Bengals Defeat Steelers 19-17: Cincinnati Keeps Playoff Hopes Alive as Pittsburgh's Late-Season Struggles Continue

Bengals Defeat Steelers 19-17

The Cincinnati Bengals edged out the Pittsburgh Steelers 19-17 on Saturday night, keeping their slim playoff hopes alive. Joe Burrow’s strong performance and a solid defensive effort helped Cincinnati secure a fifth straight win, improving to 9-8. However, their postseason fate now depends on the outcomes of Sunday games: they need the Kansas City Chiefs to beat the Denver Broncos and the New York Jets to defeat or tie the Miami Dolphins.

The Steelers, who started the season 10-3, are experiencing a late-season meltdown, losing their fourth straight game without ever holding a lead. Pittsburgh’s offense has struggled mightily, failing to find consistency and falling into an early deficit. They now head into the playoffs looking shaky and unprepared to compete with stronger opponents.

The Bengals opened with an efficient drive, highlighted by Burrow connecting with Ja'Marr Chase for a 12-yard touchdown. Chase's 17th touchdown of the season exposed Pittsburgh’s defensive issues, particularly with rookie cornerback Cory Trice Jr. in coverage. Cincinnati’s defense kept the Steelers’ offense in check for most of the first half, limiting them to just 75 total yards and forcing key turnovers.

Pittsburgh found brief momentum with a Najee Harris touchdown to narrow the score to 10-7 but sabotaged themselves with critical mistakes. A fumbled punt return and a failed fourth-down conversion gave Cincinnati opportunities to extend their lead, which they did with a field goal to make it 13-7 by halftime. The Steelers' offensive struggles continued into the second half, with the team barely crossing 100 yards of total offense until the fourth quarter.

In the final quarter, the Bengals looked poised to seal the game with a 19-7 lead, but a fluky turnover on a punt that bounced off a teammate’s foot gave Pittsburgh renewed hope. The Steelers added a field goal to make it 19-14 and had another chance late to take the lead. However, Trey Hendrickson’s impactful defensive plays, including a critical sack, and a dropped fourth-down pass by Pat Freiermuth ended Pittsburgh’s comeback bid.

With the victory, the Bengals remain in the playoff picture, though their hopes hinge on outside help. The Steelers, now 10-7, are guaranteed a playoff spot but face serious concerns as they prepare to meet either the Baltimore Ravens or the Houston Texans in the wild-card round. Given their recent performances, Pittsburgh will need a dramatic turnaround to make any postseason noise.