Russell Wilson, Steelers Offense Drag Defense to 44-38 Win over Bengals
Russell Wilson and the Pittsburgh Steelers offense exploded for 44 points, dragging the defense to a win over the Cincinnati Bengals.
CINCINNATI — The Pittsburgh Steelers offense broke out for its best performance of the season and the defense slowed down the Cincinnati Bengals just enough to let Pittsburgh roll with a 44-38 victory to lead the team to its NFL-record 21st consecutive non-losing season.
The Steelers offense started by shooting itself in the foot, as a Russell Wilson first-quarter pass intended for George Pickens was intercepted and returned for a touchdown.
They also battled two personal foul penalties by Pickens and some poor clock management at the end of the first half by Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, but at no point did the Bengals defense seem capable of mounting much resistance.
On the next drive after Cam Taylor-Britt’s pick six, Wilson found Pickens for a 17-yard touchdown, the first of three straight Pittsburgh drives to finish in the end zone. Wilson also connected with Calvin Austin III on a 23-yard score and Najee Harris returned from an early injury to punch in a 10-yard run.
Two Chris Boswell field goals gave the Steelers 27 points at the half, their biggest output through 30 minutes this season.
But the Steelers defense took a while to warm up to the challenge of the newly healthy Bengals offense. Chase Brown took off for a 41-yard scamper through the Steelers defense and scored one play later. The Burrow hit Brown for a 4-yard score after one of four Joey Porter Jr. penalties set Cincinnati up with a first and goal.
The teams combined to punt just twice in the first half — both by Cincinnati. The Steelers’ 27-21 halftime margin could have been more if not for Tomlin and the Steelers offense losing almost 10 seconds after the next-to-last play of the half, giving them only time for a Boswell field goal attempt.
In the second half, it was more of the same story, but the Steelers defense came up with the big plays they didn’t in the first. Donte Jackson intercepted Burrow to stop one Cincinnati scoring drive, and then Nick Herbig stripped Burrow and Payton Wilson returned it for a touchdown to put the Steelers up three scores.
Payton Wilson!!!
Another week, another huge play for the former NC State star.
He just scored his first NFL touchdown.
— Ethan McDowell (@ethanmmcdowell) December 1, 2024
Wilson finished 29 of 38 for 414 yards, three touchdowns, one interception and a 126.4 passer rating. It was the third 400-yard game of his career and the first since 2019. His career high came on Oct. 29, 2017 against the Houston Texans. The Steelers haven’t had a 300-yard passer since Ben Roethlisberger did it in 2018 against the Denver Broncos.
That was also the last time the Steelers had 500 total yards in a game before they put up 520 on Sunday.
Wilson spread the ball around liberally, connecting with 10 targets. Pat Freiermuth had six catches for 68 yards and a touchdown, while Pickens caught three for 74 and one score.
On the ground, Harris ran 16 times for 75 yards and a score and Cordarrelle Patterson contributed three rushes for 16 yards.
On defense, T.J. Watt had two sacks, Herbig and Cam Heyward each had one, and DeShon Elliott lead with 11 tackles.
The Steelers will return home but stay in the AFC North in Week 14, playing their fourth straight divisional opponent with a home game against the Cleveland Browns next Sunday at 1 p.m.
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