The Cincinnati Bengals suffered their first loss of the season, falling 30-27 to the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium. For anyone tracking Ohio online sports betting, this one delivered for the over bettors, while those who backed the Bengals to cover were left empty-handed. It was a rare blip on the radar in a season that has otherwise gone well for Cincinnati.
A Back and Forth Game
The Bengals defense was caught napping early, allowing a touchdown less than two minutes in. Joe Burrow answered for Cincinnati with a touchdown pass to Ja'Marr Chase, but Aaron Rodgers responded, connecting with Ben Skowronek for a score. The Bengals trimmed the deficit to 14-10 on an Evan McPherson field goal, but Chris Boswell pushed the Pittsburgh lead back to 17-10. Burrow tied things up before halftime with a touchdown throw to Tee Higgins.
McPherson gave Cincinnati its first lead of the game in the third quarter, but the advantage lasted only one drive before Rodgers found DK Metcalf for a touchdown, putting Pittsburgh back up 24-20. Burrow and the offense responded again early in the fourth quarter, hitting Mike Gesicki down the middle for the Bengals' second lead of the day. Boswell tied it back up with another field goal, and neither side could find the end zone again until Boswell delivered the dagger, a field goal that made it 30-27 Steelers with 2:08 remaining.
Burrow had one final chance to get Cincinnati into field goal range, but Derrick Harmon sacked him, and he fumbled the ball with 53 seconds left. The Bengals recovered the loose ball but couldn't move it far enough, and the clock ran out on their unbeaten season.
Defense Falters, Rodgers Rolls Back The Clock
A Bengals defense that looked sharp last week couldn't get the job done in Pittsburgh. Rodgers played like a version of himself from years past, going 19 for 34 through the air for 292 yards and three touchdowns. The ground game hurt just as much, as Jaylen Warren ran wild on Cincinnati, piling up 127 yards on 17 carries and adding three catches for 49 yards out of the backfield. It was the kind of complementary performance that gave the Bengals' defense no rest all afternoon.
Bengals Aim To Pounce Back Against Jaguars
Cincinnati doesn't get much time to dwell on the setback. Next week, the Bengals host the Jacksonville Jaguars, who are fresh off demolishing the New England Patriots. For those checking Ohio sports betting apps ahead of kickoff, early lines have Cincinnati favored by 2.5 points at home. After a game where the defense let them down, this matchup will test whether last week's performance or this week's letdown is the real version of this Bengals unit.
