That was quite the wild first half. The Cincinnati Bengals kicked things off with a pick-six on a questionable penalty no-call, and the Steelers responded. They’ve been trading punches ever since. The Steelers had a great finish to the first half to take a 27-21 lead with the ball coming back to the Steelers after halftime.
The Steelers’ offense looks great other than the questionable pick-six. That is probably the story of the game so far after the struggles in recent weeks. This is the type of football they need to be playing as an offense now that we are in December.
START OF 2ND HALF
1st and 10, Wilson complete to MyCole Pruitt for 18 yards. That is eight eligibles with a reception and not one of them is Mike Williams.
1st and 10, Najee Harris off left tackle for 3 yards. 2nd and 7, Wilson complete to Pickens for 36 yards. He was called for unsportsmanlike because he signaled a gun. It didn’t eject him because it wasn’t directed at the other team.
1st and 10, Harris left end for a loss of 3. 2nd and 13, Wilson scrambled for 5 yards. Timeout called by the Steelers. 3rd and 8, a short completion. The field goal was blocked.
1st and 10, Brown up the middle for 3 yards. 2nd and 7, Burrow scrambled for 1 yard. 3rd and 6, Burrow somehow got rid of the ball complete to Hudson to convert.
1st and 10, Brown off left end for 2 yards. 2nd and 8, Burrow sacked by Cam Heyward for a loss of 8. 3rd and 16, false start. 3rd and 21, complete to Higgins for 31 yards.
1st and 10, Brown up the middle for 2 yards. 2nd and 8, complete to Mike Gesicki for 20 yards.
1st and 10, incomplete to Higgins. 2nd and 10, complete to Gesicki for 4 yards. 3rd and 6, Burrow sacked by T.J. Watt and Keeanu Benton. The field goal is good. 27-24 Steelers.
Calvin Austin III is now ruled out with a head injury. I would assume he got concussed on that massive hit at the end of the first half.
The kickoff bounced in the landing zone and into the end zone so the touchback is at the 20.
1st and 10, Harris off left tackle for 3 yards. Too many men on the field for the Bengals. 2nd and 2, Harris off left end for 20 yards. Multiple cuts and great blocking down the field.
1st and 10, Wilson sacked for a loss of 0. He slid to prevent getting hit. 2nd and 10, Wilson complete to Ben Skowronek for 22.
1st and 10, Harris up the middle for 5 yards. 2nd and 5, Wilson complete to Freiermuth for 25 yards and a touchdown. 34-24 Steelers.
1st and 10, Burrow complete to Jermaine Burton for 27 yards.
1st and 10, Burrow complete to Drew Sample for 6 yards. 2nd and 4, Burrow complete to Tanner Hudson for 10 yards.
1st and 10, false start by the Bengals. 1st and 15, intercepted by Donte Jackson. That was courtesy of a tip by Heyward.
1st and 10, Zach Frazier called for ineligible man downfield, but it was declined. 2nd and 10, Warren up the middle for 4 yards. 3rd and 6, Wilson incomplete to Pickens. Holding on Isaac Seumalo, but it was declined. The punt went to the Bengals’ 11-yard line.
1st and 10, complete to Hudson for 5 yards. 2nd and 5, DPI on Porter. It was a poor call, in my opinion.
1st and 10, Brown off left end for 2 yards with a big hit delivered from Cam Heyward. 2nd and 8, illegal formation declined. 3rd and 8, Nick Herbig punched the ball out and Payton Wilson scooped for the score. 41-24 Steelers.
1st and 10, Burrow complete to Higgins for 8 yards. 2nd and 2, complete to Brown for 20 yards.
1st and 10, Burrow complete to Iosivas for 17 yards.
1st and 2nd were both incomplete, but a big DPI on Joey Porter in the end zone on 3rd. A touchdown to Higgins on 2nd and goal with Cam Sutton in coverage. 41-31 Steelers.
1st and 10, Harris off left end for 7 yards. 2nd and 3, Wilson complete to Harris for 3 yards and a face-mask penalty tacks on 15.
1st and 10, ineligible man downfield on Frazier. 2nd and 10, Harris for one yard. 3rd and 9, complete to Van Jefferson for 43 yards. That is 10 eligibles with a reception and still no Mike Williams.
The Steelers bled down some clock and then kicked a field goal from 30 yards out. 44-31 Steelers.
The Bengals marched right down the field and used only 1:07 to score a touchdown. They have no timeouts, but a converted onside kick could make things interesting. 44-38 Steelers.
Connor Heyward fielded the onside kick. The Bengals don’t have any timeouts. 1st and 10, Harris off left tackle for 3 yards.
TWO-MINUTE WARNING
2nd and 7, a toss for 3 yards. Holding called, but declined. 3rd and 4, Fields read option for 7 yards and he slid before he went out of bounds. Victory formation! The Steelers have clinched yet another winning season.
END OF GAME – FINAL SCORE: 44-38 STEELERS
