Bengals defense steps up to keep slim playoff chances alive in season finale

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The miracle is alive in Cincinnati.

All has gone right for the Bengals so far, as they kept their playoff hopes alive with their 19-17 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday night.

The Bengals offense didn’t get many big splashes aside from an early touchdown to Ja’Marr Chase, but for once, it was the defense that stepped up throughout the game. In fact, the Bengals had gotten out to a 10-0 lead in the first quarter, but then mustered just four field goals the rest of the way.

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The Cincinnati Bengals recover a Steelers fumble in the second quarter of the NFL Week 18 game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025. (Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

After the Steelers got a touchdown of their own in the second quarter, both offenses stalled for awhile – Cincy added a field goal just before the half ended, and they added two more on each of their first two drives of the second half to lead, 19-7 early in the final quarter.

But the Steelers offense finally got going, as Russell Wilson led a nine-play, 65-yard touchdown drive that ended in Pat Freiermuth finding the end zone, making it a five-point game.

The Steelers, with 5:24 left in the game, went three-and-out and punted the ball away. However, the ball was muffed by the Bengals and recovered by Pittsburgh on the opposite 38, giving them life again. But they were unable to take advantage, and on 4th and 18, they had to settle for a 54-yard field goal to trail, 19-17 with 2:39 to go.

Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey