PITTSBURGH — If they need a quick fix for their offense, the Pittsburgh Steelers have a simple solution — call the Cincinnati Bengals.
The Bengals always seem to serve as the panacea for the Steelers, and it was no different Sunday when Mike McCarthy’s offense finally came alive in a back-and-forth 30-27 victory at Acrisure Stadium.
It was the third game in a row and fourth time in the past five that the Steelers scored at least 30 points against the Bengals.
The Steelers’ offense was almost unrecognizable. They scored on their first three possessions and four of their first five to take a 24-20 lead in the third quarter. That after managing just one touchdown in the first two games.
After holding opposing offenses to 13 points in the first two games, the defense had trouble slowing Joe Burrow and the Bengals. But that unit made the game-sealing play when Derrick Harmon sacked Burrow and forced a fumble that was recovered by Sebastian Joseph-Day with 44 seconds left in the game.
Aaron Rodgers passed for 292 yards and three touchdowns and out-dueled Burrow, who passed for 281 yards and three touchdowns.
Running back Jaylen Warren looked more like Bijan Robinson, gaining 176 scrimmage yards, including 127 rushing. And that doesn’t include an 87-yard run that was negated by a holding penalty on DK Metcalf.
The Steelers’ offense got off to a strong start — for once. They scored touchdowns on their first two possessions, marking the first time in 98 games the offense managed more than 10 points in the first quarter. They added a 44-yard field goal on their third possession.
Unlike the first two games, when they converted just 5 of 25 third-down chances, the Steelers converted their first three on Sunday and four of five before halftime.
It was Rodgers who provided the spark for the Steelers’ offense. He completed 12 of 20 passes for 190 yards in the first half and started the offensive show with a 38-yard touchdown to Roman Wilson on the fourth play of the game. He followed that with a 23-yard touchdown to Ben Skowronek on the next series.