CINCINNATI — Ja’Marr Chase delivered a stellar performance, amassing 161 yards on 16 receptions, while Tee Higgins contributed 96 yards and a touchdown in quarterback Joe Flacco’s second start in ten days. However, despite their impressive offensive output, the Pittsburgh Steelers were unable to secure a win, falling to the Cincinnati Bengals 33-31 on Thursday night. The loss marked a continuation of struggles for the Steelers, particularly in their defensive capabilities.
Several defensive players for the Steelers pointed fingers not at the secondary, but rather at their defensive front for their failure to contain what has been the league’s worst rushing attack. The Bengals showcased an unexpected running prowess, tallying a season-high 142 rushing yards, nearly doubling their previous best. Defensive tackle Cameron Heyward expressed his frustration, asserting, “It’s not the secondary; that’s a cop-out. We need to control the line of scrimmage a lot better. I’m pissed off. We didn’t take care of our job… we let them run all over us.”
The Steelers initially held a 10-0 lead, stopping the Bengals on their first two drives. However, as the game progressed, the Bengals’ Chase Brown found significant gaps, achieving notable runs of 27 and 37 yards in quick succession. By halftime, Brown had already racked up 74 rushing yards—surpassing his total from each of his first six games.
Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen acknowledged the team’s deficiencies, highlighting that they weren’t playing with their usual physicality and that maintaining their assigned gap responsibilities was essential. “We weren’t doing what we’ve been doing,” said Queen, emphasizing the need for improvement.
At halftime, the Bengals had managed 97 rushing yards, averaging an impressive 10.8 yards per carry. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin noted, “We allowed them to run the ball too much. We turned the ball over a couple of times, which set a negative trajectory, making it uphill for us.”
This defeat was particularly concerning, considering the Steelers had shown signs of improvement in their run defense in previous games, having successfully held both the Minnesota Vikings and Cleveland Browns to under 100 rushing yards. However, the inability to force turnovers added to their defensive woes, as they failed to create any turnovers for the second consecutive game.
T.J. Watt, an edge rusher for the Steelers, reflected on the team’s struggles. “If you’re not stopping the run and getting off the field and not creating turnovers, you’re in a whole world of hurt.” Heyward was equally adamant about the need for improvement, stating that the defense needed to take ownership of the situation, especially after the offense scored 31 points.
The Steelers currently hold a slim 1½ game lead over the Bengals in the AFC North. Despite the setback, the team will need to regroup as they look to address their defensive issues and remain competitive as the season progresses.