The Steelers lost their second straight game and lost a few more players to injury on Sunday, and players and coaches are frustrated. Joe Burrow threw three touchdown passes and the Bengals’ defense dominated the Steelers’ offensive line in a 24-10 Cincinnati rout at Heinz Field.
Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was sacked four times and threw two interceptions, one just after the Steelers had intercepted Burrow, and the Pittsburgh penalty yardage outdistanced its run game, 75 yards to 45. Both of Big Ben’s picks were converted into Bengals touchdowns.
All five of the Steelers’ offensive linemen committed penalties, with Chuks Okorafor tagged for lining up wrong and a false start, rookie center Kendrick Green getting nailed twice for holding, guard Kevin Dotson getting flagged for holding, and guard Trai Turner and tackle Dan Moore getting caught for false starts. To make matters worse, wide receiver Chase Claypool was penalized twice for offensive pass interference.
Coach Mike Tomlin did not sugarcoat the loss.
Tomlin says the Steelers are not playing to their capabilities.
Roethlisberger, who finished the day 38-of-58 passing for 318 yards with one touchdown, says the offense has a lot of questions and no answers right now.
Big Ben says the Steelers are trying but not seeing the results they need.
Rookie running back Najee Harris ran for just 40 yards on 14 carries, but set a Steelers record with 14 pass receptions for 102 yards.
Already playing without injured outside linebackers TJ Watt and Alex Highsmith and wide receiver Diontae Johnson, the Steelers lost three offensive players. JuJu Smith-Schuster left the game with injured ribs. Kendrick was lost to a knee injury that ESPN later reported is not believed to be serious. And Chuks Okorafor is in concussion protocol.
Next up for the Steelers is a trip to Green Bay for a 4:25 game on Sunday. The airtime on WDAD will be 2:25. The Packers’ Aaron Rodgers led a six-play, 42-yard drive that ended with a game-winning 51-yard field goal by Mason Crosby in a 28-27 come-from-behind road win over the 49ers in Sunday night football last night.
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