Najee Harris scored as the Steelers make it a one-possession game with 45 seconds left.
Bengals vs. Steelers score, takeaways: Joe Burrow's four TDs help Cincinnati get first AFC North win of season
Burrow finishes with 355 passing yards and four touchdowns, three to Samaje Perine
PITTSBURGH -- The Bengals won the AFC last season by being road warriors in January. Cincinnati, rocking its white helmets on the road for the first time on Sunday, showcased that same resolve Sunday by coming into Pittsburgh and leaving with a 37-30 win that was not as close as the final score would indicate.
The win improves the Bengals to 6-4 while giving them their first win in four games against divisional foes. The loss drops the Steelers to 3-7 and into a last-place tie with Cleveland in the AFC North standings.
Joe Burrow, 10 weeks after throwing four interceptions against the Steelers, threw four touchdowns on Sunday that included three to running back Samaje Perine. Burrow also had a field day throwing to wideout Tee Higgins, who caught nine passes for a season-high 148 yards. Burrow and Co. overcame the loss of running back Joe Mixon, who left the game early with a head injury.
The Bengals enjoyed a fast start by Burrow, whose two touchdown passes to Perine gave the Bengals a 17-10 lead with 6:38 remaining before halftime. On consecutive drives, Burrow completed each of his 11 passes, including four completions to Higgins on Cincinnati's third scoring drive of the half.
Pittsburgh's offense also had a successful first half. Najee Harris ran for 56 yards, including a 19-yard touchdown that tied the score two minutes into the second quarter. After Burrow's second touchdown to Perine, Kenny Pickett responded by throwing a 24-yard, game-tying scoring strike to fellow rookie George Pickens. The Steelers took a 20-17 halftime lead on Matthew Wright's 30-yard field goal on the final play of the half. The score was set up by Levi Wallace's pick of Burrow after the pass was tipped by Robert Spillane.
Cincinnati dominated the third quarter and took a 27-23 lead into the final stanza. The Bengals took the lead after Burrow threw his third touchdown pass of the day, a one-yard strike to Trenton Irwin midway through the quarter. T.J. Watt's pick of Burrow moments later set up the Steelers' only score of the quarter.
The Bengals took a double-digit lead after Burrow hit Perine for the quarterback's fourth touchdown of the day with 4:30 left. Pittsburgh made things somewhat interesting when Harris scored from a yard out with 45 seconds left, but the Steelers' comeback hopes quickly expired when the Bengals pounced on the onside kick.
Here's a closer look at what transpired from Pittsburgh.
Why the Bengals won
Quite simply, Burrow was phenomenal. Playing without Ja'Marr Chase and losing Joe Mixon during the game, Burrow made several clutch throws while leading the Bengals to their first win this season against a divisional foe. Burrow had a field day getting the ball to Higgins, who extracted a measure of revenge after leaving the Bengals' Week 1 loss to the Steelers early with an injury. Burrow also enjoyed a successful partnership with Perine, who stepped up with Mixon out of the game.
Cincinnati's defense also clamped down in the second half. The unit came up with a big stop following Watt's third-quarter interception that gave the Steelers the ball deep in Bengals territory. The Bengals held the Steeles to just 139 yards and 10 points in the second half after allowing 212 yards and 20 points in the game's first 30 minutes.
Why the Steelers lost
The Steelers had no answer for Burrow and Higgins, who teamed up for the game-clinching score when Cincinnati won in Pittsburgh in 2021. The NFL's sixth-ranked red zone defense coming into Sunday's game, the Steelers' defense allowed the Bengals to score touchdowns on all three of their trips inside the 20-yard-line.
Pittsburgh's defense didn't get much help from its offense, which hurt itself in the second half by committing self-inflicted penalties. Pickett didn't have much success throwing to anyone sans Pickens and Pat Freiermuth. The loss of Jaylen Warren -- who suffered a hamstring injury early in the game -- didn't help matters.
Turning point
Watt's interception gave the Steelers life after the Bengals took a third-quarter lead. With the ball on the Bengals' 21-yard-line, Pittsburgh went three-and-out while settling for a short field goal that cut their deficit to a point.
The Steelers still had life after their defense forced a Bengals punt on their ensuing drive. But after reaching the Bengals' 39-yard-line (following a 33-yard completion from Pickett to Pickens), a third-down sack by Trey Hendrickson led to a Steelers punt. The Steelers started on the Bengals' 47-yard-line two series later, but two penalties ended the drive before it could get off the ground. Cincinnati scored on its ensuring drive (putting together its second 90-plus yard drive) to essentially put the game out of reach.
Play of the game
Watt's pick was eye-popping, but Tyler Boyd's 15-yard catch midway through the fourth quarter helped ice the game for the Bengals. The catch, which occurred with the Bengals facing a second-and-12 from Pittsburgh's 36-yard-line, helped set up Burrow's fourth touchdown pass and third to Perine. It was the first catch of the day for Boyd, a Pittsburgh native who starred collegiately at the University of Pittsburgh.
Quotable
"That was awesome. One of my favorite wins since I've been here. Lot of adversity. AFC North game. Bad weather. Cold, windy. We fought through, found a way to win." -- Burrow on his third win over the Steelers and second in Pittsburgh
What's next
The Bengals will head to Nashville for a rematch of Cincinnati's thrilling divisional round playoff win this past January. After an 0-2 start, the Titans are now 7-3 behind the running of Derrick Henry and the league's seventh-ranked scoring defense. The Bengals are hoping to have Chase back after the Pro Bowl wideout missed the last three games with a hip injury.
Pittsburgh will head to Indianapolis for a Monday night showdown against the Colts. The Colts recently made noise after replacing Frank Reich with interim head coach Jeff Saturday, who quickly re-inserted Matt Ryan back into the starting lineup. Indianapolis led the one-loss Eagles for most of Sunday's game before Philadelphia rallied for a one-point win.
Burrow hits Perine for the duo's third TD of the day. That one appears to put this game on ice.
Boyd's first catch, a 27-yarder, gives the Bengals a big first down.
Consecutive penalties takes the Steelers back to the Bengals' 49.
13-yard run for Harris gives the Steelers the ball at the the Bengals' 34. Harris is doing the heavy lifting with Jaylen Warren out.
Steelers force a three and out. Burrow doesn't look Higgins' way once on that drive. His third down pass was intended for Pittsburgh native Tyler Boyd, who has yet to catch a pass today against his hometown team.
Sam Hubbard sacks Pickett to end that drive. Pittsburgh has just 56 total yards this half.
Another unreal catch by Pickens. That one for 33 yards as the Steelers are on the Bengals' side of the field.
Bengals lead 27-23 after 3.
He drills it, giving the Bengals a 27-23 lead with 31 seconds left in the first quarter.
Burrow sacked by Cam Heyward on third down, making McPherson's FG a 54-yard try.
Perine picks up the first down on third and short. Bengals in FG range as the third quarter is down to 1:45.
Higgins just set a new career high for receiving yards, with 148, and we still have 18-plus minutes left.
Joe Mixon is out for the remainder of the game. Should see more of RB Chris Evans who has played sparingly this season.
Steelers turn Watt's pick into three points, but miss a chance to re-gain the lead.
Watt's pick gives the Steelers the ball in the red zone.
Steelers fans restless after that last drive. Pittsburgh punts again after a fruitless drive. Diontae Johnson has been pretty much been invisible tonight.
Bengals re-gain the lead on Joe Burrow's one-yard TD pass to Trenton Irwin. The big play on the drive was Burrow's 33-yard completion to Tee Higgins, who has eight catches for 133 yards and a TD.
Joe Mixon being evaluated for a head injury. Samaje Perine in for the Bengals as they start their second drive of the second half. Bengals have good field position as they start the drive on their own 41.
Freiermuth took a shot to the midsection on that third down pass. Was able to walk off under his own power.
Alex Highsmith's sack of Burrow short circuits promising drive for Bengals. That's four sacks of Burrow this season for Highsmith, who is a half sack away from his first double-digit sack season.
Burrow starts the second half with a dart to Tee Higgins. Bengals close to midfield.
Higgins back on the field after getting shaken up on a catch near the end of the first half.
Steelers quickly go three and out in their first drive of the second half.
J.C. Hassenauer is in for C Mason Cole, who is questionable to return with a foot injury. Miles Boykin and Jaylen Warren are out for the remainder of the game.
Steelers get the ball first to start the second half.
Halftime Stats
Score: Steelers 20, Bengals 17
First downs: 11 each
Total yards: Bengals 222-212
Rushing yards: Steelers 71-28
Red zone: Bengals 1-1, Steelers 2-3
TOP: Bengals 15:46
Burrow: 14-20, 194 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
Pickett: 14-19. 141 yards, 1 TD
**Neither QB sacked**
Harris: 11 carries, 56 yards, TD
Pickens: 3 catches, 50 yards, TD
Freiermuth: 3 catches, 48 yards
Higgins: 6 catches, 84 yards
Mixon: 7 carries, 20 yards
Steelers in FG range after a 27-yard completion from Pickett to Freiermuth, who carried several defenders downfield.
INT confirmed.
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