PITTSBURGH — Derrick Harmon forced a Joe Burrow fumble on Cincinnati’s final possession, and the Pittsburgh Steelers held on for a 30–27 victory over the Bengals on Sunday after Chris Boswell’s late go-ahead field goal.
Sebastian Joseph-Day recovered the loose ball with 44 seconds remaining at Acrisure Stadium, allowing Pittsburgh to run out the clock. The Steelers improved to 2–1 and handed Cincinnati its first defeat, leaving both teams with the same record after their opening AFC North matchup.
Aaron Rodgers completed 19 of 34 passes for 292 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Jaylen Warren rushed for 127 yards on 17 carries and caught three passes for 49 more, giving Pittsburgh 176 yards from its running back.
Boswell’s 33-yard field goal put the Steelers ahead with 2:15 left. The scoring drive survived a holding penalty that wiped out most of an 87-yard Warren run, with Rodgers finding DK Metcalf for 14 yards and Darnell Washington for 47 before Warren broke another run for 26 yards.
Cincinnati still had time to answer. Burrow moved the Bengals into Pittsburgh territory before Harmon broke through for the strip-sack, the Steelers’ first sack of the game.
Special teams had helped Pittsburgh draw even earlier in the quarter. Ben Skowronek recovered a muffed punt at Cincinnati’s 14-yard line, setting up Boswell’s 36-yard field goal for a 27–27 tie with 8:45 remaining.
Rodgers threw first-quarter touchdown passes of 38 yards to Roman Wilson and 23 yards to Skowronek. He added a six-yard scoring pass to Metcalf in the third quarter as the lead changed hands again.
Burrow finished 28 of 37 for 282 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. His scoring passes went to Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Mike Gesicki, whose 25-yard touchdown catch early in the fourth quarter had put Cincinnati ahead 27–24.
Pittsburgh outgained the Bengals 411–352 and finished with two takeaways. Both came from loose balls in the fourth quarter: the punt recovery created the tying points, and Harmon’s pressure ended Cincinnati’s last chance to extend or win the game.
Cincinnati receiver Colbie Young was ruled out with a knee injury, while safety Bryan Cook did not return after an ankle injury, according to NFL.com’s Sunday injury report.
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This page is an original Sporting Page summary. The reporting remains with Pittsburgh Steelers official game recap.
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