By Ray Porter Jr. for Urban Media Today
CINCINNATI–After their disappointing 24-19 loss to the Cleveland Browns on November 21st, the Pittsburgh Steelers knew they had ten full days to learn, recover, and prepare for another AFC North battle, this time against the Cincinnati Bengals. They also knew that just like with the Browns; the Bengals sub-.500 record didn’t matter. What did matter was what took place on the field Sunday and the Steelers didn’t disappoint as they defeated the Bengals 44-38 at Paycor Stadium.
“It’s good to go on the road and get an AFC North victory. It wasn’t easy, particularly when you spot them seven. It was a good sense of urgency for a lot of reasons,” said Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. “To come in here, in this place, with just the type of quality that team has, and in this environment, and the smile in the face of all of it and get out of here with a necessary win — just can’t say enough about the effort of the guys in that locker room.”
Steelers QB Russell Wilson was truly the star of the game as he passed for a season-high 414 yards (2nd highest of his career) with 3 TDs and an interception. The Future Hall of Famer showed great poise and leadership and silenced all skeptics who said his great days were behind him and that the team still had challenges getting into the end zone. Wilson spread the ball to ten different receivers, and his lone omission was a pass that was intended for WR George Pickens (3 rec, 74 yards), but he was thrown down by Bengals CB Cam Taylor-Britt as he intercepted the pass and scored for an early 7-0 lead.
“Yeah, you know, George (Pickens) runs the slant. You know, he kind of pulled him down, to be honest with you. I tried throwing it on time in rhythm,” Wilson commented. “We thought we could’ve gotten a penalty there. But they did a good job of making that play. It’s just football. It was one of those (things that), as soon as I threw it, George (Pickens) went to the ground. More than anything else though, like I was saying earlier, our response was great. I thought that we did a really good job of staying confident and not letting one play faze us.”
But Wilson kept his cool as he then led the Steelers on 7 play, 70-yard drive that ended with a 17-yard pass to Pickens (3 rec, 74 yards) to tie the game at 7. QB Joe Morrow (28/38, 309 yards, 3 TD, INT) and the Bengals would take the lead 2 more times with TDs by RB Chase Brown and WR JaMarr Chase, but Wilson and the Steelers would respond with game tying drives from TDs by Calvin Austin III and RB Najee Harris (16 carries, 75 yards, 6 rec, 54 yards).
“It’s always a challenge. The intimacy of these divisional relationships — we know them, and they know us — but I thought I would smile in the face, particularly Russ (Wilson),” said Tomlin. “It’s the first time for him going through this AFC football, and I thought he acclimated himself well today. He put himself squarely in the history of this series with that performance today. We’re thankful for it.”
The Steeler’s defense then began to make splash plays as LB TJ Watt stripped the ball from Morrow for a fumble, which was recovered by LB Preston Smith. When K Chris Boswell kicked a 50-yard FG, they would take a 24-21 lead and would never trail again. Boswell would add a 34-yard FG to end the first half.
The Steelers added to their lead in the second half, even going up by as much as 17 points as Wilson would find TE Pat Freiermuth for a 25-yard TD pass. The defense then scored a TD of their own after Herbig hit Burrow, causing him to fumble. Fellow LB Peyton Wilson recovered the ball and returned it 25 yards for a TD. Boswell also added his 3rd FG of the game.
The Bengals tried their best to hang in there as they added 14 points late in the fourth quarter, but after a failed onside kick, the Steelers were able to secure the victory on a first down run by backup QB Justin Fields.
On defense, Watt, (2 sacks, Forced Fumble) led the way, followed by a sack apiece by DT Cam Heyward and Herbig (Forced Fumble). CB Donta Jackson added an interception that he returned for 11 yards)
With the win, the Steelers are now 9-3 and maintain their lead in the AFC North over the Baltimore Ravens. They will now return home to Acrisure Stadium for a much-anticipated rematch against the Browns.
“We don’t take the end of the game for granted,” said Tomlin. “We’re thankful for the victory. We’ve got some things to clean up, but that’s life in this business.”
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