Cincinnati Bengals fall to Pittsburgh Steelers 44-38, dwindle playoff hopes with high-scoring loss

CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Bengals fell to the Pittsburgh Steelers 44-38 on Sunday.

Joe Burrow and company went into Paycor Stadium knowing they needed a win — they left with practically zero semblance of playoff hopes.

Cincinnati started off the game with some sparks. After going three-and-out on their opening drive, Cincinnati corner Cam Taylor-Britt picked off Pittsburgh quarterback Russell Wilson in a pass intended for wide receiver George Pickens. Taylor-Britt ran the ball back for a 49-yard pick-six.

In what began a shootout of a first half, Wilson — who threw 28-of-38 for 414 yards and three touchdowns — and Pickens returned the favor on their next drive, connecting for a 17-yard touchdown pass.

Cincinnati then began to focus on the run game, with running back Chase Brown breaking away for a 41-yard rush that was stopped just short of the goal line. On the next play, he powered through into the end zone on a 1-yard run for Cincinnati's second touchdown.

To start off the second quarter, Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson went deep for a 23-yard touchdown pass to Calvin Austin. Austin was later ruled out of the game for a head injury after taking multiple hard hits from the Bengals defense.

As the Bengals powered back down the field on the next drive, it seemed like Burrow — who threw 28-of-38 and 309 yards for three touchdowns — was set to get sacked, but the QB scrambled and found his No. 1 guy, Ja'Marr Chase, in a jumping pass. The 4-yard touchdown was Chase's 13th of the season.

Pittsburgh then kicked their run game into high gear, securing a 10-yard rushing touchdown from Najee Harris.

As Cincinnati went to extend their lead, Pittsburgh's star linebacker, TJ Watt, strip-sacked Burrow. The ball was then recovered by Pittsburgh linebacker Preston Smith. Pittsburgh settled for a 50-yard field goal from Chris Boswell after the turnover.

The Steelers attempted to work their way down the field to start the second half, but they had to settle for a field goal attempt. As kicker Chris Boswell went to take the 42-yard kick, Bengals defensive end Joseph Ossai blocked it.

On Pittsburgh's next drive, Wilson scrambled in the pocket and found another target for the day, Pat Freiermuth, for a 25-yard touchdown.

As Pittsburgh began pulling away, Cincinnati had its second turnover of the day. Burrow was intending to pass to Tee Higgins, who tipped the ball. The ball was caught by Steelers corner Donte Jackson.

To make matters worse, the Steelers forced another turnover, this time leading to a touchdown return. Pittsburgh linebacker Nick Herbig sacked Burrow, who fumbled the ball, which was then recovered by Preston Wilson for a 21-yard touchdown return.

Despite the Steelers pulling away, Cincinnati kept fighting, lessening Pittsburgh's lead with a 1-yard touchdown to Higgins.

Cincinnati's offense attempted a comeback, including a 50-yard gain from Ja'Marr Chase that was followed by an Andrei Iosivas touchdown.

Nonetheless, there wasn't enough time on the clock for the Bengals.

Cincinnati had zero timeouts left, and the Steelers secured the on-side kick to run out the clock and secure the game.

After the game, head coach Zac Taylor said Pittsburgh won the "turnover game."

Despite that, he acknowledged how the team has lost four games despite scoring 30 or more points.

"We haven't done enough to earn the win," Taylor said. "It's as simple as that."

Burrow agreed with Taylor's sentiment in his post-game press conference.

The quarterback also said he believes the losses have been a result of something different every week, saying it's "little things here and there."

"I would say we need to change a lot of things this year," Burrow said. "We haven't been good enough. ... We gotta do a better job."

Cincinnati will next face the Dallas Cowboys for Monday Night Football on Dec. 9.