The Steelers are trying to get back on the road to success

By Mitch Stacy

AP Sports Writer

CINCINNATI – The Pittsburgh Steelers had rattled off five straight wins and clinched the AFC North race before giving up one of them to the lowly Browns on a snowy Thursday night in Cleveland.

The Steelers have a chance to get back on track on Sunday against the reeling Bengals (4-7), whose own playoff hopes are fading.

“It’s a huge game – every game from now on, especially because it’s an AFC North game, the Bengals, one of our rivals,” said Steelers linebacker Alex Highsmith, who hopes to play after the missed the last two games with an ankle injury. “It’s our first game against them this year, but to bounce back from a loss will be huge for us.”

Pittsburgh (8-3) is still in first place in the division by half a game over the Baltimore Ravens, who the Steelers face again on the Saturday before Christmas. The Steelers beat Baltimore 18-16 on Nov. 17, a week before their loss in Cleveland.

For the Bengals, a loss to Pittsburgh on Sunday will all but end their chances of returning to the playoffs for the first time since 2022. Cincinnati has blown its lead and has struggled to close out close games, losing three of its last four games.

“It’s football in December,” Cincinnati coach Zac Taylor said. “It means something here. Regardless of our current record, you need to play your best football in December. We’re going to need that from our boys now more than ever. And they understand that.”

Frustration buildup

The Bengals’ 4-7 record belies the fact that some of their players have NFL-best stats.

Entering Week 13, quarterback Joe Burrow is among the league’s leaders in completions (274), passing yards (3,028) and touchdowns (27). Burrow has expressed frustration in recent weeks with the team’s inability to shut down opponents.

Star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase leads the NFL in receiving yards (1,056), yards after catch (481) and touchdowns (12) in Week 13. Edge rusher Trey Hendrickson leads the league with 11 1/2 sacks.

QB tandem

The Steelers have made some noise recently with Justin Fields replacing Russell Wilson in certain game situations, with mixed results.

Fields helped secure the victory over Baltimore two weeks ago by rushing for an 8-yard gain on Pittsburgh’s final drive. Fields was also behind center on Pittsburgh’s second-to-last possession in Cleveland and threw an incomplete down the sideline on third down – his first pass in more than a month – that gave the ball back to the Browns, who then drove in for the game-winner.

Kicking suffering

Bengals kicker Evan McPherson, nicknamed “Money Mac” for his dependability in his first three seasons, is in dire straits and tried to figure it out during the bye week.

McPherson missed two field goals in the final eight minutes that would have given the Bengals the lead in a 34-27 loss to the Chargers on Nov. 17. This season he has made 15 of 21 field goal attempts, a rate of 71.4%. which is at the bottom of the league. He is 3 of 5 on attempts from 40 to 50 yards and 3 of 7 from beyond 50 yards.

“Hard Knocks” life

The AFC North gets the “Hard Knocks” treatment this season in a unique production that focuses on all four teams in the division rather than just one.

This includes the Steelers, who have avoided being featured in the documentary institution since their inception in 2001. Camera crews arrived in Pittsburgh on Halloween to begin shooting footage for the series, and coach Mike Tomlin treats their presence the same way he treats almost everything else: as a competition.

“To be completely honest, for me it’s something to conquer,” the NFL’s longest-tenured coach said. “We have to deal with it better than the other three teams. That’s how I see a lot of things coming my way, especially when other people have to do with it.”

The first episode of “Hard Knocks: In Season” premieres on Tuesday evening.