Steelers in control in win over Bengals

The Steelers remain in control in the AFC North with a solid 29-14 win over the Bengals at Heinz Field. The win improves the Steelers record to 5-2, with a 3-0 record in the AFC North. A swarming defense rattled Andy Dalton in the second half with two interceptions and four sacks. The offense came out on fire, and never took their foot off the gas as Le’Veon Bell finished with 35 carries for 134 yards. Chris Boswell hit five field goals and a special teams’ play that was truly special on a fake punt turned into a 44-yard pass completion, all which added to the win. "We won, and won definitively today," said Coach Mike Tomlin. "We did what was necessary to win."The Steelers got the ball to start the game and marched right down the field. Ben Roethlisberger was three-for-three on the drive for 46 yards, including a 23-yard completion to Le’Veon Bell and a 16-yard completion to Antonio Brown. Bell also carried the ball five times for 27 yards. The nine-play, 75-yard drive was capped by a seven-yard touchdown pass to Brown, giving the Steelers an early 7-0 lead with 9:25 to play in the first quarter. The defense continued to dominant on opening drives, and for the seventh time this season held their opponent scoreless on their first drive of the game. The Bengals were able to convert a few first downs, with Andy Dalton hitting A.J. Green, but on a key third-and-nine Mike Hilton and Ryan Shazier combined to hold Tyler Kroft to just a six-yard reception. After holding the Steelers to a three-and-out, the Bengals offense clicked when Joe Mixon broke free for a 25-yard gain to the Steelers 28-yard line. Dalton moved the chains when he hit Green for a 16-yard gain to the seven-yard line. Anthony Chickillo tipped a pass away from C.J. Uzomah, and Javon Hargrave held Mixon to just a one-yard gain on the ensuing play. On third-and-goal, though, Dalton hit Brandon LaFell for a six-yard touchdown to tie the game, 7-7, with 10 seconds to play in the first quarter.The Steelers came storming right back. Roethlisberger hit Eli Rogers for a 10-yard gain, James Conner took it for five yards, and then Vance McDonald pulled in a 28-yard reception to the 31-yard line. Roethlisberger put the bow on the drive when he hit a wide open JuJu Smith-Schuster in stride for a 31-yard touchdown, reclaiming the lead, 14-7. The back-and-forth continued on the next drive when the Bengals tied it, 14-14, on a one-yard touchdown pass from Dalton to LaFell, his second of the day. Dalton hit Alex Erickson for a 22-yard gain, LaFell for nine yards, and Mixon for eight yards on the drive. The touchdown pass came on fourth-and-goal from the one-yard line.Bell continued to roll for the offense, with an entire highlight reel all in one play. Bell caught the ball short over the middle, broke tackles, pulled out a vicious stiff arm, and stayed alive until he was pushed out of bounds for a 42-yard reception at the Bengals 17-yard line. The Steelers weren’t able to punch it into the end zone on the drive, but Boswell extended the lead, 17-14, with his 22-yard field goal. "That was one of my better stiff arms of my life," said Bell. The defense forced the Bengals to go three-and-out, and Roethlisberger went to work with 1:28 to play and one timeout. Roethlisberger hit Brown on the sideline for a 23-yard gain, and went to Smith-Schuster for eight yards. Roethlisberger found McDonald over the middle for nine yards, and on the next play the Bengals were flagged for 12-men on the field. Roethlisberger went deep to Brown, drawing a pass interference call on Dre Kirkpatrick, a 34-yard penalty that gave the Steelers the ball at the five-yard line with 16 ticks remaining in the half. Roethlisberger’s pass went off McDonald’s fingertips, and on second down Bell was stopped for a one-yard loss. With only three seconds to play Boswell hit his second field goal of the day, a 24-yarder, to send the Steelers into halftime ahead, 20-14. The Bengals got the ball to start the half, but the defense forced a three-and-out, creating an opportunity to extend the lead. Bell had 32 yards on the drive, and Roethlisberger hit Brown for 19 yards. But on third-and-1 from the Bengals 19-yard line, Michael Johnson stopped Bell for a four-yard loss. Boswell came on for his third field goal of the game, a 41-yarder and 23-14 lead.Joe Haden, who earlier this week said, ‘I am not making splash plays yet,’ did just that on the Bengals next drive. Haden intercepted Dalton at the Bengals 41-yard line, giving the ball right back to the offense. The Steelers made it count when Boswell hit on a 49-yard field goal for a 26-14 lead. Another big defensive play gave the Steelers the ball right back. William Gay picked off Dalton at the Steelers 42-yard line, killing another Bengals drive. This one, though, didn’t convert into any points as the Steelers came up short on fourth-and-one, turning the ball over on downs. The next one to step up for the defense was T.J. Watt, who sacked Dalton on third down, forcing a three-and-out. Another Bengals drive…another defensive domination. Fired up after Renegade blasted through Heinz Field, the defense came up with two more sacks of Dalton, first by Tyson Alualu, and Bud Dupree followed on third down, forcing a punt. The Steelers pulled a trick out of their bag on their next drive. On fourth down Jordan Berry came on or the punt, but the ball was snapped to Robert Golden who completed a 44-yard pass to Darrius Heyward-Bey to the Bengals 16-yard line. Boswell capped the drive with his fifth field goal of the day, further extending the lead to 29-14. A detailed look at today’s scoring: First Quarter: Steelers 7, Bengals 0 Scoring Summary: Ben Roethlisberger 7-yard touchdown pass to Antonio Brown. Scoring Play: 9-75-5:35 First Quarter: Steelers 7, Bengals 7 Scoring Summary: Andy Dalton six-yard pass to Brandon LaFell. Scoring Play: 8-53-3:34Second Quarter: Steelers 14, Bengals 7 Scoring Summary: Ben Roethlisberger 31-yard pass to JuJu Smith-Schuster. Scoring Play: 5-75-2:18 Second Quarter: Steelers 14, Bengals 14 Scoring: Andy Dalton one-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Kroft Scoring Play: 12-75-5:40 Second Quarter: Steelers 17, Bengals 14 Scoring Summary: Chris Boswell 22-yard field goal. Scoring Play: 10-75-5:22 Second Quarter: Steelers 20, Bengals 14 Scoring Summary: Chris Boswell 24-yard field goal. Scoring Play: 7-71-1:28 Third Quarter: Steelers 23, Bengals 14 Scoring Summary: Chris Boswell 41-yard field goal. Scoring Play: 11-54-5:57 Third Quarter: Steelers 23, Bengals 14 Scoring Summary: Chris Boswell 41-yard field goal. Scoring Play: 11-54-5:57 Third Quarter: Steelers 26, Bengals 14 Scoring Summary: Chris Boswell 49-yard field goal. Scoring Play: 4-9-1:20 Fourth Quarter: Steelers 29, Bengals 14 Scoring Summary: Chris Boswell 25-yard field goal. Scoring Play: 10-70-4:06

Postgame Takes

Steelers in control in win over Bengals