The Pittsburgh Steelers look to continue their improbable season atop the AFC North when they visit the disappointing Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday afternoon.
The Steelers (8-3) saw their five-game winning streak come to an end last time out, suffering a 24-19 loss to the Cleveland Browns on Nov. 21 in a game that featured a second-half snowstorm.
Pittsburgh rallied from an 18-6 deficit to take a 19-18 lead with 6:15 to go in the fourth quarter before the Browns scored what ended up being the game-winning points in the final minute.
After the Steelers kicked a 15-yard punt following a three-and-out, their defense went on to allow Cleveland to convert on fourth-and-3, leading to Nick Chubb’s 2-yard touchdown run with 57 seconds remaining in the contest.
“We just didn’t make enough of those critical plays in those moments,” Pittsburgh defensive tackle Cameron Heyward said. “We’ve stepped up in those critical moments. But on the flip side, those three losses we’ve had, we haven’t had those moments. We’re trying to change that where, no matter what team, we gotta have those winning moments.”
All three of the Steelers’ losses this season have come against teams that currently have a losing record. Pittsburgh also fell to the Dallas Cowboys and Indianapolis Colts.
Still, the Steelers currently lead the AFC North, but the Baltimore Ravens (8-4) are right on their tail. It’s a tight race in the division that Cincinnati (4-7) has slipped out of.
Even though the Bengals have been in a rut — with three losses in their past four games — Cincinnati coach Zac Taylor doesn’t want his team to just throw in the towel.
“This is December football,” Taylor said. “This is where it means something. Regardless (of) what our record is right now, you need to play your best football in December, and now, more than ever, we’re going to need that from our guys, and they understand that. They subscribe to it, and we just keep … moving forward from here.”
The Bengals were on their bye last week, but before that, they were on the wrong end of a 34-27 decision against the Los Angeles Chargers on Nov. 17. Like Pittsburgh, Cincinnati came back from a sizable deficit only to lose.
Joe Burrow threw three second-half touchdown passes against Los Angeles as the Bengals climbed out of a 27-6 hole, but Chargers running back J.K. Dobbins found the end zone from 29 yards out with 18 seconds left in regulation to break a 27-27 tie.
Burrow went 28-for-50 passing for 356 yards and the three TDs.
“I think we’re playing a really good team,” Heyward said of Cincinnati. “The roster is very good. And you look at their losses, they come down to those critical moments.”
Making things harder for the Steelers could be the absence of linebacker Alex Highsmith, who did not practice on Wednesday because of an ankle injury.
For the Bengals, left tackle Orlando Brown, who has missed the past three games with a leg injury, was a limited participant on Wednesday. Defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins missed practice with an illness and starting linebacker Logan Wilson (knee) also did not practice. Burrow (wrist) was a full participant.
