By Ray Porter Jr. for Urban Media Today
PITTSBURGH, PA–In a sense, the Pittsburgh Steelers lost twice Saturday evening:
- They lost the AFC North Division when the Baltimore Ravens beat the Cleveland Browns 35-10. They had been in first place for several weeks and suffered the consequences of their losing streak.
- Then, they welcomed the Cincinnati Bengals, winners of four straight, to Acrisure Stadium with hopes of ending their losing streak. Unfortunately, their wishes did not come true as they fell 19-17, concluding their regular season with four consecutive losses and equaling last season’s 10-7 record.
“We certainly had our opportunities to win the game, but we didn’t. We’ve got to own that. Not enough routine playmaking,” said Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. “Doing routine things routinely is a signature of high-floor football.”
Like what has happened during their losing streak, the Steelers started slow against the Bengals (9-8) by falling behind them 10-0 in the first quarter. QB Joe Burrow (37/46, 277 yards, TD, INT) found WR Jamarr Chase (10 Rec, 96 yards) for a 12-yard TD. On their second drive, K Cade York made the first of his 4 field goals.
The Steelers then showed signs of life on offense as QB Russell Wilson (17/31, 148 yards) led his team on a 13-play, 73-yard drive that ended with a 1-yard TD run by RB Najee Harris. But that was all the Steelers could muster for the rest of the first half as they continued to struggle to get first downs and get the ball downfield. Plus, the offensive line had their own challenges protecting Wilson as he was sacked four times.
“I thought particularly on the offensive side we didn’t do enough routine things well to move the ball with fluidity, to possess it, to score, and so the game was touch-and-go because of that. Obviously, that sequence at the end of the first half missed an opportunity there to maybe get some points and bookend the half,” Tomlin remarked.
In the the 3rd quarter, it was more of the same with the Steelers offense as they were unable to convert. When the defense made their adjustments and forced the Bengals to punt, they suffered a costly blow as WR Calvin Austin III fumbled the ball, giving the ball back to the Bengals deep in Steelers’ territory. Fellow WR George Pickens also had his struggles as he failed to catch a pass in the game and had three drops.
TE Pat Freiermuth (8 rec, 85 yards) was the only dependable receiver for Wilson as he scored the Steelers 2nd TD on a 19-yard TD pass in the 4th quarter. The Steelers were then able to recover a Browns fumble, but they had to settle for a 54-yard FG from Chris Boswell to close the Bengals lead to 19-17.
The Steelers’ defense made necessary adjustments as they forced the Bengals to punt on their final two drives. When they got the ball back with over a minute left, it appeared that they were preparing for a game-winning field goal by Boswell. However, after a Wilson sack and a rare Freiermuth drop on a 4th and 12, it wasn’t meant to be, as the Bengals took over and allowed time to run out to secure their win.
“Again, we weren’t doing enough to possess the ball, so you can talk about passing attempts, rushing attempts, they had the ball for I don’t know how many minutes; we didn’t,” said Tomlin. “It’s all a culmination of not winning enough possession downs and possessing the ball, and they did. So, we are going to be short whatever way you cut it.”
If there’s any consolation to their loss, it’s the fact that the Steelers clinched a playoff spot a month ago and will now wait to learn their opponent on Sunday as several teams are still playing to clinch playoff spots. They will have to wait to see the outcome of the LA Chargers game against the Las Vegas Raiders. If the Chargers lose, the Steelers will clinch the 5th Seed and travel to Houston to face the Texans (9-7). If the Chargers win, the Steelers will clinch the 6th Seed and travel to Baltimore to face the Ravens for the 3rd time this season.
It wasn’t the scenario that the Steelers wanted, but now, as Tomlin says, they must have short memories, shake off the losing streak, and prepare for the Single-Elimination Tournament.
“It’s disappointing because we play and play to win. But it’s neither here nor there,” said Tomlin. “We are in a single elimination tournament now, so we better turn our attention toward playing good football and better than we have particularly in recent weeks.”
Please email Ray at [email protected]
Follow him @rp2872_Jr on X (formerly Twitter)
