Bengals: I still don't believe
October 17, 2025
Bengals 33 Steelers 31
I don’t believe it. I don’t. I really don't.
Trailing 31-30 with 2:15 left, Joe Flacco engineered a game-winning drive capped by Evan McPherson’s 36-yard FG with :07 left.
Aaron Rodgers had found TE Pat Freiermuth for a 68-yard busted coverage go-ahead TD strike with 2:21 remaining.
Season saved, at least for the moment. The Bengals snapped a four game skid and pulled within a game and a half of Pittsburg in the AFC North.
On the game-winning drive, Tee Higgins hauled in a 28-yard pass w/ 1:47 left. Instead of scoring, he slid down at the 7-yard line, forcing the Steelers to burn a timeout, and keeping Rodgers from getting the ball back.
Joe Flacco fired three TD’s. Ja’Marr Chase reeled in 16 catches on 23 targets for 161 yards and a TD. The OL blew open holes for 142 rushing yards.
Trailing 10-0 on the 2nd, the Bengals scored 17 consecutive points to lead 17-10 at half. The lead grew to 20-10 in the 3rd. But the Steelers sliced it to 27-24 w/ 11:03 left in the game. An Evan McPherson FG made it 30-24 w/ 6:58 left.
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Offense
Flacco: 31-47-342, 3 TD, 2 sacks, 0 INT. TD Chase, Higgins, Fant. Scampered 12 yards on 2nd & 10 zone read with 4:30 left.
Rushing: 23-142 (6.1).. Half 9-97 (10.88) Averaging 56.7 coming in.
Brown: 11-108. 1st career 100-yard game. 27, 37 yard runs. Had been only team w/o run of at least 15.
Higgins: 6-96, 29-yard catch/turbo run TD
Fant: TD and 25-yarder
17 1st half points. 9 points in the previous four games. Snapped streak four straight games w/o 1st half TD.
Yoshi: Drop, false start, 37 yarder
Guards: Dalton Risner LG, Jalen Rivers RG
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Defense
Trailing 30-24, the Steelers got the ball w/ 2:46 left on their own 41. Rodger’s went to work. The Bengals had forced a three and out with 5:16 remaining.
2 takeaways….but gobs of missed tackles…and zero pressure w/o Trey.
Battle INT turned into points by O.
Turner another big game: Rip away INT at end of the half thwarted points. Stone big stick. Left w/ cramping, missed couple series.
Allowed 3rd & 18 TE TD to cut to 20-17 in 3rd.
Allowed opening drive TD. 2 for 2 3rd down. DJ Turner beaten on 3rd & 11//39 yards. Rodger’s 8+ second scramble for TD pass.
CTB: Inactive. Healthy scratch.
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Special Teams
McPherson 49, 23, 45, 36 yard FG
Allowed 17 yard return at 3:00 mark.
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Note: Joe Burrow was on sidelines in walking boot