Russell Wilson threw for 414 yards and three touchdowns and the Steelers held off a fourth quarter charge from the Bengals for a 44-38 AFC North win in Cincinnati.
Wilson hit ten different receivers in going 29-of-38 passing in a duel with the Bengals’ Joe Burrow, who was 28-of-39 for 309 yards with three touchdowns, but Burrow threw an interception and was strip-sacked twice, one of them in the third quarter resulting in a Payton Wilson scoop-and-score touchdown for the Steelers.
Russell Wilson’s big day started badly as George Pickens was yanked down by his facemask on a timing pattern, leading to a 51-yard pick-six interception by Cam Taylor-Britt to give Cincinnati a 7-0 lead. Wilson responded with a 17-yard touchdown pass to Pickens and later found Calvin Austin for a 23-yard touchdown and Pat Freiermuth for a 25-yard score. Najee Harris scored on a 10-yard run. Chris Boswell kicked field goals from 50, 34, and 30 yards.
The Steelers’ defense had the two strip sacks, by TJ Watt and Nick Herbig, and an interception by Donte Jackson.
On the negative side, cornerback Joey Porter Jr. was called for six penalties, three for pass interference and two on one play. Four of his flags were accepted penalties. George Pickens was flagged for two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties. Coach Mike Tomlin says Pickens “(has) to grow up.”
Tomlin says it was a typical AFC North game, and his quarterback seems to be enjoying it.
After taking a 17-point lead in the third quarter, the Steelers had to hold off a Cincinnati rally, and Tomlin appreciated the effort.
Filling in for Alex Highsmith, Nick Herbig had another big game at edge rusher opposite TJ Watt. Tomlin says whoever is down the line from Watt has to expect a lot of action.
Tomlin says Porter’s penalties were at least partially due to the Bengals’ Tee Higgins being a hard-to-handle “goon”.
Russell Wilson says it was an all-around Steelers’ team win.
Wilson says it was working on both sides of the ball for the Steelers.
Cam Heyward had a sack, deflected a pass, and made five tackles, two of them for a loss. TJ Watt is a big Heyward fan.
Watt says the Steelers’ offense made it easy for the defense.
Calvin Austin was the only significant injury for the Steelers. He exited in the third quarter and is in concussion protocol.
With Baltimore’s loss to the Eagles, the Steelers’ grip on first place in the division tightened. At 9-3, they are now up by a game-and-a-half over the Ravens. The Bengals fell to 4-8 and the 3-8 Browns play tonight in Denver against the Broncos. The Steelers play the Browns on Sunday, kicking off at one o’clock at Acrisure Stadium.
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