That fell short when the Steelers were unable to convert a first down to get into field goal range for a potential game-winning kick that would have secured them a trip to Houston in the first round of next weekend’s AFC playoffs.
“We certainly had our opportunities to win the game, but we didn’t,” said Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. “We’ve got to own that. Not enough routine play make. Routine things routinely is a signature of high-floor football. I thought particularly on the offensive side we didn’t do enough routine things well to move the ball with fluidity, to possess it, to score, and so the game was touch and go because of that.”
Because of that, the Steelers (10-7) now must await Sunday’s game between the Chargers and Raiders in Las Vegas to find out if they will go to Houston as the No. 5 seed with a Los Angeles loss, or head to Baltimore for a third meeting this season with the Ravens should the Chargers win.
Regardless of opponent, the Steelers know they have to play better as a whole as they enter the postseason having lost four consecutive games.
“We are in a single-elimination tournament now, so we better turn our attention toward playing good football and better than we have particularly in recent weeks,” Tomlin said.
The Bengals (9-8) got the ball first to open the game and Burrow completed all 6 of his passes, including a 12-yard touchdown pass on a slant to Ja’Marr Chase to give Cincinnati a 7-0 lead.
After a Pittsburgh punt, the Bengals again moved into Steelers’ territory, but Burrow was sacked by Patrick Queen on third-and-6 and fumbled. The Bengals recovered the loose ball, but Cincinnati got a 48-yard field goal from Cade York to take a 10-0 advantage with 1:24 remaining in the first quarter.
Facing third-and-11 on the final play of the first quarter, Russell Wilson connected with Mike Williams for a 25-yard gain down the sideline.
That play seemed to jump-start the Pittsburgh…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at News…