The Steelers, who were seemingly out of the running, made a comeback on Saturday with their offense scoring the most points of the season and securing a 34-11 victory over the Bengals at Acrisure Stadium.
Steelers wide receiver George Pickens had an outstanding game, racking up a career-high 195 yards on four catches, including two 60-plus yard touchdowns. His performance greatly helped quarterback Mason Rudolph in his first start in two years.
Bengals quarterback Jake Browning, who led the three-game winning streak that put Cincinnati in the playoff race, saw his team fall into a tie with the 8-7 Steelers after being swept by them in just 27 days.
Browning struggled throughout the game, throwing multiple interceptions and finishing with a passer rating of 69.0, the lowest in his five starts. His interceptions translated into 17 points for the Steelers.
Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins stepped up in the absence of Pro Bowl wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, delivering a season-high 140 yards on five catches. On the defensive end, right end Trey Hendrickson extended his sack streak to six straight games.
Despite a strong effort in the second half, the Bengals couldn’t overcome the Steelers’ lead, ultimately falling short in the game.