Pittsburgh, PA— Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers answered a disappointing loss with the kind of complete performance they had been searching for.
Rodgers threw for 292 yards and three touchdowns, Jaylen Warren powered his way to 176 total yards, and Pittsburgh’s defense came through with the decisive play as the Steelers edged the Cincinnati Bengals 30-27 Sunday before 66,816 at Acrisure Stadium.
The victory improved Pittsburgh to 2-1 and provided an immediate response to last week’s ugly loss to New England.
It also showed what the Steelers can look like when their offense establishes the running game, the offensive line controls the line of scrimmage and the defense creates pressure when it matters most.
“Resilience is critical to any type of success, whether it’s playing one division game or overcoming a loss last week,” Pittsburgh coach Mike McCarthy said.
Rodgers Finds His Rhythm
McCarthy’s message to his offense before kickoff was simple: “Cut it loose.”
For Rodgers, it was hardly a revolutionary instruction.
“I feel like he says that every week,” Rodgers said with a laugh. “It’s not like, ‘Hey, this week .”
The results, however, were noticeably different.
After struggling against the Patriots, the 42-year-old quarterback looked much more comfortable against Cincinnati. Rodgers completed 19 of 34 passes and repeatedly found ways to move the football against a Bengals defense that had helped Cincinnati begin the season with high expectations.
Rodgers connected with nine different receivers and saved one of his biggest plays for the game’s final minutes.
With Pittsburgh needing to move into position for a potential winning score, Rodgers found tight end Darnell Washington for a 47-yard catch-and-run. The big play helped set up Chris Boswell’s 33-yard field goal with 2:18 remaining.
Boswell’s kick gave Pittsburgh a 30-27 advantage and left Cincinnati with one final opportunity.
Warren Sets the Tone
The Steelers’ offensive turnaround began with their commitment to the ground game.
Warren, who had been limited during the week because of a shoulder injury, repeatedly attacked the Bengals between the tackles. Pittsburgh’s offensive line stayed engaged with Cincinnati’s defensive front and consistently created openings for Warren to reach the second level.
Once he got there, Warren made the Bengals pay.
He finished with 127 rushing yards and 49 receiving yards for 176 total yards. His performance provided Pittsburgh with the physical presence it had been missing during the opening weeks of the season.
Warren nearly added an even bigger number to his totals late in the game when he broke free for a run inside the Cincinnati 10-yard line, only to trip over his own feet.
His shoulder had been sore enough the previous day that McCarthy advised Rodgers during the walkthrough not to target Warren with passes.
By Sunday, there was little sign of the injury affecting Warren’s production.
Steelers Win the Battle Up Front
Pittsburgh’s offensive line also delivered a much-needed bounce-back performance.
Rookie first-round pick Max Iheanachor stepped in at right tackle, adding a physical presence to a unit that had struggled to protect Rodgers in the loss to New England.
The Steelers finished with 411 total yards and repeatedly extended drives by leaning on Warren and allowing Rodgers time to operate from the pocket.
Even when an 80-plus-yard Warren run was erased by a holding penalty on DK Metcalf, Pittsburgh did not lose its composure.
Rodgers eventually guided the Steelers on a 77-yard drive that ended with Boswell’s winning field goal.
Defense Delivers When It Matters Most
Cincinnati’s offense produced plenty of problems for Pittsburgh throughout the afternoon.
Joe Burrow connected with Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, and the Bengals repeatedly moved the ball through the air.
But Pittsburgh’s defense became increasingly disruptive as the game moved into the second half.
The Steelers began getting pressure directly in Burrow’s face, forcing him to move from his preferred spot and rush throws that he normally has the time and space to complete.
The Bengals were driving for a potential game-tying or winning score in the final minute when defensive lineman Derrick Harmon made the play Pittsburgh desperately needed.
Harmon crashed into Burrow as the quarterback attempted to make something happen near the edge of Evan McPherson’s field-goal range.
The contact jarred the ball loose, and Sebastian Joseph-Day recovered the fumble to end Cincinnati’s final threat.
“Trying to take a shot at the end zone, trying not to take the sack, trying to get the ball out, (and I) fumbled it,” Burrow said.
It was Pittsburgh’s only sack of the afternoon, but it came at the perfect moment.
Bengals Leave Opportunities on the Field
Cincinnati had several chances to take control but repeatedly failed to capitalize.
A roughing-the-punter penalty in the third quarter extended a Pittsburgh possession that eventually ended with Rodgers finding DK Metcalf for a touchdown.
Later, Ke’Shawn Williams muffed a punt deep in Bengals territory. Pittsburgh converted the mistake into Boswell’s second field goal, tying the game at 27 with 8:45 remaining.
The Bengals also had opportunities to close out the game defensively but could not prevent Pittsburgh from putting together the late drive that produced Boswell’s winner.
“Some games, you just go get your butt kicked and there’s not much to say about it,” Cincinnati coach Zac Taylor said. “This one, we had our chances. Pittsburgh took advantage of theirs. We didn’t take advantage of ours.”
A Much-Needed Response
The Steelers entered Sunday looking to erase the memory of their performance against New England.
Rodgers was sacked four times in that game, while Pittsburgh’s offensive line struggled to create consistency.
Against Cincinnati, the offense was more balanced and explosive.
The Steelers ran the football effectively, protected Rodgers better, created explosive plays and received contributions from all three phases.
The victory also continued an impressive Pittsburgh trend: the Steelers have now won 10 of their last 12 games immediately following a loss of at least 15 points.
McCarthy had written in his notes during the week that Pittsburgh would probably need 31 points to defeat Cincinnati.
The Steelers finished one point short of that prediction.
They didn’t need it.
Boswell’s leg and the defense’s final stand were enough.
“We’ve got to play more sound football than we did today to beat a team like that,” Burrow said.
For Pittsburgh, the bigger takeaway was that the Steelers showed they can win a game in multiple ways — with Rodgers’ arm, Warren’s legs, a physical offensive line and a defense that delivered when the game was on the line.
Injuries
Bengals: Linebacker Demetrius Knight left in the first quarter. Wide receiver Colbie Young exited in the first half with a knee injury.
Steelers: Cornerback Brandin Echols was evaluated for a concussion after colliding with Williams during the botched second-half punt return.
What’s Next:
Cincinnati travels to Jacksonville next Sunday.
Pittsburgh faces a quick turnaround, visiting Cleveland for a Thursday night AFC North matchup.
