Cincinnati
Bengals
0-2
60
FINAL
53
Pittsburgh
Steelers
2-0
AI Recap
AI RECAPIn a thrilling Week 3 showdown of the 2026 season, the Cincinnati Bengals narrowly defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers with a final score of 60-53. Both teams entered the matchup looking to solidify their positions early in the season, but it was the Bengals who emerged victorious in this high-scoring affair.
Cincinnati's Joe Burrow put on a stunning offensive display, throwing for an astonishing 571 yards and an eye-popping eight touchdown passes. His connection with Ja'Marr Chase was particularly lethal, as Chase racked up 263 receiving yards, consistently breaking free from defenders and finding the end zone. The Bengals' offense was relentless, showcasing their ability to score at will and keep the pressure on the Steelers.
On the defensive side, Pittsburgh's T.J. Watt made his presence felt with two sacks, but it was Cincinnati's Barrett Carter who delivered a crucial interception, halting a potential scoring drive late in the game. The turning point came when the Bengals' defense forced the Steelers to settle for a field goal instead of a touchdown, allowing Cincinnati to maintain their lead and ultimately secure the win. This clash will be remembered for its offensive fireworks, but it was the timely defensive plays that made all the difference.
Passing
| Player | Pos | ATT | CMP | YDS | TD | INT | RTG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joe Burrow | QB | 38 | 25 | 571 | 8 | 1 | 137.6 |
| Drew Allar | QB | 35 | 18 | 436 | 5 | 2 | 112.6 |
Rushing
| Player | Pos | ATT | YDS | YPC | TD | LNG | FUM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rico Dowdle | HB | 12 | 111 | 9.3 | 1 | 36 | 0 |
| Chase Brown | HB | 7 | 17 | 2.4 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Joe Burrow | QB | 1 | 16 | 16.0 | 0 | 16 | 0 |
| Drew Allar | QB | 2 | 13 | 6.5 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| Samaje Perine | HB | 1 | 3 | 3.0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Darnell Washington | TE | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jaylen Warren | HB | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Receiving
| Player | Pos | REC | YDS | YPR | TD | LNG | DROP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ja'Marr Chase | WR | 8 | 263 | 32.9 | 6 | 65 | 0 |
| Tee Higgins | WR | 6 | 158 | 26.3 | 1 | 61 | 0 |
| Germie Bernard | WR | 4 | 119 | 29.8 | 1 | 43 | 0 |
| Rico Dowdle | HB | 2 | 84 | 42.0 | 1 | 65 | 1 |
| Chase Brown | HB | 6 | 79 | 13.2 | 1 | 40 | 0 |
| Michael Pittman | WR | 4 | 77 | 19.3 | 2 | 25 | 0 |
| Andrei Iosivas | WR | 3 | 58 | 19.3 | 0 | 37 | 0 |
| Roman Wilson | WR | 1 | 43 | 43.0 | 1 | 43 | 0 |
| Jaylen Warren | HB | 3 | 34 | 11.3 | 0 | 14 | 0 |
| DK Metcalf | WR | 1 | 30 | 30.0 | 0 | 30 | 0 |
| Pat Freiermuth | TE | 2 | 27 | 13.5 | 0 | 16 | 0 |
| Darnell Washington | TE | 1 | 22 | 22.0 | 0 | 22 | 0 |
| Mike Gesicki | TE | 2 | 13 | 6.5 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
Defense
| Player | Pos | TKL | SACK | INT | FF | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barrett Carter | MIKE | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| T.J. Watt | LEDG | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dax Hill | CB | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Joey Porter | CB | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Payton Wilson | WILL | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Alex Highsmith | REDG | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Jamel Dean | CB | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jalen Ramsey | FS | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Daylen Everette | CB | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Kyle Dugger | SS | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jonathan Allen | DT | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Josh Newton | CB | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jordan Battle | SS | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Patrick Queen | MIKE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sebastian Joseph-Day | DT | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cashius Howell | REDG | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| PJ Jules | FS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bryan Cook | FS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| DJ Turner II | CB | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Kicking
| Player | Pos | FGM | FGA | XPM | LNG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evan McPherson | K | 1 | 1 | 3 | 22 |
| Chris Boswell | K | 1 | 1 | 4 | 24 |

