CINCINNATI (AP) — The Bengals’ confidence and playoff hopes came crashing down in Pittsburgh two days before Christmas.
Cincinnati had won three straight games to sneak back into the playoff picture. But the Bengals badly needed to beat the Steelers on Saturday to stay there. Instead, Cincinnati (8-7) took a thorough beating by one of the worst offenses in the league.
Jake Browning, making his fifth start in place of the injured Joe Burrow, threw three interceptions on ill-advised passes. And the Steelers exploited the Bengals’ other weaknesses. Cincinnati couldn’t run the ball — What else is new? — and the defense couldn’t contain Mason Rudolph, Pittsburgh’s third-string quarterback.
The Steelers (8-7) hadn’t managed to score 24 points in a game since Oct. 22.
The Bengals’ collapse is hard to explain. With Rudolph at quarterback, practice-squad call-ups at linebacker and safety, and general in-house turmoil, the Steelers seemed beatable.
“I don’t have an answer for you,” Cincinnati defensive end Sam Hubbard said.
“We just have to continue to pick up the pieces and find a way to be better next week,” coach Zac Taylor said.
The Bengals are on the verge of missing the playoffs after winning the AFC North the last two years. They play at Kansas City on New Year’s Eve.
“We don’t overreact. We’ve done some really good things the last couple weeks,” Taylor said. “(Saturday) wasn’t a great experience for us. We know what the narrative will be going forward, and so we’ll just own up to it, be accountable to it and be ready to put our best foot forward at Kansas City.”
