The Pittsburgh Steelers handled their business against the Cincinnati Bengals in a 29-14 defeat at Heinz Field, improving their record to 5-2 but more importantly, 3-0 in the AFC North Division. It also helped that the Baltimore Ravens lost to the Minnesota Vikings, which gives the Steelers a 2-game lead in the division. They know to get a 1st round bye, it means taking command of the division first.
In this game, the Steelers excelled in all-3 phases. Offense: RB Le’Veon Bell once again ran the ball well (35 carries, 134 yards), QB Ben Roethlisberger threw the ball well (224 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INTS) Defense: they sacked Bengals QB Andy Dalton 4 times and intercepted him twice (including CB Joe Haden’s first pick as a Steeler) Special Teams: K Chris Boswell kicked 5 field goals and the unit also converted a fake punt. Impressive.
But here’s what puzzles me: this team still can’t convert in the Red Zone. Those 2 TDs were scored in the first quarter the rest of the points came off the foot of Boswell, who has truly been a gift, but this team should have beat the Bengals 48-14 if they would’ve turned those FGs into TDs. Big Ben’s deep ball is still a bit off, but that ‘problem’ is easy to deal with in a win. The Steelers will now prepare for Sunday Night Football as they will travel to Detroit to face the 3-3 Lions.
Post-Game Notes
TEAM
- Pittsburgh is 5-2 (2-1 at home), 4-1 against AFC teams and 3-0 vs. AFC North opponents in 2017.
- The Steelers are 59-35 in regular-season history against the Bengals (32-16 at home).
- Pittsburgh improved to 21-9 in regular-season games against Cincinnati in the month of October (13-3 at home in the month).
- Pittsburgh has won each of its previous 10 regular-season games against Cincinnati in the month of October.
- The Steelers earned their 95th regular-season victory at Heinz Field since the stadium opened in 2001.
- Pittsburgh reached 95 regular-season wins at Heinz Field in 131 games to tie as the fifth-fewest games to reach 95 wins in a stadium in NFL history:
Rk. TEAM, STADIUM GAMES TO 95 WINS
- New England Patriots, Gillette Stadium 112
- Pittsburgh Steelers, Three Rivers Stadium 124
- Dallas Cowboys, Texas Stadium 125
- Oakland Raiders, Oakland Coliseum 129
T5. Pittsburgh Steelers, Heinz Field 131
Cleveland Browns, Municipal Stadium 131
Baltimore Ravens, M&T Bank Stadium 131
Miami Dolphins, Orange Bowl 131
- The Steelers are 449-284-2 during the regular season since 1970.
- Held Cincinnati to 179 yards of offense – tied as the fourth-fewest allowed in the regular-season series.
- The Steelers’ 24.0 sacks in 2017 tie as the fifth-most by the Steelers in the first seven games of a season since sacks became an official statistic in 1982.
- The defense posted two interceptions in a game in 2017 for the second time (Oct. 1 at Baltimore).
- The Steelers are now 33-0 when scoring at least 20 points in the first half in regular-season games at Heinz Field since the stadium opened in 2001.
Head Coach Mike Tomlin
- Improved his regular-season record to 108-59 since becoming the Steelers’ head coach in 2007 (61-22 at home).
- Is now 44-19 in regular-season games vs. AFC North foes (24-7 at home).
- Has led the Steelers to a 3-0 record in games vs. AFC North opponents for the third time (2007, 2008 and 2017).
- Improved to 16-5 as the Steelers’ head coach in regular-season games vs. Cincinnati (8-3 at home).
- Improved to 29-13 in regular-season games during the month of October (17-5 at home).
- Is now 83-14 when the Steelers hold a lead at halftime.
QB Ben Roethlisberger
- Completed 14-of-24 passing for 224 yards with two touchdowns for a 117.4 passer rating.
- Improved to 128-62 as a starter during the regular season (71-23 at home).
- Increased his Steelers franchise record for the most wins as a starting quarterback to 128 (Terry Bradshaw, 107).
- His 128 wins as a starting quarterback in regular-season games are the seventh-most in NFL history.
- Is now 20-7 against Cincinnati in the regular-season as a starter (9-5 at home).
- Increased his NFL records for completions (539) and passing yards (6,364) in games against Cincinnati. His 36 touchdown passes are second-most (Warren Moon: 37).
- Improved to 52-17 as a starter in the regular-season vs. AFC North opponents (27-7 at home).
- Increased his Steelers record for passing yards to 48,559 – the ninth-most in NFL history.
- Tied Aaron Rodgers (310) for the ninth-most touchdown passes in NFL history.
- For the 77th time in his career during the regular season, he registered a passer rating over 100.0 as a starter. The Steelers are 69-8 in those games.
WR Antonio Brown
- Led all receivers with a game-high 65 receiving yards on a team-best four receptions, including a seven-yard touchdown from QB Ben Roethlisberger in the first quarter.
- Has registered at least one reception in 115 consecutive games in which he has played, including the postseason – dating back to October 3, 2010.
- Has registered at least one reception in 106 consecutive regular-season games – dating back to October 3, 2010.
- Is the eighth player in NFL history to tally at least 1,000 receiving yards in career games vs. Cincinnati, with 1,037.
- Increased his reception total to 684 – the second-most in team history:
Rk. STEELER, YEARS RECEPTIONS
- Hines Ward, 1998-2011 1,000
- Antonio Brown, 2010-current 684
- Heath Miller, 2005-15 592
- Increased his receiving yards total 9,142 – the second-most in team history:
Rk. STEELER, YEARS RECEIVING YARDS
- Hines Ward, 1998-2011 12,083
- Antonio Brown, 2010-current 9,142
- John Stallworth, 1974-87 8,723
- Increased his scrimmage yards total to 9,268 – the fourth-most in team history:
Rk. STEELER, YEARS SCRIMMAGE YARDS
- Franco Harris, 1972-83 14,234
- Hines Ward, 1998-2011 12,511
- Jerome Bettis, 1996-2005 11,377
- Antonio Brown, 2010-current 9,268
- John Stallworth, 1974-87 8,834
- Caught a seven-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter, increasing his career touchdown reception total to 53 – the third-most touchdown receptions in Steelers history:
Rk. STEELER, YEARS TOUCHDOWN CATCHES
- Hines Ward, 1998-2011 85
- John Stallworth, 1974-87 63
- Antonio Brown, 2010-current 53
- Lynn Swann, 1974-82 51
- Heath Miller, 2005-15 45
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster
- Finished with two catches for 39 yards including a 31-yard touchdown pass from QB Ben Roethlisberger in the second quarter, his third scoring grab of 2017.
- His three touchdown catches are the most in NFL history by a player before his 21st birthday (Will turn 21 on Nov. 22).
RB Le’Veon Bell
- Led all players in rushing yards (134 on 35 carries) and yards from scrimmage (192: 134 rushing / 58 receiving).
- Increased his career rushing yards total to 4,729 – the fourth-most rushing yards by a Steeler in team history:
Rk. STEELER, YEARS RUSHING YARDS
- Franco Harris, 1972-83 11,950
- Jerome Bettis, 1996-2005 10,571
- Willie Parker, 2004-09 5,378
- Le’Veon Bell, 2013-current 4,729
- John Henry Johnson, 1960-65 4,381
- Increased his career rushing yards total to 4,729 – the fourth-most rushing yards by a Steeler in their first five years with the team:
Rk. STEELER, YEARS RUSHING YARDS
- Jerome Bettis, 1996-2000 6,713
- Franco Harris, 1972-76 5,133
- Willie Parker, 2004-08 4,989
- Le’Veon Bell, 2013-current 4,729
- John Henry Johnson, 1960-64 4,370
- Posted the 17th 100-yard rushing game of his NFL career – the fifth-most 100-yard games in Steelers history:
Rk. STEELER, YEARS 100-YARD RUSHING GAMES
- Jerome Bettis, 1996-2000 50
- Franco Harris, 1972-76 47
- Willie Parker, 2004-08 25
- Barry Foster, 1990-94 20
- Le’Veon Bell, 2013-current 17
- Eclipsed 100 rushing yards for the second time in his regular-season career against Cincinnati (185: Dec. 7, 2014).
- Rushed for at least 100 yards in back-to-back games for the third time in his NFL career (179: Oct. 15, 2017 at Kansas City).
- Rushed for at least 125 yards in consecutive games for the first time in his NFL career (179: Oct. 15, 2017 at Kansas City).
- Is the first Steeler since 2007 (Willie Parker: Sept. 16-23) to rush for at least 125 yards in back-to-back games.
- Increased his scrimmage yards total to 6,948 – the fourth-most in team history:
Rk. STEELER, YEARS SCRIMMAGE YARDS
- Franco Harris, 1972-83 14,234
- Hines Ward, 1998-2011 12,511
- Jerome Bettis, 1996-2005 11,377
- Antonio Brown, 2010-current 9,268
- John Stallworth, 1974-87 8,834
- Le’Veon Bell, 2013-current 6,948
- Increased his career scrimmage yards total to 6,948 – the second-most by a Steeler in their first five years with the team:
Rk. STEELER, YEARS SCRIMMAGE YARDS
- Jerome Bettis, 1996-2000 7,242
- Le’Veon Bell, 2013-current 6,948
- Franco Harris, 1972-76 5,947
- Willie Parker, 2004-08 5,622
- Antonio Brown, 2010-14 5,341
- Has posted at least 100 yards from scrimmage in 35 career regular-season games, tying WR Antonio Brown for the third-most 100-scrimmage yards games in Steelers history.
- Has reached 35 regular-season games with 100 scrimmage yards or more in his 54th game – tying Adrian Peterson for the fifth-fewest games to record 35 games with at least 100 scrimmage yards in NFL history.
- Registered at least 150 yards from scrimmage for the 14th time in his NFL career during the regular-season – the most such games in Steelers history.
- Increased his reception total to 260 – the second-most by a running back in Steelers history:
Rk. STEELER, YEARS RECEPTIONS
- Franco Harris, 1972-83 306
- Le’Veon Bell, 2013-current 260
- Merril Hoge, 1987-93 241
- Ray Mathews, 1951-59 230
- Lynn Chandnois, 1950-56 162
- Increased his receiving yards total to 2,219 – the third-most by a running back in Steelers history:
Rk. STEELER, YEARS RECEIVING YARDS
- Ray Mathews, 1951-59 3,919
- Franco Harris, 1972-83 2,284
- Le’Veon Bell, 2013-current 2,219
- Merril Hoge, 1987-93 2,054
- Lynn Chandnois, 1950-56 2,012
- Eclipsed 100 yards from scrimmage (51 rushing / 58 receiving) in the first half for the seventh time in the regular season of his NFL career and in back-to-back weeks.
- Totaled 55 scrimmage yards (32 rushing / 23 receiving) in the first quarter to mark the 16th time in his NFL career eclipsing 50 total yards in the opening quarter of a game and for the fourth time in 2017.
- Gained 42 yards on a reception in the second quarter – the fifth 40-yard reception of his NFL career and first since Dec. 14, 2014 at Atlanta.
In other NFL Scores: In addition to the Ravens losing to Vikings 24-16, Cleveland fell to 0-7 after losing to Tennessee 12-9. Buffalo beat Tampa Bay 30-27, Chicago beat Carolina 17-3, New Orleans beat Aaron Rodgers-less Green Bay 26-17, Jacksonville destroyed Indianapolis 27-0, The surprising LA Rams blanked Arizona 33-0, Miami beat the NY Jets 31-28, Dallas Manhandled San Francisco 40-10, Seattle beat the NY Giants 24-7, and in the Sunday Night Game, New England beat Atlanta 23-7 in a rematch of last season’s Super Bowl.
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