Cincinnati
Bengals
0-0
38
FINAL
21
Pittsburgh
Steelers
0-0
AI Recap
AI RECAPIn a decisive matchup, the Cincinnati Bengals topped the Pittsburgh Steelers 38-21 in Week 3 of the 2026 season, solidifying their position early in the AFC North. With both teams vying for playoff positioning, the Bengals showcased their offensive firepower, leaving the Steelers in a tough spot as the season unfolds.
Joe Burrow led the charge for Cincinnati, throwing for an impressive 373 yards and four touchdowns, demonstrating precision and poise throughout the game. His connection with the receiving corps was evident, as the Bengals capitalized on key plays to keep the Steelers on their heels. While Pittsburgh's Rico Dowdle managed to rush for 79 yards, it was DK Metcalf's standout performance with 140 receiving yards that kept the game competitive.
Defensively, the Bengals made a significant impact, with Dexter Lawrence II recording 2.5 sacks, disrupting the Steelers' offensive rhythm. The turning point came late in the third quarter when Kyle Dugger intercepted a pass, halting a promising drive for Pittsburgh and allowing Cincinnati to extend their lead. The Bengals’ defense proved pivotal, stifling the Steelers and sealing the victory with a combination of pressure and timely turnovers.
Passing
| Player | Pos | ATT | CMP | YDS | TD | INT | RTG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joe Burrow | QB | 29 | 19 | 373 | 4 | 1 | 133.9 |
| Justin Fields | QB | 20 | 9 | 184 | 1 | 3 | 54.9 |
Rushing
| Player | Pos | ATT | YDS | YPC | TD | LNG | FUM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rico Dowdle | HB | 14 | 79 | 5.6 | 1 | 35 | 0 |
| Justin Fields | QB | 5 | 50 | 10.0 | 1 | 18 | 0 |
| DK Metcalf | WR | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Chase Brown | HB | 3 | -3 | -1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Receiving
| Player | Pos | REC | YDS | YPR | TD | LNG | DROP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DK Metcalf | WR | 5 | 140 | 28.0 | 1 | 50 | 0 |
| Andrei Iosivas | WR | 3 | 126 | 42.0 | 0 | 61 | 1 |
| Ja'Marr Chase | WR | 6 | 126 | 21.0 | 0 | 49 | 0 |
| Tee Higgins | WR | 4 | 73 | 18.3 | 2 | 20 | 0 |
| Jack Endries | TE | 4 | 33 | 8.3 | 2 | 16 | 0 |
| Rico Dowdle | HB | 1 | 17 | 17.0 | 0 | 17 | 0 |
| Darnell Washington | TE | 2 | 17 | 8.5 | 0 | 14 | 0 |
| Colbie Young | WR | 1 | 12 | 12.0 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| Germie Bernard | WR | 1 | 10 | 10.0 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| Chase Brown | HB | 1 | 3 | 3.0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
Defense
| Player | Pos | TKL | SACK | INT | FF | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barrett Carter | MIKE | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Dexter Lawrence II | DT | 2 | 2.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Joey Porter | CB | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Kyle Dugger | SS | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Bryan Cook | FS | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Jonathan Allen | DT | 2 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Lewis Cine | SS | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jalen Ramsey | FS | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| T.J. Watt | LEDG | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cashius Howell | LEDG | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jordan Battle | SS | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Patrick Queen | MIKE | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dax Hill | CB | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| DJ Turner II | CB | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Sean Taylor | SS | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tacario Davis | CB | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Boye Mafe | REDG | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Payton Wilson | WILL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Demetrius Knight Jr | WILL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jamel Dean | CB | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Myles Murphy | LEDG | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Malik Harrison | MIKE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Swayze Bozeman | MIKE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Daylen Everette | CB | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Kicking
| Player | Pos | FGM | FGA | XPM | LNG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chris Boswell | K | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Evan McPherson | K | 1 | 1 | 5 | 57 |

