Beyond Burfict’s clear targeting attempt, Saturday’s game was marred by extracurricular skirmishes, players shoving officials and plenty of trash talk between bitter division rivals meeting for the third time this season.
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Hill broke through the Pittsburgh line on first down, but as Jarvis Jones was tackling him, Ryan Shazier reached in, ripped the ball free and Ross Cockrell fell on it to set up the game-winning drive. Midway through the fourth quarter, he returned to the sideline, but his night appeared over.
Holding a 16-15 lead, the Bengals had the Steelers stopped Saturday and were poised to end a 25-year playoff drought.
Boswell kicked two field goals to give the Steelers a 6-0 halftime lead in a steady rain that seemed to help curtail both offenses.
Ben Roethlisberger returned from injury to lead the Steelers to victory. With Steelers facing third-and-long, Burfict got through and sacked Roethlisberger on a clean hit.
Roethlisberger was 13 of 24 for 189 yards with a touchdown. Nelson later left with a left ankle injury and was ruled out for the remainder of the game. They scored on a Hill run to cut Pittsburgh’s lead to 15-7. The Steelers announced he had a right shoulder injury and his return was questionable for this game. Instead of facing a desperate situation essentially out of field goal range with 18 ticks remaining, the Steelers, because of the boneheaded Bengal penalties, enjoyed field position within the 20. That play set up an A.J.
The Bengals’ players and fans, desperate for their first playoff win in 25 years, were condemned for their behaviour.
The Steelers’ other backup quarterback is veteran Michael Vick, who started three games earlier this season. Trailing by a score of 15-0, Cincy was able to travel the length of the field before a Jeremy Hill one-yard touchdown made it 15-7.
The Steelers (11-6) might be without star receiver Antonio Brown, who was injured after taking a shot to the head on the final drive.
Roethlisberger rallied the troops to score a touchdown as he re-entered the game with 1:23 left in the fourth quarter. AJ McCarron completed 17 of 27 passes for 160 yards and two touchdowns. There were five field goals between the teams.
Toussaint had a big first half, with two catches for 43 yards and 11 carries for 38 yards.
Before Saturday night, the Bengals had never won a playoff game in which they trailed.
The Steelers were called for a couple of 15-yard penalties in the opening quarter, including one on Hall of Fame offensive line coach Mike Munchak, who was flagged for pushing Nelson after he had pushed Steelers running back Jordan Todman out of bounds.
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Whether you sprinted around the house, jumped around Paul Brown Stadium, or locked yourself in your auto and shouted “Barbara, we won”, you were excited.
