Bengals 19 vs Steelers 17 summary score, stats, updates | NFL Week 18
The Bengals defense has been under fire all year long, but they did just enough to keep the Steelers out of field goal range and hold them on 4th and 12. Pat Freiermuth had 85 yards on 8 catches and TD but dropped this pass that sunk the Steelers to their fourth straight loss. They are either going to get the five seed or six seed if the Chargers beat the Raiders tomorrow.
The Bengals won five in a row to end the season, but will it be enough to get into the playoffs? They need the Chiefs, who have the one seed and a first round BYE wrappe up, to beat the Broncos tomorrow in Denver.
Chris Boswell has been the best kicker in the league, and he proved it with this 54 yard field goal on a cold windy night in Pittsburgh. This 54 yarder cut the lead to two and the Steelers defense would come up with a stop to give Wilson and the offense the ball back.
The Steelers caught a big break as the Bengals returned the favor of muffing a punt and giving PIttsburgh great field position. Connor Heyward came up with the recovery on the sideline and all of the sudden the Steelers had a chance to take the lead.
The Bengals would kick a couple more field goals on their first two drives of the second half which seemed to light a spark in a Pittsburgh offense that had been struggling not just against the Bengals but for the last month. The Steelers went hurry up and that seemed to open things up. Before this drive Wilson had just 5 completions on the night. In this drive he had 6, with the final one being to Pat Freiermuth for the TDs.
After the interception, Mike Tomlin decided to go for it on a 4th down and 1 deep in his territory and Warren would be stopped short of the marker. That allowed Cade York to hit a field goal, one of four on the night, to strech the lead out to 13-7 before the half. York missed the OT field goal last week that could have cost the Bengals their chance for the playoffs, but he was money for Cincy on Saturday night and was a big part of why the Bengals won.
You don't often see Burrow and Chase not on the same page but that's what happened on Burrow's only pick of the night. He threw the pass behind Chase and it got picked by Beanie Bishop. A lot of the incompletions can be attributed to the pressure the Steelers put on Burrow. They even knocked him out of the game for a brief moment, but he would return shortly after.
The Bengals offense died down for the rest of the half, and really the rest of the game after their two early scores, but the special teams put them in position to stretch the lead out right before half after this fumble by Calvin Austin III. It was a sloppy end of the first half, and this was just the beginning.
Cincy would stretch the lead out to 10 with a field goal, but that seemed to ignite the Steelers offense momentarily. They drove down the field on the shoulders of Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren after a long pass from Russell Wilson to Mike Williams and a couple of pass interference calls on Cincy. Harris punched it in to tighten the game up early in the second quarter.
The Cincinnati Bengals ended the regular season on a five game win streak after beating the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday Night, but now they will have to get some help from Kansas City if they are going to sneak into the playoffs over Denver. Joe Burrow had 277 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT in the 19-17 win for Acrisure Stadium.
It looked like we might be heading for a shootout on the first drive of the night. Burrow and the Bengals marched right down the field, as the QB hit all six of his passes including the last three to Ja'Marr Chase who ended the night with 96 yards on 10 catches and looks like a shoe in for the triple crown.
TURNOVER ON DOWNS!!!
Wilson's pass to Freiermuth hit him right in the hands but slipped right through his fingertips.
Cincy is going to hang on to win.
Timeout Bengals with 15 to go.
Wilson had Pickens wide open but that pass was behind the WR and falls incomplete.
4th and 12 from the PIT 40.
Hendrickson off the edge and sacks Wilson for a five yard loss. Timeout PIT, their last with 20 to go.
3rd and 12 from the PIT 40.
Wilson tucks it and runs but gets 3 yards and is tackled in bounds.
2nd and 7 from the PIT 45 with 25 seconds to go.
Wilson over the middle for Freiermuth and he makes the catch for 17 yards.
1st and 10 from the PIT 42.
Short pass to Freiermuth who makes the 3 yard catch but stays in bounds.
3rd and 9 from the PIT 25.
PIT start the drive from their 24 with 1:51 to go.
Wilson's pass to Harris is sniffed out by Davis-Gaither who drops him for a loss of 2.
2nd and 12 from the PIT 22.
WE ARE AT THE TWO MINUTE WARNING HERE FROM PITTSBURGH!!
Burrow is tripped up by Benton and the Bengals are going to have to punt as we hit the Two Minute Warning!
4th and 14 from the CIN 40!
Chase with the WR screen to the right side and eh picks up 5 yards.
3rd and 3 from the PIT 49 coming up. Timeout PIT with 2:19 to go, their second.
This was the play that gave the Steelers hope. PIT muffed a punt earlier in the game and CIN return the favor late in the 4th.
CIN get the ball from their 44 and Herbert gets two yards up the middle on the first down run.
2nd and 8 from the CIN 46. Timeout PIT, their first with 2:25 to go.
FIELD GOAL!!!
Boswell drills the 54 yard field goal and it's a two point game here from Acrisure.
CIN lead 19-17 with 2:39 to go.
Short pass to Freiermuth over the middle and he makes the catch for 7 yards.
4th and 18 from the CIN 36.
Wilson goes to the end zone looking for Williams on the left side but that pass is batted away by Newton! A flag flies for holding on PIT and CIN accept it.
3rd and 25 from the CIN 43.
Pressure off the edge and Hendrickson drops Wilson for a loss of five, that's his second of the night.
3rd and 15 from the CIN 33.
Pitch to Patterson on the right side and he gets a yard on the first dow run.
2nd and 9 form the CIN 27.
Wilson finds Freiermuth on the out route to the right side and he picks up 10 yards and a first down!
1st and 10 from the CIN 28 with 4:42 to go.
Short pass to the left side for PIckens and he dropped it for a third time tonight.
2nd and 10 from the CIN 38.
FUMBLE!!!
Ivey stepped on the punt as it bounced down field and Heyward was there to wrap it up as he rolled out of bounds!
PIT ball from the CIN 38.
Wilson was pushed out of the pocket and his pass to Pickens was over thrown on the left sideline.
4th and 1 from the PIT 20.
Short out route from Freiermuth who gets 8 yards to bring up 3rd and short.
3rd and 2 from he PIT 20.
PIT get the ball back from their 11 with 5:54 to go.
Wilson's pass to Warren was tipped and falls incomplete.
2nd and 10 from the PIT 11.
Burrow on the right side for Gesicki but he is wrapped up after a gain of 8 yards and the Bengals will have to punt.
4th and 6 from the CIN 45 with 6:00 to go.
Burrow looking for Chase on the left side but Porter was there to bat that pass away.
3rd and 14 fro the CIN 37.
Burrow's pass to Herbert is blown up by Wilson for a 4 yard loss.
2nd and 14 from the CIN 37.
Burrow looks over the middle for Gesicki and he makes the catch for 14 yards.
1st and 10 from the CIN 41.
CNI get the ball from their 27 and Burrow's pass to Chase is batted down by Heyward.
2nd and 10 from the CIN 27.
Wilson has 11 completions on the night, six came on this drive that the Steelers went hurry up and it paid off in a TD from Freiermuth.
TOUCHDOWN STEELERS!!!
Wilson finds Freiermuth on the out route to the right side and he walks into the end zone untouched!
It's 19-14 Bengals with 8:07 to go in the 4th quarter!!!
Wilson bobbled the snap but he took off and took it for 12 yards and a first down.
1st and 10 from the CIN 19.
Wilson found PIckens with a post route but he dropped it for a second time tonight.
2nd and 10 from the CIN 31.
Harris makes the catch in the flat, breaks a tackle and takes it for a gain of 11 but he is slow to get up.
1st and 10 from the CIN 31.
Pass over the middle for Harris to move the chains on a 4 yard pick up.
1st and 10 from the CIN 43.
Wilson's pass to Jefferson on the right side is complete and he almost broke it but he's taken down after a gain of 8.
3rd and 2 from the CIN 47.
Pass to the right side for Freiermuth is too far out in front of the TE.
2nd and 10 from the PIT 45.
Out route to the right side for Jefferson and that five yard gain moves the chains.
1st and 10 fro the PIT 45.
PIT take over from their 35 and Wilson's pass to Jefferson is good for 5 yards.
2nd and 5 from the PIT 40.
FIELD GOAL!!!
York is now 4/4 after hitting this FG from 23 yards out.
CIN lead 19-7 with 11:02 to go in the 4th quarter.
Burrow's pass to Gesicki over the middle was behind the TE and that's going to bring on the FG unit.
4th and Goal from the 5.
Timeout CIN, their second, with 11:10 to go in the 4th quarter.
Pass to the flat for Iosivas and he takes it for 3 yards before stepping out of bounds.
3rd and Goal from the PIT 5.
Herbert up the middle out of the shotgun and he picks up 2 yards.
2nd and Goal from the 8.
Pressure came on Burrow again but he flicks it over to Hudson with a short pass he takes for 11 yards and a first down!
1st and Goal from the 10!
Pass to the flat for Herbert and he is dropped by Elliott for a loss of 2.
3rd and 9 from the PIT 21.
Herbert up the middle on a run out of the shotgun and he gets 3 yards on the first down run.
2nd and 7 from the PIT 19.
Burrow with a deep back shoulder throw for Chase on the left side and he makes a great catch and gets both feet in bounds for a gain of 19 yards.
1st and 10 from the PIT 22.
WE ARE AT THE END OF THE THIRD QUARTER HERE FROM PITTSBURGH!
Burrow has been under pressure all night, but it's Trey Hendrickson for the Bengals who took the league lead in sacks earlier in the game. Our William Gittins has more.
Herbert up the middle and he takes it 5 yards on the first down run.
2nd and 5 from the PIT 41.
Deep out route from Chase and he taps his toes on the sideline for a gain of 15 yards.
1st and 10 from the PIT 46.
Herbert with a run to the right side for 3 yards and a first down.
1st and 10 from the CIN 39.
Burrow steps up in the pocket and dumps it off for Sample who takes it for 8 yards to bring up 3rd and short.
3rd and 1 from the CIN 36.
Herbert is stopped after a gain of a yard by Highsmith.
2nd and 9 from the CIN 28.
Herbert up the middle and he moves the chains for a gain of 6 yards.
1st and 10 from the CIN 27.
Here comes Burrow and the Bengals taking over from their 13 yard line and Herbert takes a handoff to the right side for 8 yards.
2nd and 2 from the CIN 21.
Wilson laid a perfect pass for Pickens down the right side, and he had it in his hands but couldn't drag in the catch!
4th and 8 from the PIT 44.
Wilson goes deep down the left sideline and that pass was thrown away with pressure in his face.
3rd and 8 from the PIT 44.
Harris up the middle and he picks up 2 yards on the first down run.
2nd and 8 from the PIT 44.
Harris moves the chains with a gain of 3 yards to the left side.
1st and 10 from the PIT 42.
PIT get the ball back from their 30 and Warren takes it up the middle for a gain of 9 to start the drive.
2nd and 1 from the PIT 39.
FIELD GOAL!!!
York comes on and drills his third field goal of the night, this one from 35 yards out.
CIN lead 16-7 with 6:56 to go in the 3rd quarter.
Rush came up the middle from Herbig and Burrow is dropped hard on the turf and slow to get up on the 12 yard sack!
4th and 16 from the PIT 19.
Burrow to the left side for Herbert and he makes the catch and takes it to the 5.
3rd and 2 from the PIT 5.
Burrow with a short pass to the left side for Sample who reels it in for a two yard gain.
2nd and 8 from the PIT 11.
Herbert up the middle and he picks up 6 yards and a first down.
1st and 10 from the PIT 13.
Burrow to Chase on the out route and he makes the catch for 9 yards.
2nd and 1 from the PIT 19.
Herbert up the middle and he gets just enough for the first down.
1st and 10 from the PIT 28.
Burrow to the right side for Chase who reels it in for 7 yards on the short in.
2nd and 3 from the PIT 31.
Burrow with a short pass to the left sideline and he picks up 8 yards and a first down.
1st and 10 from the PIT 38.
Handoff out of the shotgun and Herbert takes it for a gain of 3 yards.
2nd and 7 from the PIT 46.
CIN take over from their 36 and Burrow finds Higgins over the middle for a gain of 15 yards at the 50.
1st and 10 from the PIT 49.
Wilson's pass to Austin on the out route to the right side was too far in front of the WR and they go three and out to start the half.
4th and 8 from the PIT 32.
Wilson looking over the middle for Harris out of the backfield and he picks up 6 yards.
3rd and 8 from the PIT 32.
PIT get the ball from their 30 to start the 3rd quarter and Harris is blown up for a loss of 4 on the pitch to the left side.
2nd and 14 from the PIT 26.
WE ARE BACK IN PITTSBURGH FOR THE SECOND HALF OF ACTION!!
The Steelers had three chances to pick up a yard but after two reviews they were ruled short of the first down and that gave the Bengals a chance to put points on the board late. They would settle for a York FG and head into halftime up 13-7.
It's not often you see Burrow and Chase not on the same page, but this pass came in behind the WR and Bishop was there for the pick off the deflection from Queen.
The Bengals offense came to a halt after those first two drives that resulted in points, but the special teams came up with a big play stripping Austin and setting up Burrow with great field position.
The Steelers only got the offense going on one drive, and it came after a long pass from Wilson to Williams, and then a couple of PI calls on CIN. Wilson is 4/8 for 45 yards, but that was enough to set up this 1 yard TD run from Najee Harris.
The Bengals came out hot, and Burrow went 6/6 on the opening drive that was finished off with this 12 yard TD pass to Chase. Burrow is 21/27 for 153 yards with 1 TD and 1 INT, but has been stripped twice thanks to pressure from PIT's front line.
WE ARE HEADING TO HALFTIME HERE FROM PITTSBURGH!!
PIT take over from their 30 and Wilson is sacked to bring an end to the first half.
FIELD GOAL!!!
York hits the 27 yard field goal for his second of the night.
CIN lead 13-7 with 16 to go in the half.
Burrow goes to Chase on a lob to the right side and that pass slipped right through his hands!
4th and Goal from the PIT 9 and here comes the FG unit.
Burrow's pass to Higgins is batted down at the line by Heyward.
3rd and Goal from the PIT 9.
Burrow's pass to Herbert falls incomplete after the pocket started to collapse on Burrow.
2nd and Goal from the 9.
Burrow looks to the left side for Higgins who skies for the ball and drags it down for an 18 yard catch and gets out of bounds with 27 to go in the half.
1st and Goal from the PIT 9.
Short pass to Sample on the left side and he takes it for 4 yards and a first down.
1st and 10 from the PIT 27, and CIN take their last timeout with 31 to go.
Burrow to the right side for Chase on the slant and he makes the catch for 6 yards.
2nd and 4 fro the PIT 31. Timeout CIN with 43 to go in the half. That's their 2nd.
TURNOVER ON DOWNS!!!
Handoff to Warren on the left side and he was met in the backfield and ruled to have got the first down, but after an expedited review he is ruled short of the marker!
CIN ball from the PIT 37!!!
Upon further review Wilson was short of the marker and it's 4th and 1 from the PIT 37.
Wilson up the middle and he gets the first down on the QB sneak.
1st and 10 from the PIT 38. Timeout PIT with 47 to go, that's their second.
Wilson to the right side and Freiermuth makes the catch for a gain of almost 9.
3rd and 1 from the PIT 37 with 49 to go.
Wilson to the left side and he throws it out of bounds with 1:00 to go.
2nd and 10 from the PIT 28.
Wilson to the right side for Freiermuth and he turns up field and takes it for 11 yards.
2nd and 10 from the PIT 17.
Wilson's pass was tipped at the line and flew up in the air but falls incomplete.
2nd and 10 from the PIT 17.
The Bengals special teams came up with a big play to give Burrow and the Bengals a chance to stretch the lead before halftime but Queen made the play and Bishop was there to finish it with the pick.
INTERCEPTION!!!
After a false start on Brown, Burrow looked for Chase on a slant and Queen got in there to bat the ball away and Bishop came in to make the pick and give his team the ball back with just of 1:00 to go in the half.
PIT ball from their 17!
Herbert to the right side for a gain of 3 yards on the first down run.
2nd and 7 form the PIT 21.
Pressure came on Burrow and he was stripped for the second time tonight but CIN jumped on it again. A defensive holding on PIT is going to erase that play and give CIN a free first down.
1st and 10 from the PIT 24.
Short pass to the left side for Sample and he is dropped at the line of scrimmage by Queen.
3rd and 6 from the PIT 29. Timeout Steelers with 1:57 to go in the half, that's their 1st.
Not much has been happening for the Bengals offense after their first couple drives, but the special teams comes up with a huge play to give Burrow the ball back with great field position late in the 1st half.
WE ARE HEADING TO THE TWO MINUTE WARNING FROM PITTSBURGH!!
After a false start on CIN, Burrow rolls left and finds Iosivas on the sideline for a gain of 9 yards.
2nd and 6 from the PIT 29.
FUMBLE!!!
Austin with the return and he had that pass knocked out of his hands and Davis-Gaither makes the recovery at the PIT 33!
CIN ball form the 33 with 2:44 to go in the half.
Pocket collapsed on Burrow and he is brought down by Smith for a loss of 4!
4ht and 7 from the CIN 19 and the Bengals will punt with under 3:00 to go in the half.
Burrow finds Chase on the comeback route to the right side and he gets 8 yards.
3rd and 3 from the CIN 23.
Burrow finds Herbert out of the backfield and he takes it for 4 yards on the right side.
2nd and 11 from the CIN 15.
CIN take over from their 16 and Burrow rolls to the right side and finds Sample for a 7 yard pick up but it's coming back after an ineligible man down field flag flies.
1st and 15 from the CIN 11.
Wilson's pass to the right side for Jefferson is batted away by Newton and PIT go three and out after the turnover on downs.
4th and 3 from the PIT 45.
Warren up the middle out of the shotgun and he gets 3 yards to bring up 3rd and short.
3rd and 3 from the PIT 45.
Warren to the right side and he gets 4 yards on the first down run.
2nd and 6 from the PIT 45.
TURNOVER ON DOWNS!!
The offense stays on the field and Burrow's pass is tipped at the line and falls incomplete.
PIT ball from their 37 after the first big play from their defense.
Short pass to Herbert out of the backfield and he is chopped down just short of the marker by Porter.
4th and 1 from the PIT 37.
Herbert gets the handoff again and he gets another 2 yards on the right side.
3rd and 6 from the PIT 42.
Herbert out of the shotgun and he picks up 2 yards on the first down run up the middle.
2nd and 8 from the PIT 42.
Out route to the left side for Gesicki and he makes the catch and stretches for the marker.
1st and 10 from the PIT 46.
Burrow with a strike over the middle for Iosivas and that pass hits off his hands and falls incomplete.
2nd and 5 from the CIN 49.
Herbert gets the handoff to the right side and he gets 4 yards. An offside on PIT will give the Bengals a free five yards.
1st and 5 from the CIN 49.
Nice return by Williams who takes it out to the CIN 44.
A long pass to Williams and a couple of PI flags on CIN set up the Steelers on the 1 yard line and Harris punches it in for a yard out.
TOUCHDOWN STEELERS!!!
Harris lowers the shoulder and barrels into the end zone from a yard out!
PIT chip into the lead, it's CIN leading 10-7 with under 10:00 to go in the half.
Back shoulder throw to Washington on the left side of the end zone and that pass falls incomplete but a flag flies for PI on CIN.
1st and Goal from the 1.
Harris up the middle out of the shotgun and he picks up 2 yars.
3rd and Goal from the 6.
Handoff to Harris to the right side and he is pushed out of bounds for no gain.
2nd and Goal from the 8.
Wilson on the QB sneak and he gets just enough for the first down.
1st and Goal from the CIN 8.
Harris up the middle for a gain of 6 yards and is a yard away from the marker.
3rd and 1 from the CIN 9.
Harris with another run to the right side and this time he is taken down after a short gain of 3.
2nd and 7 from the CIN 15.
Harris to the right side and he finds a seam and takes it for 11 yards and a first down.
1st and 10 form the CIN 18.
Pass to Freiermuth is broken up on the slant to the left side but a flag flies for pass interference.
1st and 10 from the CIN 29.
Warren to the right side and he get a yard to bring up 3rd and medium.
3rd and 5 from the CIN 34.
Warren up the middle and he picks up 4 yards on the first down run.
2nd and 6 from the CIN 35.
WE ARE AT THE END OF THE FIRST QUARTER FROM PITTSBURGH!!
Wilson goes deep down the right sideline and Williams makes a toe tap grab for a gain of 25 yards on the final play of the first quarter.
1st and 10 from the CIN 39!
Wilson's pass to the right side for Harris falls incomplete and here comes 3rd and long.
3rd and 11 from the PIT 36.
Pitch to the right side for Harris and he is stopped for a loss of one by Heyward.
2nd and 11 from the PIT 36.
PIT get the ball from the 27 and Warren was tripped up on the right side run but kept his feet and falls forward for a gain of 10.
1st and 10 from the PIT 37.
FIELD GOAL!!!
York drills the 48 yard field goal and puts the Bengals up two scores.
CIN lead 10-0 with 1:24 to go in the 4th quarter.
PIT brought the pressure and got to Burrow as he released the ball but Herbert was there to jump on the fumble.
4th and 10 from the PIT 30.
Pass to the flat for Gesickie on the right side and he is dropped for no gain. A flag flies for ineligible man downfield but that penalty is declined.
3rd and 6 form the PIT 26.
Short pass over the middle for Herbert and he reels it in for a gain of 4 on first down.
2nd and 6 from the PIT 26.
Herbert up the middle out of the shotgun and moves the chains with a gain of 4.
1st and 10 from the PIT 30.
Burrow finds Herbert out of the backfield on the left side and he is stopped just short of the marker.
3rd and inches from the PIT 34.
Herbert up the middle and he takes it for a gain of 8 yards on first down.
2nd and 2 from the PIT 35.
Burrow rolls to the right side and lets it go for Higgins who make the catch on the sidelines and turns up for an 11 yard gain.
1st and 10 from the PIT 43.
Burrow moves the chains with a short pass to Gesicki for a gain of 5 yards on the stop route to the left side.
1st and 10 from the PIT 43.
Herbert is dropped in the backfield by Trice for a loss of 1.
3rd and 2 from the CIN 41.
Burrow starts the second drive going to the air and he finds Grandy with a short pass to the left side and he reels it in for 9 yards.
2nd and 1 from the CIN 42.
CIN get the ball back from their 33 after a strong start on both sides of the ball.
Wilson held on to it for too long and Hendrickson drops him for a 9 yard sack as the Steelers go three and out to start their night.
4th and 16 from the PIT 34.
Wilson to the right side for Pickes o the WR screen and he dropped for no gain.
3rd and 7 from the PIT 43.
Harris with a run out of the shotgun and he takes it up the middle for three yards.
2nd and 7 from the PIT 43.
York's kick flies short of the landing zone and PIT get the ball from their 40.
Burrow was 6/6 on that drive, and the last three passes were to Chase ending in a first drive TD pass from Burrow to Chase.
TOUCHDOWN BENGALS!!!
Burrow with a third straight pass to Chase and this one is caught in the end zone for a 12 yard TD over the middle!
Bengals lead 7-0 on a perfectly executed drive to start the game!
Burrow back to Chase on the left sideline and he picks up 7 yards on the first down pitch and catch.
2nd and 3 from the PIT 12.
Burrow to the left side for Chase and he reels it in and moves the chains for a gain of 8 yards.
1st and 10 fro the PIT 19.
Herbert to the left side and he gets another four yards to bring up 3rd and short.
3rd and 1 from the PIT 27.
Herbert with a first down run up the middle and he gets five yards.
2nd and 5 from the PIT 31.
Burrow with a strike over the middl for Gesicki and he makes the catch for a gain of 16 and another first down.
1st and 10 from the PIT 36.
Burrow to the right sideline for Higgins and he reels it in for a gain of 9 yards.
2nd and 1 from the CIN 48.
Burrow looks to the left side for Gesicki with a short pass and he break a tackle and moves the chains with a catch and run of 12 yards.
1st and 10 from the CIN 39.
CIN get the ball to start the game and begin the night from the 27.
Herbert with a run to the left side and he is is dropped for no gain by Elliott.
2nd and 10 from the CIN 27.
WE ARE UNDERWAY FROM PITTSBURGH!!!
Last game
The last game between these two teams was an 82 point shootout that had almost 900 yards of offense between the two teams. Wilson had over 400 yards and three TD passes, but did throw an pick six on the first drive of the game. He would bounce back and lead his team to victory thanks to some big defensive plays in the second half. PIT’s defense came up with an INT and a scoop and score to take a 41-24 lead and hold off the Bengals for the rest of the way.
Star watch Steelers
The star of the show in Pittsburgh is TJ Watt and the defense, but they need some help on the other side of the ball. The same problems that have plagued PIT for years are starting to surface at a terrible time. Over the course of their three game losing streak, against playoff quality teams, they have failed to put up 20 points and Russell Wilson has failed to pass for more than 220 yards. Most of those yards come when he is chasing a game that has been blown open by the opponent, and in those games he has just 3 TDs and 2 INTs. If the Steelers are going to beat the Bengals tonight, they are going to need to keep pace with Burrow’s offense.
Star watch: Bengals
There has been no one more meaningful or valuable to their team than Joe Burrow has been to the Bengals. I don’t know if that’s enough to win league MVP, but Burrow has single handily carried this team out of the gutter and given them a chance to get into the playoffs on the final week of the season. He is the league leader in yards and passing TDs with 4,641 yards and 42 TDs while only throwing 8 INTs, and he is fifth in completion percentage. He has gone for over 300 yards seven times and over 400 yards twice, hasn’t thrown for less than three TDs since the first week of November. If the Bengals win tonight, and if they somehow make the playoffs, you could make the case that Joe Burrow is the MVP of the NFL this year.
Season recap: Steelers
After cutting ties with Kenny Pickett, the Steelers brought in not one but two veteran QBs to try and help ease the burden on defense that had been carrying this team for the last few years. Russell Wilson and Justin Fields were signed within a matter of days and all of the sudden PIT went from having no QBs to two. Wilson had a calf injury that kept him out for the first few weeks of the season and Fields went 4-2 in that span, but the offensive issues weren’t exactly fixed. Coach Mike Tomlin made a change at QB, putting Wilson in under center for the Week 7 against the Jets. PIT won their next four gams and scored almost 30 points a game, but a brutal end of the season schedule would hand them a dose of reality and send them sliding out of the lead in the AFC North. They have lost four of their last six including three straight and now are looking at a Wild Card spot instead of a chance to host a first round playoff game.
Season recap: Bengals
It was a disastrous start to the season for a Bengals team that had sky high hopes for the playoffs and beyond this year. After Burrow was knocked out for the second half of last season he came back, for the first half of the season but had some lingering issues that kept him from playing his best while Ja’Marr Chase held out most of the preseason. That had an effect on how the Bengals started the season, losing their first three and four of their first five. Joe Burrow ensured Cincy fans that as long as they got to 10 wins they should make the playoffs, but once the Bengals lost their 8th game of the season and made a 10 win season impossible, the Bengals started turning it on. Now thanks to some outside help and a four game win streak, the Bengals are back in contention, but they can not afford to lose tonight. If they win they have a shot. If they lose, they are out of the playoffs.
Last game: Bengals
It was an old fashion shootout from Cincy last week as the Bengals hosted the Broncos in a do or die situation for Burrow and the Bengals. Denver needed a win to wrap up the final Wild Card spot and Cincy needed to prevent that from happening if they were going to have any chance at a playoff spot. Burrow and Bo Nix exchanged blows all game as Cincy would take the lead and the Broncos would respond by tying the game until the final tick of regulation. Burrow threw for 400 yards and 3 TDs (all to Tee Higgins) as he added to his MVP campaign, but Nix had the performance of his rookie year throwing for three TDs including the game tying TD on a 4th and 1 play with just seconds to go in the 4th quarter. The game went to OT and Cade York missed a game winning field goal from 33 yards to go, but Burrow would get another chance with 2:20 to go in the OT session and won the game with a long pass to Tee Higgins that was followed up by a short TD pass to Higgins who finished the game with a hat trick of TDs and kept the Bengals in playoff contention.
Last game: Steelers
The Steelers hosted the Kansas City Chiefs on a Christmas Day showdown from Acrisure and it was a very KC Xmas in Pittsburgh. The Chiefs went up two touchdowns in the first quarter thanks to Patrick Mahomes’ two TD passes that put the visitors firmly in the lead. Wilson and the Steelers finally found their feet in the second quarter of the game and cut into the lead with a one yard TD scramble from the QB. KC stretched the lead to 16-7 with a field goal out of the halftime break and then Kareem Hunt made it 22-10 on the first play of the fourth quarter. A Pat Freiermuth fumble on the next possession gave Mahomes and company the chance to shut the door on PIT and that’s exactly what he did hitting Travis Kelce with a 12 yard TD pass as the Chiefs wrapped up the one seed and send the Steelers to their third straight loss.
We are live from Acrisure
Hello everyone and welcome to Pittsburgh where the Steelers are stumbling into the playoffs, looking to get back in the win column before the postseason and maybe just maybe win the division deepening on what the Ravens in the early kickoff. It’s been a tough end to the season and it’s only going to get tougher against a Bengals team that has turned things around and rattled off four wins in a row, but is it too late for Cincy? Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase know their playoff destiny is out of their hands, but they can put an enormous amount of pressure on the Denver Broncos if they come up with a win over their AFC North rivals.
Bengals vs. Steelers
It’s the final weekend of the regular season and there are still playoff spots up for grabs, including one in the AFC Wild Card Race, and that’s what at stake here tonight from Pittsburgh. The Steelers have already clinched their spot in the playoffs, and had an outside chance of winning the AFC North while the Cincinnati Bengals need a win and some help later this weekend to have any chance at an improbably postseason appearance. It’s Joe Burrow and the red hot Bengals against Russ Wilson and the struggling Steelers from Acrisure Stadium, and AS English will be with you all afternoon providing live coverage, stats, highlights and analysis of tonight’s game with massive playoff implications.