PITTSBURGH, Pa. — The Cincinnati Bengals' playoff hopes are in the hands of other teams after the Bengals beat the Steelers 19-17 on Saturday.
The Bengals (9-8) went into Saturday night's regular-season finale knowing they needed to win if they wanted a slim chance at the playoffs.
Cincinnati was without breakout running back Chase Brown, who injured his ankle in last week's nail-biting overtime win against the Denver Broncos.
Joe Burrow and company started out strong as Burrow found Ja'Marr Chase in the end zone on Cincinnati's opening drive. Chase's 12-yard touchdown pass — the 17th of the season for the duo — came after a fluid drive for Cincinnati, including a catch from tight end Mike Gesicki, which triggered his 600-yard $125,000 contract incentive.
Burrow to Chase for their 17th TD connection on the season!
— NFL (@NFL) January 5, 2025
📺: #CINvsPIT on ESPN/ABC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus and ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/4AUYiDgNrK
The Steelers got their first points of the game off a 1-yard rush from running back Najee Harris. The Pittsburgh touchdown was assisted by two costly pass interference calls from Bengals corner Cam Taylor-Britt.
Najee Harris gets the @Steelers on the board!
— NFL (@NFL) January 5, 2025
📺: #CINvsPIT on ESPN/ABC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus and ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/FxUtb5EQyg
After the Cincinnati offense was stopped on downs, the Bengals got the ball back when Cincinnati linebacker Shaka Heyward punched the ball away from Steelers receiver Calvin Austin III on the punt return. Bengals linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither then recovered the fumbled ball.
FUMBLE. The @Bengals recover the ball on the punt return!
— NFL (@NFL) January 5, 2025
📺: #CINvsPIT on ESPN/ABC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus and ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/WnRoWUUw9Y
With less than two minutes left in the first half, Burrow was picked off on a pass intended for Chase. The pass was picked by Steelers corner Beanie Bishop Jr.
PICK. Beanie Bishop Jr. comes down with the @steelers interception!
— NFL (@NFL) January 5, 2025
📺: #CINvsPIT on ESPN/ABC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus and ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/cmw1cNspYZ
In the third quarter, all of Who Dey Nation had a massive scare when Burrow stayed down on the field after a sack. Burrow got a face mask full of turf after falling into the ground with two defensive linemen on top of him. The quarterback walked himself off the field, but he headed into the medical tent while the Cincinnati defense was on the field.
While backup Jake Browning was seen warming up on the sideline, Burrow returned to the field for the offense's next drive.
Joe Burrow takes a hard hit into the ground... headed into the blue medical tent. pic.twitter.com/oBKvnmcToF
— Cincinnati 💔 (@CincyProblems) January 5, 2025
Joe Burrow checked out by trainers after a hard sack. Burrow runs off the field under his own power. #Bengals @WCPO pic.twitter.com/RtVnQ9jPfO
— Marshall Kramsky (@marshallkramsky) January 5, 2025
Soon after the Burrow scare, both wide receiver Tee Higgins and offensive tackle/guard Cody Ford were deemed questionable to return due to injuries. Higgins had a left ankle injury, which was noted on the injury report this past week, while Ford had a chest injury, according to the Bengals. Cody Ford later reentered the game late in the fourth quarter, but Higgins did not.
.@KetteringHealth Injury Update: WR Tee Higgins has a left ankle injury and G/OT Cody Ford has a chest injury. Their return is questionable.
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) January 5, 2025
The Steelers found the end zone for the second time Saturday in the fourth quarter with a 19-yard pass from Russell Wilson to tight end Pat Freiermuth.
Muuuth TD 💪 @pat_fry5
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) January 5, 2025
📲 Stream on NFL+: https://t.co/COxKRnr6Mc pic.twitter.com/MnDna2h9PZ
The Bengals turned the ball over to the Steelers on a punt return when Cincinnati corner DJ Ivey's toe hit the ball. The ball was then recovered by the Steelers.
The ball gets touched by a Bengals player on the punt! @Steelers ball!
— NFL (@NFL) January 5, 2025
📺: #CINvsPIT on ESPN/ABC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus and ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/cHvTOzUQHe
While the Steelers had the ball with two minutes left, the Cincinnati defense — especially Trey Hendrickson, who had multiple sacks in the game — pressured the Steelers to turn the ball over on downs, securing the Bengals' win.
In order for the Bengals to make it into the playoffs, they need two teams Sunday to win. The Bengals need the New York Jets to beat the Miami Dolphins and the Kansas City Chiefs to beat the Denver Broncos.
After the win, head coach Zac Taylor said the team was able to finish the win because they believed.
In his postgame conference, Burrow said he would've liked to finish the game on offense, but he was glad to see the defense step up.
In terms of their playoff position, Burrow called it "not ideal."
"We put ourselves in this position. ... The odds are long, but we got a shot," Burrow said.
The Bengals need both the New York Jets and the Kansas City Chiefs to win Sunday against the Miami Dolphins and Denver Broncos, respectively. Both teams play in Sunday's 4:25 p.m. slot. https://t.co/z6dL9yFrWp pic.twitter.com/iYux5eLWmO
— WCPO 9 (@WCPO) January 5, 2025
Both the Chiefs and Jets play in Sunday's 4:25 p.m. slot.