• Ballgame. Rodgers still has the arm for the Hail Mary, but it was knocked down. Defense gashed for 470 yards. Steelers remain winless on the road against the AFC North on Thursday Night Football. Bengals win, 33-31
• FIELD GOAL: Bengals bleed the clock down, then McPherson drills the 36-yard field goal to take the lead with just :07 remaining. Bengals, 33-31
• Higgins beats Ramsey downfield and then makes the smart decision to slide at the Pittsburgh 7. Steelers down to just one timeout. 1:39 remaining.
• Chase again. Bengals at the Pittsburgh 37.
• Two-minute warning. Flacco hits Chase for 15 yards to the Cincinnati 45. The Bengals aren't far from McPherson's range. He's got a heck of a leg, but he's also missed 2 of 3 attempts from 50-plus this season.
• TOUCHDOWN: Rodgers scrambles and hits Freiermuth downfield, who then turns upfield and runs all the way for a 68-yard score. 2:21 remaining. Steelers, 31-30
• Rodgers completes to Roman Wilson for a first down, but Broderick Jones is called for holding. A potentially game-wrecking penalty.
• Bengals punt after waiving the white flag on third-and-18. After the return by Williams, the Steelers take over at their own 42. 2:46 remaining.
• Cam Heyward busts through and sacks Flacco. Huge play that forces third-and-18 from the Cincinnati 14.
• Flacco keeps the read option and rushes 12 yards for a first down. Fooled everybody on the defense -- and the entire stadium.
• The defense hasn't taken the ball away since Watt intercepted Carson Wentz in the third quarter of the game against the Vikings. Now would be a great time to end that drought.
• On third-and-4 from their own 46, Rodgers' pass is incomplete to Freiermuth. Steelers go three and out. Mike Tomlin opts to punt. Waitman's punt is downed by James Pierre at the Cincinnati 10. 5:16 remaining.
• Another good return, this time from Williams. Steelers starting again at their own 39.
• FIELD GOAL: On third-and-13 from the Pittsburgh 27, Porter breaks up a pass intended for Chase. First stop by Porter. And it couldn't come at a better time for the Steelers. McPherson salvages the drive with a 45-yard field goal. 6:58 remaining. Bengals, 30-24
• Queen times a blitz perfectly up the middle and is tackled to the ground. Draws a holding penalty. Second-and-13 coming up from the Pittsburgh 27.
• On third-and-5 from the Pittsburgh 38, Flacco completes to Chase. Queen misses the tackle. Ball at the Pittsburgh 24 now.
• Two plays and the Bengals are at the Pittsburgh 44. Defense is getting torn to shreds.
• TOUCHDOWN: Rodgers play-action fake to Warren, who lays a great block to protect Rodgers, then Washington catches the pass from 2 yards out. Quick scoring drive at 3:54.n There's 11:03 remaining. Bengals, 27-24
• On third-and-4 from the Cincinnati 12, Rodgers hits Darnell Washington on the quick out. First-and-goal coming up from the 4.
• Two plays and the Steelers are at the Cincinnati 18.
• Warren rattles off a 37-yard gain. He's well over 100 yards now.
• TOUCHDOWN: Flacco hits Noah Fant over the middle from five yards out. Far too easy. Bengals, 27-17
• End of the third quarter. Bengals have third-and-goal coming up from the 5. Pretty critical play coming up.
• Another in-breaking route, another completion that moves the chains. Bengals have first-and-goal at the Pittsburgh 8.
• On third-and-4 from the Cincinnati 39, Slay gets beat on a deep ball by Iosivas for 38 yards. Just like that, the Bengals are at the Steelers' 24.
• TOUCHDOWN: Rodgers throws a dot to Pat Freiermuth over the middle from 19 yards out. Right on the money. Freiermuth fights through the contact to come down with it. Bengals, 20-17
• Play calling has gotten way too cute inside the 20. Steelers now face third-and-18 from the Cincinnati 19. Need touchdowns, not field goals.
• Air Roman. Ball now at the Cincinnati 11.
• Warren is off too a hot start on this drive. After a 24-yard run, the Steelers are at the Cincinnati 24.
• Gainwell brings the ensuing kick to the Pittsburgh 39. Good field position to start for the offense.
• FIELD GOAL: McPherson salvages a drive with a 23-yard field goal that takes 7:05 off the clock to start the second half. Increases the advantage to two scores. Bengals, 20-10
• Flacco sneaks on fourth-and-inches to move the chains. First-and-goal at the Pittsburgh 7.
• On third-and-7 from the Pittsburgh 15, Flacco hits Iosivas for six yards.
• Bengals are picking the Steelers apart on in-breaking routes. Bengals in the red zone.
• Slay back on the field. And immediately gets beaten by Chase to the inside. Bengals at the Pittsburgh 32.
• Darius Slay is injured after tackling Chase in the open field. Jogged off the field, but slowly.
• Boswell boots the second half kick. Bengals start at their own 32.
• There is something to the short week stuff. There just is. The Giants walloped the Eagles last week, 34-17. It's not an excuse. It's a completely different ballgame. And it's evident that Tomlin is not good at preparing for them. The numbers are the numbers.
• FIELD GOAL: Evan McPherson is good from 48 yards. Bengals storm back in the second quarter and go into the locker room with a touchdown lead at halftime. Bengals, 17-10
• Another weak DPI. This one on Porter. Bengals at the Pittsburgh 37.
• INTERCEPTION: DJ Turner rips the ball from Metcalf on a pass down the sideline and his right knee hits in bounds just in time to secure possession. Bengals take over at their own 30. This game has flipped completely on its head.
• TOUCHDOWN: Flacco hits Higgins over the middle for a 29-yard score. Nobody in the middle. In zone coverage. Bengals, 14-10
• Brown gains 37 yards on the first play after the pick. Then another DPI on Ramsey. It's all Cincinnati right now.
• INTERCEPTION: Metcalf stops running while Rodgers airs it out for him and the pass is intercepted by Jordan Battle. Momentum has swung in Cincinnati's favor. They'll take over at their own 24.
• This league is something else, man. It so obviously leans toward offense. It's genuinely hilarious. How can you tell the casual person that might be trying to get into football that the defensive player is the one who committed the penalty there?
• TOUCHDOWN: Chase pushed Jalen Ramsey off like crazy and catches it for an 8-yard score. Officials throw the flag on Ramsey. Absolutely hilarious. Steelers, 10-7
• Flacco finds Chase over the middle for a touchdown, but replay reverses the call on the field. Chase never possessed the ball.
• First-and-goal now at the Pittsburgh 8.
• Samaje Perine finds room up the middle for a first down. Bengals at the Pittsburgh 19.
• Flacco finds Chase on third-and-10. Bengals in field goal range at the Pittsburgh 30.
• Chuck Clark just killed Chase Brown. Goodness. Loss of six yards.
• FIELD GOAL: On third-and-5 from the Cincinnati 22, Rodgers scrambles and finds Gainwell, but is just short of the line to gain. The Steelers go to run the tush push and get the first down, but Mason McCormick is called for a false start. Steelers settle for a 41-yard field goal by Chris Boswell. Steelers, 10-0
• Warren makes great cutbacks to rush for an 18-yard score, but Zach Frazier is called for holding.
• End of first quarter. Steelers have third-and-3 coming up at the Cincinnati 43. Steelers, 7-0
• Um ... Rodgers has now looked 10 years younger on two different plays. One produced a touchdown, now this one a first down.
• On third-and-11 from the Pittsburgh 49, after a false start by Amarius Mims backed the Bengals up, Flacco tried to hit Andre Iosivas over the middle, but falls incomplete. After a fair catch interference penalty on PJ Jules, the Steelers take over at their own 27.
• That's a rough pass interference call on Joey Porter Jr. He got his head around and everything.
• A couple nice runs by Jaylen Warren, but the Steelers have to punt on their second possession. Corliss Waitman puts it inside the 20, Charlie Jones calls for the fair catch at the Cincinnati 17.
• Juan Thornhill makes a great break on a drag route by Ja'Marr Chase to tackle him well short of the sticks on third-and-6. Punt coming for Cincinnati.
• Flacco finds Tee Higgins in the soft spot in coverage to move the chains on third-and-16. 18-yard gain.
• Second-and-8, and Keeanu Benton and T.J. Watt get back to Joe Flacco for a sack. Benton got there first.
• Six opening drives this season: Three touchdowns, two field goals = 27 points. What a difference from last season (no opening drive touchdowns).
• TOUCHDOWN: Rodgers looks like the Rodgers of old, scrambling back and forth, then finds Jonnu Smith for 10-yard score. That's another first-drive touchdown, folks. Steelers, 7-0
• On third-and-11, Rodgers connects with DK Metcalf on a go ball downfield. 39-yard gain.
• KICKOFF: Ke'Shawn Williams takes the opening kick to the Pittsburgh 31, and we're underway.
• No captain in place of Miles Killebrew for the coin toss. Just Aaron Rodgers, Cam Heyward and T.J. Watt. The Bengals win the coin toss and defer. Steelers get the ball first.
• The Bengals are wearing their 'White Bengal' uniforms, donning white pants, white jerseys with a white-and-black striped helmet. Because the Bengals are in all white, the Steelers are in their typical home uniforms. Very weird to see in this stadium.
• Steelers' inactives: WR Calvin Austin III (shoulder), G AndrusPeat, DL LoganLee, DE DeMarvinLeal
• Bengals' inactives: DE TreyHendrickson (hip), CB CamTaylor-Britt, C MattLee, WR JermaineBurton, TE TannerHudson (concussion), DT McKinnleyJackson
THE ASYLUM
Final: Bengals 33, Steelers 31
• Who: Steelers (4-1) vs. Bengals (2-4)
• What: NFL regular season, Week 7
• When: 8:15 p.m.
• Where: Paycor Stadium
• Weather: 61°, clear, 1% rain, 4-mph wind
• TV: WTAE-TV (local only)
• Radio: Steelers Audio Network
• Streaming: Prime Video, Steelers Nation Radio
• Satellite: SiriusXM 226/826
• Boxscore: NFL.com
• Media notes: Steelers | Bengals
► FOLLOW ALONG
• Ballgame. Rodgers still has the arm for the Hail Mary, but it was knocked down. Defense gashed for 470 yards. Steelers remain winless on the road against the AFC North on Thursday Night Football. Bengals win, 33-31
• FIELD GOAL: Bengals bleed the clock down, then McPherson drills the 36-yard field goal to take the lead with just :07 remaining. Bengals, 33-31
• Higgins beats Ramsey downfield and then makes the smart decision to slide at the Pittsburgh 7. Steelers down to just one timeout. 1:39 remaining.
• Chase again. Bengals at the Pittsburgh 37.
• Two-minute warning. Flacco hits Chase for 15 yards to the Cincinnati 45. The Bengals aren't far from McPherson's range. He's got a heck of a leg, but he's also missed 2 of 3 attempts from 50-plus this season.
• TOUCHDOWN: Rodgers scrambles and hits Freiermuth downfield, who then turns upfield and runs all the way for a 68-yard score. 2:21 remaining. Steelers, 31-30
• Rodgers completes to Roman Wilson for a first down, but Broderick Jones is called for holding. A potentially game-wrecking penalty.
• Bengals punt after waiving the white flag on third-and-18. After the return by Williams, the Steelers take over at their own 42. 2:46 remaining.
• Cam Heyward busts through and sacks Flacco. Huge play that forces third-and-18 from the Cincinnati 14.
• Flacco keeps the read option and rushes 12 yards for a first down. Fooled everybody on the defense -- and the entire stadium.
• The defense hasn't taken the ball away since Watt intercepted Carson Wentz in the third quarter of the game against the Vikings. Now would be a great time to end that drought.
• On third-and-4 from their own 46, Rodgers' pass is incomplete to Freiermuth. Steelers go three and out. Mike Tomlin opts to punt. Waitman's punt is downed by James Pierre at the Cincinnati 10. 5:16 remaining.
• Another good return, this time from Williams. Steelers starting again at their own 39.
• FIELD GOAL: On third-and-13 from the Pittsburgh 27, Porter breaks up a pass intended for Chase. First stop by Porter. And it couldn't come at a better time for the Steelers. McPherson salvages the drive with a 45-yard field goal. 6:58 remaining. Bengals, 30-24
• Queen times a blitz perfectly up the middle and is tackled to the ground. Draws a holding penalty. Second-and-13 coming up from the Pittsburgh 27.
• On third-and-5 from the Pittsburgh 38, Flacco completes to Chase. Queen misses the tackle. Ball at the Pittsburgh 24 now.
• Two plays and the Bengals are at the Pittsburgh 44. Defense is getting torn to shreds.
• TOUCHDOWN: Rodgers play-action fake to Warren, who lays a great block to protect Rodgers, then Washington catches the pass from 2 yards out. Quick scoring drive at 3:54.n There's 11:03 remaining. Bengals, 27-24
• On third-and-4 from the Cincinnati 12, Rodgers hits Darnell Washington on the quick out. First-and-goal coming up from the 4.
• Two plays and the Steelers are at the Cincinnati 18.
• Warren rattles off a 37-yard gain. He's well over 100 yards now.
• TOUCHDOWN: Flacco hits Noah Fant over the middle from five yards out. Far too easy. Bengals, 27-17
• End of the third quarter. Bengals have third-and-goal coming up from the 5. Pretty critical play coming up.
• Another in-breaking route, another completion that moves the chains. Bengals have first-and-goal at the Pittsburgh 8.
• On third-and-4 from the Cincinnati 39, Slay gets beat on a deep ball by Iosivas for 38 yards. Just like that, the Bengals are at the Steelers' 24.
• TOUCHDOWN: Rodgers throws a dot to Pat Freiermuth over the middle from 19 yards out. Right on the money. Freiermuth fights through the contact to come down with it. Bengals, 20-17
• Play calling has gotten way too cute inside the 20. Steelers now face third-and-18 from the Cincinnati 19. Need touchdowns, not field goals.
• Air Roman. Ball now at the Cincinnati 11.
• Warren is off too a hot start on this drive. After a 24-yard run, the Steelers are at the Cincinnati 24.
• Gainwell brings the ensuing kick to the Pittsburgh 39. Good field position to start for the offense.
• FIELD GOAL: McPherson salvages a drive with a 23-yard field goal that takes 7:05 off the clock to start the second half. Increases the advantage to two scores. Bengals, 20-10
• Flacco sneaks on fourth-and-inches to move the chains. First-and-goal at the Pittsburgh 7.
• On third-and-7 from the Pittsburgh 15, Flacco hits Iosivas for six yards.
• Bengals are picking the Steelers apart on in-breaking routes. Bengals in the red zone.
• Slay back on the field. And immediately gets beaten by Chase to the inside. Bengals at the Pittsburgh 32.
• Darius Slay is injured after tackling Chase in the open field. Jogged off the field, but slowly.
• Boswell boots the second half kick. Bengals start at their own 32.
• There is something to the short week stuff. There just is. The Giants walloped the Eagles last week, 34-17. It's not an excuse. It's a completely different ballgame. And it's evident that Tomlin is not good at preparing for them. The numbers are the numbers.
• FIELD GOAL: Evan McPherson is good from 48 yards. Bengals storm back in the second quarter and go into the locker room with a touchdown lead at halftime. Bengals, 17-10
• Another weak DPI. This one on Porter. Bengals at the Pittsburgh 37.
• INTERCEPTION: DJ Turner rips the ball from Metcalf on a pass down the sideline and his right knee hits in bounds just in time to secure possession. Bengals take over at their own 30. This game has flipped completely on its head.
• TOUCHDOWN: Flacco hits Higgins over the middle for a 29-yard score. Nobody in the middle. In zone coverage. Bengals, 14-10
• Brown gains 37 yards on the first play after the pick. Then another DPI on Ramsey. It's all Cincinnati right now.
• INTERCEPTION: Metcalf stops running while Rodgers airs it out for him and the pass is intercepted by Jordan Battle. Momentum has swung in Cincinnati's favor. They'll take over at their own 24.
• This league is something else, man. It so obviously leans toward offense. It's genuinely hilarious. How can you tell the casual person that might be trying to get into football that the defensive player is the one who committed the penalty there?
• TOUCHDOWN: Chase pushed Jalen Ramsey off like crazy and catches it for an 8-yard score. Officials throw the flag on Ramsey. Absolutely hilarious. Steelers, 10-7
• Flacco finds Chase over the middle for a touchdown, but replay reverses the call on the field. Chase never possessed the ball.
• First-and-goal now at the Pittsburgh 8.
• Samaje Perine finds room up the middle for a first down. Bengals at the Pittsburgh 19.
• Flacco finds Chase on third-and-10. Bengals in field goal range at the Pittsburgh 30.
• Chuck Clark just killed Chase Brown. Goodness. Loss of six yards.
• FIELD GOAL: On third-and-5 from the Cincinnati 22, Rodgers scrambles and finds Gainwell, but is just short of the line to gain. The Steelers go to run the tush push and get the first down, but Mason McCormick is called for a false start. Steelers settle for a 41-yard field goal by Chris Boswell. Steelers, 10-0
• Warren makes great cutbacks to rush for an 18-yard score, but Zach Frazier is called for holding.
• End of first quarter. Steelers have third-and-3 coming up at the Cincinnati 43. Steelers, 7-0
• Um ... Rodgers has now looked 10 years younger on two different plays. One produced a touchdown, now this one a first down.
• On third-and-11 from the Pittsburgh 49, after a false start by Amarius Mims backed the Bengals up, Flacco tried to hit Andre Iosivas over the middle, but falls incomplete. After a fair catch interference penalty on PJ Jules, the Steelers take over at their own 27.
• That's a rough pass interference call on Joey Porter Jr. He got his head around and everything.
• A couple nice runs by Jaylen Warren, but the Steelers have to punt on their second possession. Corliss Waitman puts it inside the 20, Charlie Jones calls for the fair catch at the Cincinnati 17.
• Juan Thornhill makes a great break on a drag route by Ja'Marr Chase to tackle him well short of the sticks on third-and-6. Punt coming for Cincinnati.
• Flacco finds Tee Higgins in the soft spot in coverage to move the chains on third-and-16. 18-yard gain.
• Second-and-8, and Keeanu Benton and T.J. Watt get back to Joe Flacco for a sack. Benton got there first.
• Six opening drives this season: Three touchdowns, two field goals = 27 points. What a difference from last season (no opening drive touchdowns).
• TOUCHDOWN: Rodgers looks like the Rodgers of old, scrambling back and forth, then finds Jonnu Smith for 10-yard score. That's another first-drive touchdown, folks. Steelers, 7-0
• On third-and-11, Rodgers connects with DK Metcalf on a go ball downfield. 39-yard gain.
• KICKOFF: Ke'Shawn Williams takes the opening kick to the Pittsburgh 31, and we're underway.
• No captain in place of Miles Killebrew for the coin toss. Just Aaron Rodgers, Cam Heyward and T.J. Watt. The Bengals win the coin toss and defer. Steelers get the ball first.
• The Bengals are wearing their 'White Bengal' uniforms, donning white pants, white jerseys with a white-and-black striped helmet. Because the Bengals are in all white, the Steelers are in their typical home uniforms. Very weird to see in this stadium.
• Steelers' inactives: WR Calvin Austin III (shoulder), G Andrus Peat, DL Logan Lee, DE DeMarvin Leal
• Bengals' inactives: DE Trey Hendrickson (hip), CB Cam Taylor-Britt, C Matt Lee, WR Jermaine Burton, TE Tanner Hudson (concussion), DT McKinnley Jackson
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