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Steelers force three turnovers, Russell Wilson has career day in win over Bengals: Key takeaways

2 December 2024Last Update :
Steelers force three turnovers, Russell Wilson has career day in win over Bengals: Key takeaways

By Mike DeFabo, Paul Dehner and Cale Clinton

The Pittsburgh Steelers continue to make their case among the AFC’s best by taking care of business against an AFC North rival, posting a commanding 44-38 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. The Steelers (9-3) keep pace with the Buffalo Bills for the No. 2 seed in the AFC playoff race, while the Bengals’ (4-8) hopes for an improbable run slip out of reach.

The Steelers’ offensive performance came after falling into an early hole. Russell Wilson kicked off the Steelers’ first offensive drive with a pick six to Bengals corner Cam Taylor-Britt. From there, though, Pittsburgh scored on six of their next seven drives — four touchdowns and two field goals. Wilson himself bounced back from the mistake by finishing Sunday’s game with 29-for-38 for 414 yards, three touchdowns and an interception, his most in a game since Week 8 of 2017.

In an all too common storyline for Cincinnati this season, Joe Burrow’s offensive performance was unable to secure the Bengals a win. Burrow finished the afternoon 28-for-28 for 309 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. For the third straight week, Burrow has thrown for at least 300 yards and three touchdowns. All three games ended in losses.

Despite the strong offensive day for Burrow and the Bengals, Pittsburgh’s defense stopped it from being even better. Burrow’s first sack of the afternoon came late in the second quarter, where T.J. Watt was able to drive Burrow out of the pocket and strip-sack him, with rookie linebacker Payton Wilson recovering for Pittsburgh. Burrow turned it over again in the second half when cornerback Donte Jackson hauled in a tipped pass intended for Tee Higgins. The Steelers capped off the three-turnover day with another strip-sack — this one by Nick Herbig — returned for a touchdown by Payton Wilson.

Russ cooks after Thanksgiving

Any team that walks into a stadium with Burrow knows it’s going to need to score points. As if the talented Bengals QB didn’t pose enough of a threat, the Steelers put themselves in an early hole. On their first offensive series, Russell Wilson threw a pick six on a controversial play in which Bengals DB Cam Taylor-Britt pushed down George Pickens at the line of scrimmage and then returned an interception 51 yards for a touchdown.

The Steelers offense shrugged off the tough break and answered the call in a big way with their best offensive outing of the year. Wilson looked comfortable and in command throughout the game. In the first half alone, he completed 21-of-27 passes for two touchdowns and 257 yards. Wilson went on to complete 29 of 38 passes for 414 yards and three passing touchdowns, the second-most in a single game for Wilson and the most by a Steelers quarterback since Week 12 of 2018.

While the Steelers need to clean up their self-inflicted wounds (especially the unsportsmanlike conduct penalties on offense and costly defensive penalties in the secondary), the offense is continuing to show it has taken a significant step forward with Wilson running the show. A team that has long leaned on its defense has proven on more than one instance that they have more than one way to beat opponents. — Mike DeFabo, Pittsburgh Steelers beat writer

Steelers edge rushers make their mark

The Steelers defense often struggled to contain Burrow and company on Sunday. Second-year corner Joey Porter Jr., in particular, had a tough day full of penalties and the team as a whole allowed too many explosive plays.

However, Pittsburgh’s pass rush found a way to make an impact. Both of the starting outside linebackers — Watt and Herbig — strip-sacked the Bengals quarterback. Plus, defensive lineman Cameron Heyward deflected a pass at the line of scrimmage the corner Jackson intercepted.

Watt’s turnover came with the Bengals in field goal range and helped snuff out a promising drive. Herbig’s was even more significant, as rookie Payton Wilson scooped it up and returned it for a touchdown.

While the Steelers would have liked to get off the field in a traditional sense more often, forcing these turnovers helped them keep Burrow from winning a shootout. — DeFabo

For Bengals D, mistakes are constant

It’s only fitting that the unofficial end of the Bengals’ season comes on a day the defense reaches new levels of ineptitude. Cincinnati allowed at least 34 points for the third straight game and fourth in the last five. They missed tackles, blew coverages, misaligned, committed penalties, were out-schemed and committed every mistake in between. They gave up 520 yards to the Steelers, only the third time this season a team allowed at least 500 yards and 44 points. A unit packed with top 100 picks, a game-wrecking edge rusher and notable free agent signings has turned into one of the worst defensive seasons in franchise history. This marks a second consecutive ugly year for Lou Anarumo’s crew. Blowing up that entire side of the ball in the offseason — no coach or player beyond reproach — looks like the only option at this point.

Geno Stone and Germaine Pratt were supposed to provide veteran leadership and stability to a defense in desperate need of it. Instead, they set an example of the type of non-effort and missed tackling that turned this defense into one of the worst in football. Stone missed tackles all day to produce explosives and touchdowns for the Steelers, and the same for Pratt, who the team was counting on to play at a high level with leading tackler Logan Wilson out. They are far from alone on a defense without many positives, but their lack of effort and willingness to take the fight to Pittsburgh stood out above the others. — Paul Dehner, Cincinnati Bengals beat writer

Burrow thriving despite losses

Burrow continues to play at a high level. He crossed 300 yards passing for the third straight game as Cincinnati scored 30-plus points for the sixth time this season. Incredibly, they are 2-4 in those games, tied for the most losses in such situations in NFL history. The frustration of this season and the need to be perfect every week continues to pile up. Burrow took 11 more QB hits while forced to constantly throw and come from behind. Those add up to frustration beyond the physical risk. He deserves better. The opinions of the franchise quarterback will be of the utmost importance as this organization figures out the path forward. — Dehner

Required reading 

  • NFL Week 13 scores and live updates: Predictions, odds, inactives, analysis and more
  • Is it time for the Steelers to get Mike Williams more involved in the offense?
  • How Joe Burrow elevated his game and the Bengals offense with 2 improvements

(Photo: Dylan Buell / Getty Images)

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