The Pittsburgh Steelers are looking to avoid a loss streak in December for the second year in a row while the Cincinnati Bengals are playing to keep their playoff hopes alive. Both teams have plenty of reasons to play hard, and as we learned once again last week, the AFC North is always unpredictable.
Joe Burrow is having an excellent season at or near the top of the league in multiple major passing statistics. If not for his team’s 4-7 record, he would probably be an MVP candidate. Their offense runs through him with no real rushing attack to speak of.
The Steelers will be looking to bust their offensive slump against the Bengals, who have allowed a lot of points this season. Russell Wilson and the red-zone offense have struggled, but the Bengals are the No. 31 red-zone defense in the league, with 70.59 percent of drives ending in the end zone. Could this finally be the week that Mike Williams gets involved with still just one target through three games?
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Steelers’ Inactive Players
QB Kyle Allen (3rd QB)
OLB Alex Highsmith
WR Scotty Miller
G Max Scharping
RB Jonathan Ward
Bengals’ Inactive Players
WR Charlie Jones
WR Trenton Irwin
LB Logan Wilson
TE Tanner McLachlan
DT Sheldon Rankins
Alex Highsmith will miss this game after being labeled doubtful on Friday. He should be back next game against the Cleveland Browns.
START OF GAME
The Steelers won the coin toss and elected to defer to the second half. They will start the game on defense.
The Bengals returned the opening kickoff to the 36.
1st and 10, Burrow incomplete to Ja’Marr Chase under pressure. 2nd and 10, a tackle for loss by Keeanu Benton and T.J. Watt. They moved Watt around a bit in the formation! 3rd and 11, false start. 3rd and 16, Burrow complete to Chase for 13 yards over the middle. The punt was fair caught at the 15.
1st and 10, Wilson deep to Calvin Austin III, but pass interference gives them the gain after the incompletion.
1st and 10, complete to Najee Harris for 7 yards. 2nd and 3, incomplete. 3rd and 3, George Pickens was knocked down and Taylor-Britt intercepted the pass for a touchdown. That really feels like a bad no call. 7-0 Bengals.
Former ref Gene Steratore says that likely should have been illegal hands penalty.
1st and 10, Wilson complete to Freiermuth for 7 yards. 2nd and 3, toss to Harris for 1 yard. 3rd and 2, complete to Harris for 25 yards on a catch and run. A great run by Harris after the catch.
1st and 10, Harris off right tackle for 7 yards. 2nd and 3, Wilson complete to Harris for 5 yards.
1st and 10, complete to Harris for 8 yards. Harris pulled up on the run. Maybe a hamstring? He did not come back in to finish the drive. 2nd and 2, complete to George Pickens for a 17-yard touchdown. 7-7 Steelers.
Good for the Steelers to respond, but still very frustrating that it could be 10 or 14-0 at this point if not for the missed call pick-six.
The kickoff was returned to the 25 with a big hit by Miles Killebrew.
1st and 10, Joey Porter Jr. tackled Drew Sample for a gain of just 2. 2nd and 8, complete to Mike Gesicki for 6. 3rd and 2, Burrow rolled out to escape pressure and hit Tee Higgins in tight coverage to convert.
1st and 10, Chase Brown up the middle for 13 yards.
1st and 10, Brown just cut through the defense for 41 yards to score. That is unacceptable for this defense. This is a bad rushing offense. Brown was stopped a yard short. He punched it in the next play. 14-7 Bengals.
This has the looks of a rough game for the Steelers right now. This offense getting spotted seven points is a disaster and 14 points in the first 10 minutes. Ouch!
1st and 10, Patterson up the middle for 2 yards. 2nd and 8, Wilson incomplete to Van Jefferson. The play was there to be made, but Wilson was a bit low and behind. 3rd and 8, Pickens across the middle for 21 yards. Pickens taunted the Bengals to give up 15 yards. He converted, but you can’t give up that many yards in a shoot out.
1st and 10, complete to Freiermuth for 3 yards. 2nd and 7, complete to Darnell Washington for 10 yards. Good luck stopping Washington with the ball in his hands.
1st and 10, delay of game. 1st and 15, Wilson complete to Cordarrelle Patterson for 8 yards. 2nd and 7, Wilson complete to Patterson short middle for 9 yards.
1st and 10, Patterson off right tackle for 12 yards.
1st and 10, Patterson around the right end for 2 yards. Kris Jenkins Jr. was injured on the play.
END OF 1ST QUARTER: 14-7 BENGALS
2nd and 8, complete to Calvin Austin III for a 23-yard touchdown. 14-14 Even.
1st and 10, screen pass to Chase for 7 yards pushed out of bounds by Queen. 2nd and 3, Khalil Herbert around left end for 14 yards. The run defense issues continue.
1st and 10, holding on Porter. Better than DPI.
1st and 10, incomplete over the middle with Porter covering Higgins. 2nd and 10, Burrow scrambled for 8 yards. 3rd and 2, complete to Brown for 6 yards.
1st and 10, Burrow to Brown for 4 yards. 2nd and 6, offensive holding or it would have been a sack. 2nd and 16, complete to Gesicki for 18 yards.
1st and 10, incomplete deep with Porter committing DPI. That was nowhere near being catchable. Another awful call.
1st and goal from the 1, Cam Heyward a 3-yard tackle for loss. Timeout by the Bengals. 2nd and goal, Burrow somehow escaped the sack, stepped up and tossed a touchdown to Chase. 21-14 Bengals.
1st and 10, Patterson aligned as a receiver and he caught a 20-yarder across the middle.
1st and 10, Harris off left tackle for 8 yards. Taylor-Britt called for a facemask. The same guy who didn’t get called on the pick-six.
1st and 10, Wilson complete to Harris for 6 yards. 2nd and 4, false start. 2nd and 9, Harris up the middle for 5 yards. Mike Hilton called for unnecessary roughness.
1st and goal from the 10, Harris basically walked in behind Darnell Washington’s block on a pitch. 21-21 Even.
Harris absolutely came to play. He has five carries for 31 yards and a touchdown and five receptions for 51 yards. I don’t think he’s had a negative play yet.
1st and 10, Brown off left tackle for 4 yards. 2nd and 6, Burrow complete to Iosivas for 15 yards.
1st and 10, Burrow complete to Hudson for 6 yards. 2nd and 4, Brown up the middle for 4 yards.
1st and 10, Burrow broke the pocket and Watt punched the ball out, recovered by Preston Smith. The Steelers get the ball back after the half, so another score here could be massive.
That is forced fumble No. 5 for Watt. The best in the league.
1st and 10, complete to Jaylen Warren for 29 yards, breaking multiple tackles and juking people out.
1st and 10, Wilson tossed the ball away. Smart to avoid negativity. 2nd and 10, pass broken up along the sideline to Pickens. They are in field goal range, but a conversion here would be huge. 3rd and 10, Freiermuth dropped the pass with it slightly low. Boswell’s field goal from 50 is good. He makes it look easy. 24-21 Steelers.
1st and 10, DeShon Elliott tackles the catch for 6 yards. 2nd and 4, Porter tackled Brown for a gain of 3. 3rd and 1, timeout by the Steelers. The Steelers forced a throwaway by Burrow. They are going for it. 4th and 1, false start. Now they will likely punt and the Steelers will have a two-minute drill. What a great end to this half.
The Steelers will begin at their own 19.
1st and 10, complete to Freiermuth for 8 yards. 2nd and 2, delayed handoff to Warren for 6 yards.
1st and 10, Wilson complete to Austin for 6 yards and a big hit at the end of the play. Timeout called by the Steelers. Back-to-back plays for Jaylen Warren and the Steelers mismanaged the clock to get a touchdown chance. Boswell’s field goal is good. 27-21 Steelers.
END OF HALF: 27-21 STEELERS
Join us for the second half below.
