CINCINNATI (93.7 The Fan) – Steelers scored more in the first half of this matchup than they scored in 15 entire games last season. A lot of scoring, a big non-call on an interception return, a huge game from Russell Wilson and TJ Watt and Nick Herbig make huge impacts. Here are the BIG plays from the Steelers 44-38 win Sunday.
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1st quarter
· TD, 3rd and 3, it appeared Cam Taylor-Britt may have pushed wide receiver George Pickens down and intercepts pass from Russell Wilson and returns it untouched for 51 yards, 7-0.
· After play, Mike Tomlin embraces Pickens with his arm around his head pulling him in and talks to him for about 10 seconds
· 3rd and 3 Bengals crowd going, Wilson finds Najee Harris wide open in the middle of the field, after some hard running, an 25-yard gain
· TD, Wilson quick WR screen to Pickens, uses speed, makes a man miss and in for a 17-yard score (7 plays, 70 yards, 4:08), 7-7
· TD, three straight runs by Chase Brown 13 yards, 40 yards (blew by Patrick Queen and Joey Porter, Junior and untouched until the 2-yard-line) and 1 yard for the score (6 plays, 75 yards, 2:40), 14-7 Cincy
· Wilson finds Pickens for 21 yards on 3rd and 8, after he is tackled Pickens is called for an unsportsmanlike taunting penalty negating 15 yards of the play
2nd quarter
· TD, after absorbing a hard hit on 1st Steelers play, Calvin Austin holds on to a beautifully thrown ball by Wilson for 23-yard touchdown on 1st play of second quarter (10 plays, 70 yards, 5:05), 14-14
· TD, helped by a pair of penalties on Joey Porter, Junior (the last in the end zone), Joe Burrow elusive in the pocket to find JaMarr Chase for 4-yards (9 plays, 70 yards, 5:04), 21-14
· TD, 2 penalties on Cincinnati, facemask and an unnecessary roughness penalty on former Steeler Mike Hilton, help the Steelers get to the Bengals 10, Harris on a pick winds through the middle of the Cincy defense for 10-yard score (5 plays, 68 yards, 2:32), 21-21
· Cincy starting to drive again, TJ Watt strip sacks Burrow, recovered by Preston Smith at the Steelers 39-yard line.
· FG, Wilson screen to Jaylen Warren for 29 yards, setting up Chris Boswell from 50 yards (5 plays, 29 yards, 1:05), 24-21 Steelers
· On 3rd and 1 from their own 35, Burrow pressured by Smith throws it away, then Bengals called for false start when it appeared Steelers fumbled on 4th and 1, had to punt
· FG, Steelers methodically move down the field, questionable why Tomlin burned 11 seconds without using time out for another play, Boswell hit 34-yarder (8 plays, 65 yards, 1:56), 27-21
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3rd quarter
· Perfect pass by Wilson on the right sideline for 36 yards to Pickens, he’s called again for an unsportsmanlike penalty, but not ejected (Steelers would have been 1st and 10 from the 13-yard line)
· Boswell’s 42-yard FG attempt blocked by Joe Ossai (before the failed 3rd down opportunity Steelers burned a time out)
· 1st it was Burrow scrambling in the pocket to find Tanner Hudson for 7 yards on 3rd and 6, then putting it between 4 Steelers to Higgins on 3rd and 21 for 31 yards, then moving again in the pocket to Mike Gesicki for 20 yards to get into FG range
· FG, Good coverage helped joint sack by Watt and Keeanu Benton on Burrow to hold to an Evan McPherson 38-yard field goal (12 plays, 48 yards, 7:35), 27-24
· Harris with a 20-yard run and Wilson hooks up with Ben Skowronek (in for the injured Austin-head injury) for 22 yards to get the ball to the Bengals 30
· TD, it was Wilson scrambling in the pocket this time, finding Pat Freiermuth in the slot for a 25-yard score (6 plays, 80 yards, 3:31), 34-24
4th quarter
· Burrow pass tipped by Cam Heyward at the line, tipped by Higgins and intercepted by Donte Jackson, shoestring tackle by Higgins prevented Pick 6—Steelers get back at their own 47-yard line and 3-and-out
· TD, pass interference by Porter in the end zone gave the Bengals the ball at the Steelers 1-yard line, on 2nd down Burrow hits Higgins for touchdown (7 plays, 70 yards, 2:27), 41-31
· Facing a 3rd and 9 and a chance for the Bengals to get it back with over 6 minutes to play, Wilson finds Van Jefferson in the seam for 43 yards.
· FG, Boswell 31 yards (11 plays, 72 yards, 4:46), 44-31
· TD, Burrow 48 yards to Chase set up 3-yard touchdown to Jose Iosivas (5 plays, 64 yards, 1:14), 44-38
Justin Fields ends the game with a 7-yard run on 3rd and 4 with 1:54 to play