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The Pittsburgh Steelers are looking to extend their AFC North lead over the Cincinnati Bengals on “Thursday Night Football.”
Cincinnati leads 27-24 in the fourth quarter with Aaron Rodgers facing off with Joe Flacco. Follow The Athletic’s writers for the latest news, analysis and updates on this big game.
Q4 11:03 – Bengals 27, Steelers 24
That didn’t take long. The Steelers go down the field in 3:54 to cut the deficit to three.
Aaron Rodgers delivers a short 2-yard touchdown pass to Darnell Washington. Once again, it’s a whole new game.
Pittsburgh doesn’t go away. How does Cincinnati respond?
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Q4 14:42 – Bengals 27, Steelers 17
Oh my WARREN! The Steelers running back cannot be brought down. Jaylen Warren scurries for 36 yards to the right side.
Pittsburgh is in Cincinnati territory well past midfield.
Q4 14:57 – Bengals 27, Steelers 17
The Bengals regain their two-possession lead. Joe Flacco throws over the middle to Noah Fant, who corrals the 5-yard reception to get the first down.
Flacco has three touchdowns tonight. What a performance!
DJ Turner II left with muscle cramps and is expected to return, according to the Bengals.
The most targets by a Bengals receiver in a game this century is 20 by Peter Warrick in 2000. Ja'Marr Chase has 16 targets through three quarters tonight.
Q3 0:00 – Bengals 20, Steelers 17
Through three quarters, the Bengals are up by three. Pittsburgh gets back in the game with Aaron Rodgers' throwing touchdown.
But Cincinnati is threatening to respond with a touchdown of its own. Third-and-goal upcoming to start the fourth quarter.
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I’m not sure how many 20-something quarterbacks in the NFL could have progressed through their reads and slung a perfect seam ball on third down like 40-year-old Joe Flacco did to Andrei Iosivas there.
I’m not sure how many 20-something quarterbacks in the NFL could have progressed through their reads and slung a perfect seam ball on third down like Joe Flacco did to Andrei Iosivas there.
Q3 2:18 – Bengals 20, Steelers 17
Joe Flacco are you KIDDING me? What a pass over the middle to Andrei Iosivas, who makes the 37-yard reception.
First down Cincinnati. The Bengals are once again in Steelers territory.
That drive was an example of the Steelers' offense when it's at its best: run the ball between the 20s and count on Aaron Rodgers in the red zone. The Steelers come out and tried to re-establish their identity with running plays on four of their first five plays. Then, facing third-and-long, Rodgers threaded the ball between the two split safeties for a touchdown.
Q3 3:55 – Bengals 20, Steelers 17
What a time for your first touchdown of the season. Aaron Rodgers, on third-and-18, flings the ball to Pat Freiermuth, who snags the 19-yard touchdown reception.
The Steelers don't go away. It's a three-point Bengals lead. What a game!
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DJ Turner is slow to get up after Aaron Rodgers' incomplete pass to Jonnu Smith.
Hopefully the Bengals corner is OK.
Third-and-18 upcoming for the Steelers.
Q3 5:39 – Bengals 20, Steelers 10
Now it is Pittsburgh's turn to lean on the run game. Jaylen Warren bursts for 24 yards to secure another first down.
The Steelers are deep in Bengals territory, hungry to score.
Q3 7:02 – Bengals 20, Steelers 10
Big run for Jaylen Warren. The Steelers running back barrels forward for 6 yards to secure the first down.
Pittsburgh is around midfield.
Q3 7:55 – Bengals 20, Steelers 10
The Bengals just keep on scoring. Cincinnati caps off a 14-play, 63-yard drive with a 23-yard chip shot field goal courtesy of Evan McPherson.
That is 20 unanswered points for the Bengals. And the drive takes 7:55 off the clock.
Q3 9:30 – Bengals 17, Steelers 10
After further review, the runner was short of the first down. But on fourth-and-inches, Joe Flacco gets the first down on the QB sneak.
Cincinnati's drive continues.
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Q3 9:30 – Bengals 17, Steelers 10
The Bengals are challenging the third-down play regarding the spot of the ball.
Andrei Iosivas completed a 6-yard pass on third-and-7.
As the “TNF Prime Vision” broadcast has pointed out, the Bengals got their offense going by getting the ball out of Joe Flacco’s hands faster. Their formula to do so isn’t exactly groundbreaking: Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins are getting over 75 percent of Flacco’s target share, per Prime Vision.
Phenomenal blitz pickup from Chase Brown, playing his best game in weeks, to give Flacco time for that third-down completion to Chase.
Q3 13:43 – Bengals 17, Steelers 10
On third-and-2, it's Samaje Perine who gets the first down. Cincinnati has over 100 yards rushing after entering the game averaging 56.7 per game.
Incredible stuff.
