Steelers vs. Bengals: What they're saying in Cincinnati after loss

For those who’ve been watching Steelers football for decades, former defensive player and CBS Sports analyst Bryant McFadden summed it up pretty well.

“Once upon a time, we lived in a world where it would take three games for a Pittsburgh-led offense to score 40-some points,” McFadden said in postgame analysis. “But in today’s NFL world, it only takes one.”

Russell Wilson had an efficient game, Najee Harris ran well and the Steelers took advantage of two fumbles and an interception by Bengals QB Joe Burrow to come away with a 44-38 win that keeps them solidly at the top of their division.

Bengals coach Zac Taylor said turnovers were the deciding factor in the game.

“It was 3-1 in the turnover battle and when it’s a one-score game, it’s a simple as that,” Taylor said in postgame comments. “We’ve got to create more ways to create turnovers. I know guys were trying, I know guys were trying to rip it out, but we’ve got to find a way to do it.”

Cincinnati commentators had little good to say as the Bengals, coming off a bye week with time to prepare, fell to 4-8, with zero wins against teams that have winning records.

“The bye week did nothing to fix the Bengals defense, and it may have made it worse,” WKRC’s Richard Skinner wrote. “It also marked the fourth game the Bengals lost this season when they scored at least 31 points and second game they lost when they scored 38 points.”

“Pittsburgh’s defense had its difficulties on the day, which made the Bengals’ defensive struggles that much more frustrating,” wrote Pat Brennan, sports reporter or FOX 19 TV in Cincinnati. “That narrative should also sound familiar to Bengals fans.”

Related:

• 5 things we learned in Steelers’ win over the Bengals: Stripping Joe Burrow was by design
• Feats of Strength: Russell Wilson's huge day, key defensive splash plays secure Steelers shootout over Bengals
• Russell Wilson passes for 414 yards, defense forces 3 turnovers as Steelers beat Bengals

The Cincinnati Enquirer’s Kelsey Conway said too much of the Bengals’ offense rests on Burrow’s shoulders.

“No other AFC North team puts more on their quarterback than the Bengals do with Burrow,” Conway wrote. “It’s not sustainable for Cincinnati to keep playing football this way and expect to compete for championships even if Burrow won’t say it.”

For his part, Burrow said the team needs more than a few adjustments.

“I would say we need to change a lot of things this year,” Burrow told reporters. “We haven’t been good enough to win games. It starts with your division. You always want to win those, and we haven’t. So we’ve got to do a better job.”

Wilson said both sides of the ball fed off one another.

“I thought it was a great team effort. You see the defense respond and make plays for us after we had some great responses,” he told reporters.

Russell Wilson speaks to the media following our win over the Bengals. pic.twitter.com/1Hl8obMMvW

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) December 1, 2024

Not everyone was so pumped up by the defensive effort in a game where more than 80 points were scored. The Steelers Network characterized the shootout rather humorously.

Good news: The Bengals can’t stop the Steelers on offense

Bad news: The Steelers can’t stop the Bengals on offense pic.twitter.com/VGDZvdqfx2

— Steelers Network (@SteelersNetwork) December 1, 2024

It should be noted, however, that 414 yards is the most passing yards anyone has gotten against the Bengals all season.

Support for the Steelers came from all corners of North America. At the WWE’s Survivor Series: War Games event, held Saturday night in Vancouver, a sharp-eyed Steelers fan caught this sign in the crowd.

Thataboy, Yinz! Bengals Suck #Steelers #NFL pic.twitter.com/YMNtuqqyBA

— Steelers Depot 7⃣ (@Steelersdepot) December 1, 2024

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, who secured yet another winning season Sunday, said his team performed well in the always-tough divisional games.

“I thought our team smiled in the face of it, particularly Russ,” Tomlin said in his postgame presser. “This is the first time for him going through this AFC North football, and I thought he acclimated himself well to it today.”