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Coming off their bye week, the Cincinnati Bengals faced a must-win situation to keep their AFC North hopes alive, but they fell 34–12 to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday at Acrisure Stadium. The loss dropped Cincinnati to 3–7, extending its losing streak to three games.
Though this was arguably their best defensive performance since Week 1, the Bengals once again surrendered at least 27 points, tying the Super Bowl-era record for giving up that total in nine straight games set by the 2020 Los Angeles Chargers, according to Jay Morrison of Sports Illustrated.
Cincinnati started strong but gradually collapsed as the game wore on. After Pittsburgh struck first on an 11-yard Kenny Gainwell catch-and-run from Aaron Rodgers, the Bengals answered with their only touchdown, a 28-yard Tee Higgins reception from Joe Flacco, who finished 23-of-40 for 199 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. A penalty on the PAT attempt led Cincinnati to pursue a two-point try from the 1-yard line, which failed and left the Bengals trailing the rest of the way.
The Bengals’ defense held the Steelers to 10 first-half points, forcing three straight punts and surviving multiple penalty-heavy series. Still, Still, Pittsburgh entered the break leading 10–6, courtesy of two Chris Boswell field goals. Cincinnati reduced the gap to 10–9 after halftime with an Evan McPherson field goal, but the game quickly slipped away from them.
The Steelers lost both Aaron Rodgers (hand injury) and Jaylen Warren (leg injury) early in the second half. Yet backup Mason Rudolph stabilized the offense, completing 12-of-16 for 127 yards and one touchdown, while Pittsburgh converted 7 of 13 third downs and totaled 343 yards.
The game’s turning strike came with 37 seconds left in the third quarter, when Steelers safety Kyle Dugger intercepted Flacco on a pass intended for Higgins and returned it 74 yards for a touchdown, extending Pittsburgh’s lead to 20–9. The Bengals pulled within 20–12 after a Jalen Ramsey ejection for punching Ja’Marr Chase extended a drive, but the momentum didn’t last. The Bengals closed the gap to 20–12 following Jalen Ramsey’s ejection for striking Ja’Marr Chase, but the rally didn’t last.
Rudolph later found Gainwell for a second touchdown, and on Cincinnati’s next possession, Noah Fant fumbled after a short catch. Steelers corner James Pierre returned it 33 yards for the second Pittsburgh defensive touchdown of the day, putting the game beyond the Bengals’ reach at 34–12.
Cincinnati faces a challenging stretch next, hosting the New England Patriots in Week 12, followed by matchups against the Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills.
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