Steelers 44 Bengals 38
The Bengals lose again, at home, in the division. Now 4-8.
Led 7-0, 14-7 and 21-14....trailed 27-21 at the half. The combined 48 first half points were the most ever in the series.
Trailed 41-24 in 4th. Pulled within 44-38 w/ 2:39 left. On-side kick failed. Steelers converted 3rd & 4 from Bengals 40 w/ 1:30 left to seal it.
4th time losing this season when scoring at least 33 points.
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Defense: 520 yards....7.9 yards per play. The word defense is undeserving. They were playing something else.
Most points scored by the Steelers since 52 on November 8, 2018 vs Carolina (92 games).
Russell Wilson: 414, 3 TD. Most by Steelers QB vs Bengals (per ESPN).
Countless missed tackles. Pitch and catch/dink and dunk all day. Comical. You could have randomly placed 11 cardboard cutouts on the field as defenders and provided more resistance.
1st half: 27 points, 245 yards, 198 by Wilson.
Forced 1st and only punt with 12:50 left.
Trey Hendrickson: Assist, QB hit
Steelers failed to score 27 points in eight different games.
The Steelers were all but picking up Bengals defenders and moving them where they wanted them. No resistance. No nothing.
5th time this year a team gave up at least 500 yards and 40 points. The Bengals have allowed two of those (Paul Dehner Jr., The Athletic).
The really deflating aspect is fixing this D is not a one off-season fix-it project.
The decline of Germaine Pratt is startling. Geno Stone: can’t play. Mike Hilton burned on a 21-yard TD strike. Josh Newton? Poor guy.
Cam Taylor Britt 51-yard Pick 6. Big time hustle and block by Jordan Battle. CTB may have gotten away with a grab/shove of intended receiver George Pickens.
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Offense:
Have scored most points this season allowed by: Steelers, Chargers, Raiders and Raves (2x).They are 1-4 in those games.
Joe Burrow: 309 yards, 3 TD, 3 turnovers. Climbed pocket into 4-yard jump-pass TD (28th) to Ja’Marr Chase (13th). Strip sack/fumble TJ Watt led to go-ahead FG. Tipped INT. Sack/fumble/scoop/score.
What this OL does to Burrow is just criminal.
Higgins: 5-69-TD. 3rd & 21 catch for 31 yards. Chase: 6-86-TD, + 50 yard catch/run. Yosi: TD
Chase Brown: 12-70-TD rushing. 3-30 receiving.
40-yard burst followed by 1-yard TD. His gear shift is something.
Failed 3rd & 1 (incomplete), then 4th & 1 blown up on a bad false start call on Alex Cappa after Tanner Hudson moved under center with Burrow in the shotgun.
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Special Teams: Joseph Ossai blocked a FG attempt. Chris Boswell’s first miss of less than 58 yards this season. Evan McPherson 38 yard FG
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Season high 11 penalties for 101 yards. D 12 men on the field.
Changes: Cody Ford replaced Cordell Volson as the starting left guard. Jordan Battle started in place of Vonn Bell. Isaiah Williams was the new punt returner. ADG for injured Logan Wilson.