With the 19-17 loss, the Steelers are the third team in NFL history to enter the playoffs on a four-game losing streak. The last team to enter the playoffs on such a streak were the 1999 Detroit Lions.

— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) January 5, 2025

• That 1999 Lions team lost its final five regular season games to finish 8–8. In the playoffs, Detroit lost to Washington in the wild-card round, 27–13.
• Total offense: 314 yardsJoe Burrow: 37/46, 277 yards, 1 TD, 1 INTKhalil Herbert: 20 carries, 69 yardsJa’Marr Chase: 10 catches, 96 yards, 1 TD
• Mike Gesicki: 8 catches, 68 yards

Steelers

• Total offense: 193 yardsRussell Wilson: 17/31, 148 yards, 1 TDNajee Harris: 12 carries, 36 yards
• Pat Freiermuth: 8 catches, 85 yards, 1 TD
• Pittsburgh has to use its third timeout after Russell Wilson is sacked with 20 seconds remaining.
• He then throws two consecutive incompletions on 3rd-and-12 to George Pickens and 4th-and-12 to Pat Freiermuth.
• Cincinnati took over on downs and took a knee to run out the remaining 15 seconds.
• Pat Freiermuth makes a 17-yard catch to move the Steelers to their 42-yard line.
• But on the subsequent first down, Russell Wilson opts to scramble for three yards rather than throw the ball away. That costs the Steelers 22 seconds.
• Ryan Rehkow kicks a 42-yard punt and Calvin Austin returns it six yards.
• The Steelers start at their 24-yard line with 1:51 remaining.
• Joe Burrow can’t get away from the pass rush on 3rd-and-3 from the Steelers’ 49. Keeanu Benton trips him for an 11-yard loss.
• Cincinnati is at 4th-and-14 at their 40-yard line as the clock reaches the two-minute warning.
• A sack by Trey Hendrickson and holding penalty on Cordarelle Patterson stall the Steelers’ drive.
• Pat Freiermuth grabs a seven-yard catch to move the Steelers a bit closer, but they still have to settle for a field goal.
• Chris Boswell makes a 54-yard kick to cut the Bengals lead to 19–17 with 2:39 remaining in the game.
• On 1st-and-10, George Pickens drops his third pass of the game.
• Russell Wilson shakes that off on second down and connects with Pat Freiermuth for a 10-yard gain.
• Following Khalil Herbert getting tackled for a 4-yard loss, Joe Burrow throws an incomplete pass then connects with Mike Gesicki for an eight-yard gain. But Cincinnati can’t get the first down and has to punt.
• Ryan Rehkow kicks 47 yards and the Steelers will take over at their 11 after a three-yard return by Calvin Austin.
• On 2nd-and-10 from the Cincinnati 41, Joe Burrow steps up in the pocket to avoid the rush and hits Mike Gesicki over the middle for a 14-yard gain.
• Gesicki has seven receptions for 60 yards tonight.
• Pittsburgh drives 65 yards in nine plays, finished off with a 19-yard pass from Russell Wilson to Pat Freiermuth.
• Wilson also completed a 12-yard catch and run to Najee Harris and scrambled for another 12-yard gain during the drive.
• It’s a one-score game with 8:07 remaining.
• On 3rd-and-goal from the Pittsburgh 5-yard line, Joe Burrow misses Mike Gesicki in the back of the end zone and the Bengals have to settle for a field goal.
• Cade York makes a 23-yard kick to put Cincinnati up 19–7.
• Joe Burrow eludes a six-man blitz by the Steelers and makes a toss to Tanner Hudson. Hudson turns the catch into an 11-yard gain.
• Ja’Marr Chase makes an outstanding catch at the left sideline on a back shoulder throw by Joe Burrow. Cincinnati gains 19 yards on the play.
• Ja’Marr Toe Tap!
• Tee Higgins is questionable to return with an ankle injury, according to the Bengals.

.@KetteringHealth Injury Update: WR Tee Higgins has a left ankle injury and G/OT Cody Ford has a chest injury. Their return is questionable.

— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) January 5, 2025

• Cincinnati has been emphasizing the run on this drive, perhaps making sure Joe Burrow is truly OK. But he looked fine hitting Ja’Marr Chase on a 15-yard out route.
• Russell Wilson misses on a throw to George Pickens on 3rd-and-8 from the Pittsburgh 44. Corliss Waitman kicks a 50-yard punt and Cincinnati gets the ball at its 13-yard line.
• Joe Burrow is back on the field with the Bengals offense.
• This may just be precautionary while Joe Burrow gets examined, but backup QB Jake Browning is loosening up, according to reporters on the scene.

Bengals QB Jake Browning currently getting loose on the sideline with Joe Burrow currently being looked at in the blue tent.

— Ben Baby (@Ben_Baby) January 5, 2025