Steelers Skid Continues: Loss to Bengals Ends Regular Season with Four-Game Slide
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers did not need to win against the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday, with the AFC North out of reach, and the only thing at stake was a guarantee for the No. 5 seed, instead of having to wait until Sunday to learn their postseason fate.
But they did desperately need to at least garner some good feelings going into the postseason, as they entered Week 18 on a three-game losing streak.
They failed on both fronts.
The Steelers didn’t seriously threaten to beat the Bengals until late in the fourth quarter, mounting a comeback to get the game close, but losing to Cincinnati, 19-17.
A Pat Freiermuth touchdown brought the Steelers to with a touchdown in fourth, and Connor Heyward recovered a muffed punt to let a Chris Boswell field goal get them to within two, but the Steelers offense couldn’t capitalize on one final drive to earn a win.
The Pittsburgh offense continued its dreadful run of play, and after losing to three straight top contenders, this time they struggled and stumbled against one of the NFL’s worst units.
The Bengals entered the game 29th in the NFL in points allowed, and the Steelers had put up 44 points and 520 yards o offense in the first game between the teams at Paycor Stadium on Dec. 1.
This time around? They managed just 17 points and had 91 total yards entering the fourth quarter before finishing with 156.
Russell Wilson finished a paltry 17 of 31 for 148 yards, with the one touchdown. He was sacked four times. George Pickens, who entered needing 100 yards to make an even 1,000 on the season, caught one of six targets for zero yards.
The Pittsburgh defense allowed Cincinnati to march down the field on each of the first two drives, with fill-in cornerback Cory Trice unable to hang with Ja’Marr Chase, who finished with 10 catches for 96 yards to go along with his opening-drive touchdown.
The Steelers defense tightened up after that, allowing just four field goals the rest of the way, but that was enough for the Bengals.
The Steelers will now need to wait to learn their postseason fate. They will either be the No. 5 or No. 6 seed in the AFC. If the Los Angeles Chargers beat the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, the Steelers will be the No. 6 seed and travel to face the Baltimore Ravens. If the Chargers lose, the Steelers will learn the fifth seed and face the Houston Texans.
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