CINCINNATI — The changes made to the Pittsburgh Steelers offense did just enough, as the Black and Gold came into Cincinnati and used a stifling defensive performance, and a stronger but still inefficient offense to beat the shorthanded Cincinnati Bengals, 16-10.
The Steelers achieved their first 400-yard performance since 2020, and also out-gained their opponent for the first time this season, but despite driving the ball up and down the field against the Bengals, points were hard to come by.
The Steelers settled for Chris Boswell field goals of 41, 34 and 33 yards. They also punted from Cincinnati territory twice and Jaylen Warren fumbled from field goal range another time.
Najee Harris was the lone Steelers player to find pay dirt, and he did lots of the heavy lifting for the Steelers throughout the day. Harris ran in from 5 yards out to score on a long second-half Pittsburgh drive that was started when Trenton Thompson intercepted Jake Browning in the opposite red zone.
The 14-play, 79-yard drive capped off by Harris’ run was the lone complete performance of the day for the offense, and their lack of ability to convert was more about their own play than that of the Cincinnati defense.
Kenny Pickett had another missed connection with Diontae Johnson, and Johnson failed to haul in a pass in the end zone right before Warren’s fumble that could have changed the tenor of the game.
Harris finished with a hard-running 99 yards on 15 carries. Jaylen Warren had 13 carries for 49 yards, the first time in several games that it was the bigger Steelers back having more success.
In the passing game, the most notable change was evident from the first play from scrimmage: a long pass over the middle to tight end Pat Freiermuth. Freiermuth set a career high with 120 yards on nine catches.
The Steelers defense stifled Cincinnati throughout the day, giving up the lone touchdown after a long kickoff return and a fluke completion to Ja’Marr Chase on a tipped pass.
Jake Browning was sacked four times and finished 19 of 26 for 227 yards. The Cincinnati rushing offense did absolutely nothing. Joe Mixon had eight carries for 16 yards.
The 7-4 Steelers will return home for two straight games against Arizona and New England.