Pittsburgh Steelers (8-7) – Cincinnati Bengals (8-7): 34-11
Jake Browning (28/42, 335 yards, TD, 3 INT) puts on his best Santa costume on New Year's Eve. Unfortunately, for the Bengals, the gifts aren't for Tee Higgins and his teammates, but rather for TJ Watt and his teammates. The quarterback throws 3 interceptions, costing his team a second defeat against the Steelers who didn't ask for so much.
Approved, Mason Rudolph (17/27, 290 yards, 2 TDs) was effective, and George Pickens (4 REC, 195 yards, 2 TDs) had his best game in his young career. The two teams now have the same record in the same division, and will have to fight hard in the last two matches if they hope to see the playoffs.
Bengals out of the picture
2 is just the number of plays it took for Pittsburgh to score the first touchdown of the game. Found by Mason Rudolph, George Pickens escapes DJ Turner and Germaine Pratt, and goes to the promised land. The Bengals have the opportunity to respond. But, as in the first offensive series, this series ends without points. Worse, it ends with a reception from… Patrick Peterson in his own end zone. A first fatal interception, punished with a touchdown from Calvin Austin, following an incredible block from Jaylen Warren on poor Germaine Pratt.
A few minutes later, Jake Browning does it again, and safety Eric Rowe gains enough yards to put his team in a good position. After a good run from Mason Rudolph, the Steelers hit the nail on the head with Najee Harris (19 races, 78 yards, TD). Cincinnati can't do it, and completely misses a 4th attempt with a missed pass from Jake Browning to Tee Higgins. Unlike Pittsburgh where everything worked out for them, including an incredible reception from George Pickens enough to allow Chris Boswell to add 3 more points. This is the first time this season that the Steelers have scored 24 points in a half.
George Pickens, reference match
1 is the number of plays it took Cincinnati to score the first touchdown of the second half. We don't take the same ones, but we start again. Found by Jake Browning, Tee Higgins (5 REC, 140 yards, TD) escapes Joey Porter and Eric Rowe, and goes to the promised land. But, unlike its opponent, Pittsburgh managed to respond. After having already scored an 86-yard touchdown in the 1st period, George Pickens scored a new long-distance touchdown of 66 yards.
As the Bengals try to get back into the game, the offensive line takes a beating from the Steelers defense. Result, under pressure, Jake Browning throws another interception, then gets sacked by Myles Jack. Thanks to its defense, the Pittsburgh attack can put itself in management mode in order to offer itself some hope of snatching a place in the playoffs.
GEORGE PICKENS TOUCHDOWN AGAIN.
He can't be stopped tonight.
📺: #CINvsPIT on NBC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/yewPow3ekF pic.twitter.com/JbRic5KPmP— NFL (@NFL) December 23, 2023
