Ja'Marr Chase - photo by Ryan Meyer - Cincinnati Bengals
Bengals Fall to Steelers 30-27
PITTSBURGH – September 27, 2026 – Brendon D. Miller
The Bengals suffered their first loss of the 2026 season Sunday, falling 30-27 to the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium. Pittsburgh erased a fourth-quarter deficit and rode the arm of Aaron Rodgers and legs of Jaylen Warren to complete the comeback in a game that came down to a final sack, fumble by Burrow to gift the Steelers a win.
Game Summary
The Steelers struck first when Aaron Rodgers connected with Roman Wilson for a 38-yard touchdown pass. Cincinnati answered with an 11-play, 73-yard drive capped by Joe Burrow’s 3-yard touchdown pass to Ja’Marr Chase. Rodgers responded again late in the first quarter, finding Ben Skowronek for a 23-yard score to give Pittsburgh a 14-7 lead.
The Bengals chipped away in the second quarter. Evan McPherson hit a 50-yard field goal before Boswell answered with a 44-yarder. With just 34 seconds left in the half, Burrow fired a 28-yard touchdown pass to Tee Higgins, tying the game 17-17 at halftime.
Cincinnati briefly seized control in the third quarter. McPherson’s 38-yard field goal gave the Bengals their first lead at 20-17, but Rodgers answered with an 11-play drive capped by a 6-yard touchdown pass to DK Metcalf, restoring Pittsburgh’s advantage at 24-20.
Burrow delivered what looked like the decisive blow early in the fourth quarter, hitting Mike Gesicki for a 25-yard touchdown to put Cincinnati ahead 27-24. However, the Steelers responded with two Boswell field goals, including a 33-yard kick with 2:15 remaining, to take a 30-27 lead they would not relinquish.
Special Team Miscues
The Bengals had two game changing plays on special teams which in essence gifted 10 points to the Steelers in the game.
Cedric Johnson was called for a personal foul for roughing the punter with 6:48 remaining in the 3rd quarter. The penalty gave the Steelers a first down and the Steelers drove the ball down and Aaron Rodgers hit DK Metcalf for a six yard TD at 2:43 in the quarter, giving the Steelers a 24-20 lead.
Ke’Shawn Williams muffed a punt with 11:04 remaining in the 4th quarter which Pittsburgh recovered on the Bengals 14 yard line by Ben Skowronek. The Steelers turned the short field into a 36 yard field goal by Chris Boswell at 8:43 tying the game at 27-27.
Defensive Struggles
The Bengals Defense was unable to duplicate their performance from Houston.
Pittsburgh put up 411 yards of total offense on the Bengals and only forced the Steelers to punt twice, which turned into a single punt due to the penalty on Johnson.
Pittsburgh quarterback Aaron Rodgers threw for 292 yards and 3 touchdowns. Running back Jaylen Warren was the biggest problem, rushing for 127 yards and finishing with 176 total yards from scrimmage. On Pittsburgh’s opening possession, the defense allowed a 73-yard touchdown drive capped by a 38-yard touchdown pass to Roman Wilson. The defense allowed three touchdown drives:
38-yard TD pass to Roman Wilson (1st quarter).
23-yard TD pass to Ben Skowronek (1st quarter).
6-yard TD pass to DK Metcalf (3rd quarter).
Team Stats
Category
Bengals
Steelers
Total Yards
352
411
First Downs
19
22
Turnovers
2
1
Third Downs
6/12
7/12
Possession
30:06
29:54
Penalties
6-40
5-37
BENGALS LEADERS
Joe Burrow
28 of 37 passing
282 yards
3 TDs, 0 INTs
Ja’Marr Chase
9 receptions
98 yards
1 TD
Tee Higgins
6 receptions
89 yards
1 TD
Chase Brown
13 carries
61 rushing yards
Steelers Leaders
Aaron Rodgers
19 of 34 passing
292 yards
3 TDs, 1 INT
Jaylen Warren
17 carries
127 rushing yards
Roman Wilson
3 receptions
60 yards
1 TD
DK Metcalf
3 receptions
31 yards
1 TD
Defensive Standouts
Bengals
Demetrius Knight Jr. led Cincinnati with 9 tackles.
Dexter Lawrence II recorded 2 sacks on Rodgers and consistently pressured the pocket.
Jordan Battle intercepted Rodgers, giving the Bengals a key takeaway.
Steelers
Patrick Queen paced Pittsburgh with 13 tackles.
Pittsburgh’s defense limited Cincinnati’s rushing attack to 83 yards and forced two turnovers.
Turning Point
After the Bengals took a 27-24 lead on Gesicki’s touchdown reception, Pittsburgh mounted consecutive scoring drives. Boswell tied the game with a 36-yard field goal, then Rodgers engineered an eight-play, 77-yard possession that set up Boswell’s game-winning 33-yard kick with 2:15 remaining. Cincinnati was unable to answer on its final possession.
What It Means
The loss drops Cincinnati to 2-1, while Pittsburgh improves to 2-1 and gains an important AFC North victory. Despite Burrow’s efficient three-touchdown performance and another strong showing from Chase and Higgins, turnovers and Pittsburgh’s 127-yard rushing day from Warren proved decisive.
Next
Bengals return to Paycor Stadium next Sunday to host the Jacksonville Jaguars for a 1:00 PM kickoff.
