PITTSBURGH — The Bengals had plenty of chances to leave Acrisure Stadium with a division win Sunday.
Instead, they left with the kind of loss that will be difficult to forget.
Cincinnati took a 27-24 lead early in the fourth quarter but surrendered the final six points, falling 30-27 to Pittsburgh and dropping to 2-1. A muffed punt helped the Steelers tie the game midway through the fourth, and Joe Burrow lost a fumble on Cincinnati's final possession to end the comeback attempt.
Pittsburgh struck quickly, scoring on Aaron Rodgers' 38-yard touchdown pass to Roman Wilson less than two minutes into the game. Cincinnati answered with an 11-play, 73-yard drive capped by Burrow's 3-yard touchdown pass to Ja'Marr Chase, but Rodgers found Ben Skowronek for a 23-yard score late in the first quarter to put the Steelers back ahead 14-7.
Evan McPherson connected from 50 yards in the second quarter, and Cincinnati finally pulled even after Jordan Battle intercepted Rodgers with 1:46 remaining before halftime. Burrow turned the takeaway into points almost immediately, finding Tee Higgins for an incredible 28-yard touchdown with 34 seconds left to send the game to halftime tied at 17.
The Bengals opened the second half with their best sustained drive of the afternoon, marching 65 yards before stalling and settling for McPherson's 38-yard field goal, which gave Cincinnati its first lead at 20-17. Pittsburgh answered when Rodgers found DK Metcalf for a 6-yard touchdown, but Burrow responded again, connecting with Mike Gesicki for a 25-yard score early in the fourth quarter to give Cincinnati a 27-24 advantage.
Then things started falling apart.
After the defense forced a Pittsburgh punt, Ke’Shawn Williams muffed the catch at the Cincinnati 16, and the Steelers recovered at the 14. Cincinnati's defense limited the damage, with Dexter Lawrence II sacking Rodgers on third down, but Chris Boswell's 36-yard field goal tied the game at 27.
After Ke'Shawn Williams responded with a good kick-off return, the Bengals quickly went three-and-out, and Pittsburgh followed with the decisive drive. Darnell Washington broke loose for a 47-yard reception before Jaylen Warren added a 26-yard run, setting up Boswell's 33-yard field goal with 2:15 remaining.
Burrow still had one final opportunity. He moved Cincinnati across midfield and found Chase for 13 yards to the Pittsburgh 38, but on the next snap Derrick Harmon got to Burrow, forced a fumble and Pittsburgh recovered to end the game.
Burrow finished 28-of-37 for 281 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. Chase caught nine passes for 98 yards and a touchdown, while Higgins added six receptions for 89 yards and a score. Gesicki caught three passes for 37 yards, including his 25-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Chase Brown rushed 13 times for 61 yards as Cincinnati finished with 83 yards on the ground. Pittsburgh had far too much success running the football, piling up 140 rushing yards behind Warren, who carried 17 times for 127 yards.
Rodgers completed 19-of-34 passes for 292 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Cincinnati did get to him twice, with Lawrence accounting for both sacks, but the Steelers repeatedly created explosive plays through the air and on the ground.
The Bengals had their opportunities. They took the lead twice in the second half, forced a late turnover of their own and had the football with a chance to tie or win in the final two minutes.
They just made too many mistakes when the game was there to be won.
What’s Next
The Bengals return home next Sunday to face the Jacksonville Jaguars at Paycor Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET.
