Given all of the elements the Cincinnati Bengals had to endure against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, once could call the one-possession, 24-16 loss a miracle.
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Once again, Pittsburgh – which has now won six of its last seven games against Cincinnati – found a crushing way to seal the Bengals’ demise. Bengals’ Vontaze Burfict was suspended this game for his ugly hit on Antonio Brown a year ago.
With an ineffective running game and a two score deficit for much of the second half, the Bengals were forced to throw the ball on almost every play.
They also don’t have a loss, a trade-off they can live with while their defensive front four searches for consistency. Roethlisberger had one more touchdown pass in the fourth quarter: a 4-yard toss to DeAngelo Williams.
The Steelers held Pro Bowl receiver A.J. Green to two receptions for 38 yards.
I don’t know if Steelers fans would be understanding if the shoe was on the other foot but we don’t have to worry about that. The win wasn’t pretty for the offense but it was attractive watching Williams’ performance.
Dennard was playing in his first regular-season game since going on IR last November, but he didn’t make excuses. And Williams will cede the spot atop the depth chart to one of the league’s most versatile players.
Fox Sports’ Mike Pereia gives his breakdown of why he thought the play was upheld.
Accuracy was the biggest issue in the wet conditions, and it was most noteworthy on several missed opportunities to connect with Antonio Brown, who finished with four catches for 39 yards.
“It just hasn’t happened the way we wanted it for two weeks, and it will be better this week”.
Pittsburgh’s only “sack” came when Dalton was touched down by linebacker Arthur Moats while scrambling for no gain in the third quarter.
“You’ve got to get better and better as the game goes on”, Coates said.
While the Bengals never lead during this afternoon’s game, the game was mostly a close affair.
“It means a lot to our group as a tight end group to be able to make plays when we’re counted on”, James said.
Why not throw the challenge flag, Coach? Tyler Boyd fumbled after getting hit by James Harrison in Pittsburgh territory with 1:50 to play even though replays appeared to show Boyd – who grew up in suburban Pittsburgh and played collegiately on the same field for Pitt – was down well before the ball came out.
“I was told it was down, even by the guys on our sideline, the officials”, Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis said, referring to his conversation with officials while the play was under replay review. “They didn’t see it that way overall, so that’s all that matters”.
One example resides in the high-flying Pittsburgh passing offense being held in check. Those looking for them to attack the opposing quarterback with a variety of pressures are disappointed. He explained his belief that the officials chose not to overturn the call based on inconclusive video evidence.
In their stead are a pair of works in progress in Jesse James and Xavier Grimble and an old veteran in David Johnson who basically doubles as a sixth offensive lineman.
CLEVELAND – Joe Flacco threw two touchdown passes to Mike Wallace and the Ravens rallied from a 20-point first-quarter deficit. With less than two minutes to play, the Bengals had the ball in Steelers’ territory. “They’re capable and we have a great deal of confidence in them, and they delivered today”. The Bengals fell 20-17 in overtime at Denver last December with backup quarterback AJ McCarron filling in for Dalton.
The Steelers offense wasn’t electric by any means, but it was more efficient than Cincinnati’s.
PHILADELPHIA FREEDOM: The Steelers travel to Philadelphia next Sunday.
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Whoops. Pittsburgh Steelers running back DeAngelo Williams’ cell phone went off during his own press conference.
