Steelers improve to 7-4 with Week 12 win over Bengals

The Pittsburgh Steelers have officially improved to 7-4 with a Week 12 win over the 2023 Cincinnati Bengals . Heading into Week 12, there were plenty of questions about what to expect from this Pittsburgh offense in the post-Matt Canada era, and this team made it clear out of the gate that they’re raising the bar.

Though the Steelers didn’t post any points in the first quarter, fans could hold onto one note — the offense executed (almost) perfectly. Pickett completed 6-of-7 passes for 66 passing yards. There were several chunk gains over the middle to Pat Freiermuth, of all people, who was averaging just 12 receiving yards per game in 2023 heading into this season. The offense showed fluidity for what seemed like the first time all season. The chemistry was palpable.

Despite some of the rhythm on offense early on in that first quarter, some bad luck eventually reared its head. After HC Mike Tomlin failed to challenge what likely would have been called a touchdown, RB Jaylen Warren had the first lost fumble of his career — just the ninth giveaway for the Steelers all season long. The Bengals recovered and returned the ball 28 yards, though luckily the defense was able to hold Cincy to a punt. Crisis averted.

Heading into the half, the Steelers were down 3-7, but the good news for Steelers fans is that it wasn’t for a lack of ball movement. They had 200 total yards in the first half — the first time the Steelers offense has achieved that feat to this point in the season, even if it did amount to just three points.

The Bengals received the opening kickoff coming out of the half, and things were looking bleak for Pittsburgh immediately, marching 57 yards down the field before... BOOM... safety Trenton Thompson comes up with an interception, returned for six yards to the Steelers’ 21-yard line.

Trenton Thompson with the INT

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— Pittsburgh Steelers November 26, 2023 The Steelers scored their first touchdown of the game on their first offensive possession of the half to follow the INT, executing a 79-yard drive ending with a five-yard touchdown run from Najee Harris, his fourth of the season. The Steelers go up 10-7.

From that point on, the Steelers held the Bengals to two punts and a field goal with a 33-yard kick from Chris Boswell in between. The Steelers win 16-10 over the Bengals on the road in Cincinnati, improving to 7-4 with just a single divisional loss — remaining in play for an AFC North title in what remains one of the league’s closest divisions.

In their first game without Matt Canada, the offense surpassed 400 net yards , breaking the 58-game streak in the regular season with fewer than 400 yards that they’ve held dating back to Week 2 of the 2020 season.