The miracle is living in Cincinnati.
So far, everything has gone well for the Bengals as they kept their playoff hopes alive with their 19-17 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday evening.
The Bengals offense didn’t get many big splashes aside from an early touchdown to Ja’Marr Chase, but for once it was the defense that was on edge throughout the game. In fact, the Bengals had jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the first quarter, but only scored four field goals the rest of the way.
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The Cincinnati Bengals recover a Steelers fumble in the second quarter of the NFL Week 18 game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh on Saturday, January 4, 2025. (Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
After the Steelers got a touchdown of their own in the second quarter, both offenses hung around for a while – Cincy added a field goal just before the half was over, and they added two more on each of their first two drives of the second half to take charge. 19-7 early in the final quarter.
But the Steelers offense finally got going, as Russell Wilson led a nine-play, 65-yard touchdown drive that ended in Pat Freiermuth finding the end zone, making it a five-point game.
The Steelers, with 5:24 left in the game, went three-and-out and punted the ball away. However, the ball was muffed by the Bengals and recovered by Pittsburgh on the opposite 38, giving them life again. But they were unable to take advantage, and on 4th-and-18 they had to settle for a 54-yard field goal behind them, 19-17 with 2:39 to go.
Cincinnati Bengals Trey Hendrickson (91) sacks Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson (3) in the first quarter of the NFL Week 18 game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh on Saturday, January 4, 2025. (Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
The Steelers managed a three-and-out and got the ball within the two-minute warning, needing a field goal to win. On a third down, Wilson spotted an open George Pickens to get into field goal range, but the pass went through his hands and continued his rough night of drops (he finished with one catch for five yards). On fourth down, Freiermuth was unable to force a pass, and the Bengals knelt out the clock to earn the win.
Now the Bengals make the playoffs as both Denver Broncos draw or lose to the Kansas City Chiefs, and the Miami Dolphins lose to the New York Jets.
The Steelers are still in fifth place, but would drop to sixth if the Los Angeles Chargers win on Sunday.
Burrow made another case for a longshot MVP nod, going 37-for-46 for 277 yards and a touchdown — Chase made 10 receptions for 96 yards and the score in the first quarter.
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Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) is pulled back to his feet after being sacked in the second quarter of the Week 18 NFL game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh on Saturday, January 4, 2025. (Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Wilson went 17-for-31 for 148 yards, but his weapons didn’t do him much good. Freiermuth led the way with eight catches (for 85 yards), but the next closest was Najee Harris with four.
The best part is that the Bengals will be aligned with NFL RedZone on Sunday to become the third AFC North team to make the playoffs.
