Cincinnati
Bengals
0-2
27
FINAL
16
Pittsburgh
Steelers
0-2
AI Recap
AI RECAPIn a decisive Week 3 matchup of the 2026 season, the Cincinnati Bengals topped the Pittsburgh Steelers with a final score of 27-16, solidifying their place in the AFC playoff picture. The Bengals' victory not only boosts their confidence but also leaves the Steelers searching for answers as they look to rebound in the coming weeks.
Quarterback Joe Burrow was the standout performer for Cincinnati, throwing for 304 yards and three touchdowns, while Ja'Marr Chase proved to be his favorite target, racking up 141 receiving yards. The Bengals' offense showcased their explosive potential, effectively moving the ball and capitalizing on key opportunities throughout the game.
Defensively, the Bengals made a significant impact, with Dexter Lawrence II leading the charge with 2.5 sacks, disrupting the Steelers' game plan. The turning point came in the second half when Lawrence's pressure led to a pivotal turnover, allowing Cincinnati to extend their lead and ultimately secure the win. The Steelers struggled to find their rhythm, hampered by the Bengals' relentless defensive performance.
Passing
| Player | Pos | ATT | CMP | CMP% | YDS | TD | INT | QBR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joe Burrow | QB | 29 | 20 | 69% | 304 | 3 | 0 | 137.7 |
| Drew Allar | QB | 35 | 20 | 57% | 173 | 2 | 0 | 89.3 |
Rushing
| Player | Pos | ATT | YDS | YPC | YAC | TD | LNG | FUM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jaylen Warren | HB | 16 | 103 | 6.4 | 86 | 0 | 38 | 0 |
| Drew Allar | QB | 2 | 72 | 36.0 | 61 | 0 | 68 | 0 |
| Chase Brown | HB | 16 | 55 | 3.4 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| Rico Dowdle | HB | 7 | 37 | 5.3 | 11 | 0 | 19 | 0 |
| Joe Burrow | QB | 3 | 4 | 1.3 | โ | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Tee Higgins | WR | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | โ | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Michael Pittman | WR | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | โ | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ja'Marr Chase | WR | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | โ | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Samaje Perine | HB | 3 | -3 | -1.0 | โ | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| DK Metcalf | WR | 1 | -3 | -3.0 | โ | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Receiving
| Player | Pos | REC | YDS | YPR | YAC | TD | LNG | DROP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ja'Marr Chase | WR | 5 | 141 | 28.2 | 90 | 2 | 87 | 0 |
| Tee Higgins | WR | 7 | 107 | 15.3 | 24 | 0 | 29 | 0 |
| DK Metcalf | WR | 6 | 56 | 9.3 | 19 | 1 | 32 | 0 |
| Pat Freiermuth | TE | 3 | 39 | 13.0 | 25 | 0 | 19 | 0 |
| Michael Pittman | WR | 4 | 37 | 9.3 | 16 | 1 | 15 | 0 |
| Erick All Jr | TE | 2 | 26 | 13.0 | 4 | 0 | 19 | 0 |
| Mike Gesicki | TE | 4 | 22 | 5.5 | 13 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| Germie Bernard | WR | 1 | 17 | 17.0 | 6 | 0 | 17 | 0 |
| Jaylen Warren | HB | 3 | 13 | 4.3 | 16 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| Ben Skowronek | WR | 2 | 7 | 3.5 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Rico Dowdle | HB | 1 | 4 | 4.0 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Chase Brown | HB | 1 | 4 | 4.0 | โ | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| Colbie Young | WR | 1 | 4 | 4.0 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
Defense
| Player | Pos | TKL | SACK | INT | FF | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patrick Queen | MIKE | 9 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dexter Lawrence II | DT | 5 | 2.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Barrett Carter | MIKE | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Boye Mafe | LEDG | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| T.J. Watt | LEDG | 3 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jordan Battle | SS | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| DeShon Elliott | SS | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bryan Cook | FS | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tacario Davis | CB | 4 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cam Heyward | DT | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Alex Highsmith | REDG | 4 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Christian Benford | CB | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| DJ Turner II | CB | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jonathan Allen | DT | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jalen Ramsey | FS | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Payton Wilson | WILL | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Demetrius Knight Jr | WILL | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kris Jenkins Jr | DT | 0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cashius Howell | REDG | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Adoree' Jackson | CB | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Keeanu Benton | DT | 0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dax Hill | CB | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Jack Kiser | MIKE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Shemar Stewart | LEDG | 0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Swayze Bozeman | MIKE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Xavier Woods | FS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jamel Dean | CB | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Kicking
| Player | Pos | FGM | FGA | XPM | LNG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chris Boswell | K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Evan McPherson | K | 2 | 2 | 3 | 51 |

