20, a false start on Williams. 1st and 25, Browning complete to Brown for 6 yards. 2nd and 19, Highsmith dropped into coverage and intercepted the pass.
1st and 10, Harris up the middle for 6 yards. 2nd and 4, Harris up the middle for 5 yards.
1st and 10, Harris up the middle for 7 yards. 2nd and 3, Harris up the middle for no gain. Illegal shift called on Pittsburgh, but declined. 3rd and 3, Warren off left tackle for 4 yards.
1st and 10, Harris off left tackle for 2 yards. 2nd and 8, Harris around the right end for a loss of 4. 3rd and 12, Rudolph complete to Robinson for 11 yards. The Steelers called their first timeout of the half. Boswell nailed the 30-yard field goal. 34-11 Steelers.
The Bengals and Steelers each got one more possession and each punted. The Bengals finished with the ball with two straight Joe Mixon runs to kill the clock. The Steelers advance to 8-7 and keep their playoff hopes alive.
FINAL SCORE: 34-11 STEELERS
