Bengals keep playoff hopes alive, while Steelers lose fourth straight

Cincinnati Bengals Edge Out Pittsburgh Steelers to Keep Playoff Hopes Alive

On a chilly Saturday night in Pittsburgh, the Cincinnati Bengals managed to keep their playoff dreams alive by narrowly defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers 19-17. It was a must-win game for the Bengals, and they delivered, albeit with some nail-biting moments towards the end.

Throughout most of the game, the Bengals seemed to have control, but missed opportunities meant they had to fight hard to maintain their slim lead in the fourth quarter. Despite these challenges, Cincinnati secured their fifth consecutive win to close out the regular season.

Now, the Bengals (9-8) find themselves in a waiting game. They need both the Denver Broncos and the Miami Dolphins to lose on Sunday to clinch the seventh and final playoff spot in the AFC.

Meanwhile, the Steelers (10-7) are already assured a playoff spot, but their recent form is concerning. They ended the regular season with four straight losses and will be seeded either fifth or sixth in the AFC, depending on the outcome of the Los Angeles Chargers game on Sunday.

For the Bengals, the next 18 hours will be filled with anxiety as they await the results of other games, reflecting on missed opportunities earlier in the season. However, just five weeks ago, this scenario seemed unlikely.

Cincinnati Bengals (9-8)

What we learned about the quarterback: In a game where the season was on the line, Joe Burrow proved his mettle. After a hard sack in the third quarter, Burrow was briefly evaluated in the medical tent. Emerging with a black glove on his throwing hand, he returned to the field and made crucial throws to Ja’Marr Chase and Tanner Hudson, extending Cincinnati’s lead to 19-7 with just over 11 minutes left.

Biggest hole in the game plan: The Bengals had opportunities to put the Steelers away early but failed to capitalize on deep trips into Pittsburgh territory. They scored on only one of their first three red zone appearances, allowing the Steelers to stay within striking distance despite their offensive struggles.

Most surprising performance: The Bengals’ defense, which had been embarrassed in their previous encounter with the Steelers, showed remarkable improvement. Allowing just 193 total yards, they held Pittsburgh to 91 yards through the first three quarters, with only 33 through the air. This defensive turnaround has been key to Cincinnati’s late-season surge.

Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7)

With the Steelers trailing by two points and two minutes left on the clock, the crowd at Acrisure Stadium erupted into a chorus of “Don’t Stop Believin’.” It was a desperate plea for a comeback that ultimately fell short as the Steelers lost their regular-season finale. Russell Wilson‘s fourth-down pass slipped through the fingers of Pat Freiermuth, sealing their fate.

With this loss, the Steelers became only the third team in NFL history to enter the playoffs on a four-game losing streak, joining the 1999 Detroit Lions. Despite their offensive inconsistencies, the Steelers managed a late touchdown to close the gap to five points. A defensive stand and a heads-up muffed punt recovery by Connor Heyward gave them a chance to take the lead, but the offense faltered, settling for a long-range field goal by Chris Boswell.

Now, the Steelers must wait for Sunday’s results to determine their playoff path.

• Two words: Junior varsity. Coach Mike Tomlin often uses this term to describe subpar performances, and Saturday’s game was a prime example. The defense limited the Bengals to one touchdown on four red zone trips but couldn’t get off the field, allowing Cincinnati to dominate time of possession.
• Pivotal play: The Steelers’ inability to gain a yard on back-to-back plays late in the first half was disastrous. This turnover on downs led to a Bengals field goal, extending their lead to 13-7 at halftime.
• Biggest hole in game plan: Despite extra preparation, the Steelers struggled to cover Bengals tight ends, who accounted for 102 of Burrow’s 277 passing yards.
• Silver lining: At 35, Heyward finished the season strong, leading all defensive tackles with 11 passes defended and recording eight sacks.