The Pittsburgh Steelers are looking to stop their losing skid as they enter the playoffs. The Cincinnati Bengals are looking to keep their playoff chances alive, though they still need some outside help on Sunday to get there. Both teams have plenty to play for, but this one will be played on a bitter cold winter night at Acrisure Stadium. The 44-38 shootout won by the Steelers at the beginning of December was in Cincinnati.
Both the offense and defense in Pittsburgh have a lot to prove. The offense hasn’t been the same since that last Bengals game, partially because of WR George Pickens being out for a few games. Riding into the playoffs on another 30-plus point performance against the Bengals would be huge for this team, but their defense has been strong over the last month with 12 forced turnovers.
The Steelers have a lot to prove defensively after a few rough outings against very good, playoff-bound opponents. The defense was the foundation of this team’s success earlier in the season, and the Steelers need to get back to that if they want to avoid another early playoff exit.
Because the Baltimore Ravens have beaten the Cleveland Browns, 35-10, a Steelers win would secure a trip to the Houston Texans in the Wild Card round. A loss most likely sends them to the Ravens for a very difficult Wild Card matchup, though they could still end up playing the Texans if the Las Vegas Raiders upset the Los Angeles Chargers Sunday.
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Steelers’ Inactive Players
QB Kyle Allen (3rd QB)
WR Scotty Miller
DL Dean Lowry
DL Isaiahh Loudermilk
CB Donte Jackson
Bengals’ Inactive Players
DE Sam Hubbard
WR Jermaine Burton
RB Chase Brown
OL Andrew Stueber
WR Charlie Jones
TE Tanner McLachlan
DE Isaiah Thomas
The defensive line is a little thin due to the chosen inactives. The Steelers will be playing a lot of 2-5 and Bronco (3 OLB) packages today, most likely. Any defensive line injuries could suddenly become a problem. Bengals RB Chase Brown couldn’t go, so their rushing attack shouldn’t be a big factor.
START OF GAME
The Bengals start with the ball on offense. They returned the kickoff to the 27.
1st and 10, DeShon Elliott came downhill to fill against the run and no gain on the play. Khalil Herbert the running back. 2nd and 10, complete to Mike Gesicki for 12 yards with a nice move to get past Elliott.
1st and 10, Burrow complete to Tee Higgins for 9 yards with Joey Porter Jr. in coverage. A great throw by Burrow. 2nd and 1, complete to Gesicki over the middle for 16 yards and the Bengals’ offense is already rolling.
1st and 10, Herbert up the middle for 5 yards. 2nd and 5, Herbert stopped a yard short after picking up 4. 3rd and 1, complete to Ja’Marr Chase for 7 yards.
1st and 10, Burrow complete to Chase for 12 yards and a touchdown. The Steelers’ defense looks like swiss cheese. 7-0 Bengals.
The kickoff went short of the landing zone, so the Steelers start on the 40.
1st and 10, Najee Harris up the middle for 3 yards. 2nd and 7, no gain for Pickens on a quick WR screen. He was hit late out of bounds, but no flag. 3rd and 7, Wilson sacked by Trey Hendrickson. The punt went 38 yards to the Cincinnati 28.
1st and 10, Burrow complete to Grandy for 9 yards. 2nd and 1, Cory Trice Jr. got the tackle for loss on Herbert. 3rd and 2, Burrow complete to Gesicki for 5 yards to convert.
1st and 10, Burrow complete to Higgins for 11 yards. Elandon Roberts thought he was held on the blitz, but no flag.
1st and 10, Herbert up the middle for 8 yards. 2nd and 2, complete to Herbert for 1 yards with Trice and Herbig teaming up for the tackle. 3rd and 1, Herbert up the middle for 4 yards.
1st and 10, Burrow complete to Herbert for 5 yards. 2nd and 5, Elliott tackled the catch behind the line for a loss of 1. Ineligible man downfield declined. 3rd and 6, the Steelers brought an extra man on the rush and forced the fumble. It was recovered by the Bengals, but they will have to kick a long field goal. Patrick Queen credited with the forced fumble. The field goal was good. 10-0 Bengals.
Jaylen Warren returned the kickoff to the 27.
1st and 10, Najee Harris picked up 10 yards after stumbling at the line of scrimmage.
1st and 10, toss to Harris for a loss of 1. 2nd and 11, Wilson tossed it at Harris’ feet with Hendrickson in his face. On the last play of the third quarter, Wilson complete 26 yards to Mike Williams with a toe tap along the sideline.
END OF 1ST QUARTER: 10-0 BENGALS
1st and 10, Warren up the middle for 4 yards. 2nd and 6, Warren off right end for 1 yard. Incomplete on 3rd down as Pat Freiermuth was tackeld by Cam Taylor-Britt before the ball arrived.
1st and 10, Harris for 11 yards.
1st and 10, Harris off right tackle for 3 yards. 2nd and 7, Harris up the middle for 6 yards. 3rd and 1, Wilson up the middle to convert.
1st and goal, Harris gained a couple inches. 2nd and goal, Harris up the middle for 2 yards. 3rd and goal from the 6, Taylor-Britt mugged Darnell Washington on a fade for an automatic first down.
1st and goal, Harris followed Connor Heyward into the end zone for a touchdown. 10-7 Bengals.
Isaiah Williams returned the kickoff to the 44. Not great coverage there and Boswell took a nice lick.
1st and 10, Alex Highsmith jumped offsides. 1st and 5, incomplete to Andrei Iosivas. The ball was knocked up after the drop, but no Steelers in the area to make a play on the ball. 2nd and 5, Burrow to Gesicki for 5 yards to convert.
1st and 10, Herbert up the middle for 2 yards. 2nd and 8, Herbert up the middle for 2 yards. 3rd and 6, Burrow complete to Herbert for 5 yards. 4th and 1, the ball was tipped by Cam Heyward to force a turnover on downs.
1st and 10, Warren up the middle for 4 yards. 2nd and 6, Warren up the middle for 3 yards. 3rd and 3, incomplete. The punt nearly didn’t get off in time, but Waitman picked the ball up off the ground and punted to the 16 out of bounds.
1st and 10, ineligible man downfield. 1st and 15 deep in their own end, Burrow complete to Herbert for 4 yards. 2nd and 11, complete to Chase for 8 yards. 3rd and 3, Preston Smith sacked Burrow.
The punt was fumbled by Calvin Austin III and recovered by the Bengals near the red zone. That is brutal for the defense after back-to-back great stops.
1st and 10, false start. 1st and 15, complete for 9 yards to Iosivas.
TWO-MINUTE WARNING
2nd and 6, complete to Sample for no gain with Queen making the tackle. 3rd and 6, T.J. Watt forced a fumble and it was recovered by the Bengals. Defensive holding means it didn’t matter either way. Automatic first down.
1st and 10, Herbert up the middle for 3 yards. False start makes it 2nd and 12 with a 10-second runoff, but the Steelers declined that runoff. 2nd and 12, deflected and Beanie Bishop Jr. intercepted the pass. That is three on the season for Bishop. Tip of the hat to Patrick Queen as well for tipping that out of Chase’s hands.
1st and 10, Wilson’s pass was deflected way up in the air, but fell incomplete. 2nd and 10, complete to Freiermuth for 11 yards.
1st and 10, Wilson threw the ball away. 2nd and 10, complete to Freiermuth for 9.5 yards. 3rd and short, Wilson sneak up the middle to convert and the Steelers call their second timeout. Replay assist took away the first down. 4th and inches, handoff to Warren to convert. That one will be reviewed again. It was short. The Bengals have a great chance to score here. Devastating for the Steelers.
1st and 10, Burrow complete to Chase for 6 yards. They took their second timeout. 2nd and 4, complete to Sample for 4 yards to convert. The Bengals took their third timeout.
1st and 10, complete to Higgins on a high-point catch along the sideline for 18 yards.
1st and goal with 27 seconds remaining, incomplete to Herbert. T.J. Watt had immediate pressure there. 2nd and goal, deflected by Heyward again. 3rd and goal, incomplete to Chase with Trice in coverage. The field goal was good. 13-7 Bengals.
Not as bad as it could have been, but still frustrating for the Steelers.
1st and 10, Wilson was sacked to end the half.
END OF 1ST HALF: 13-7 BENGALS
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