Pittsburg, PA
Did Bengals defense show signs of improvement in loss to Steelers?
NFL Week 11 Bengals Vs. Steelers post game review
Bengals Beat Reporter Kelsey Conway discusses the Bengals loss to the Steelers
If the Cincinnati Bengals defense improved against the Pittsburgh Steelers, it wasn’t enough improvement.
Pittsburgh’s defense returned two turnovers for touchdowns in its 34-12 victory over Cincinnati on Nov. 16 at Acrisure Stadium. The deficit was lopsided and the Bengals’ defense allowed only 20 points, but it was the plays leading up to the two Kenneth Gainwell receiving touchdowns and two Chris Boswell field goals that proved problematic for a Cincinnati defensive unit that entered the contest ranked as the worst defense in the NFL.
Against a Steelers team ranked 29th in total offense, tackling and a lack of timely third-down stops were once again topics of conversation in the Bengals’ postgame media scrums.
Pittsburgh was 7-for-13 on third-down conversions, and also converted one fourth-down try. Even after quarterback Aaron Rodgers was knocked out of the game through injury at halftime, veteran backup Mason Rudolph was about as effective as his future-Hall of Fame teammate.
Both quarterbacks threw a touchdown pass to Gainwell, and oversaw drives ending in successful Boswell kicks.
It’s true that the defensive showing was one of Cincinnati’s better outings of the year, as Bengals head coach Zac Taylor asserted afterward. The 20 points scored by Pittsburgh’s offense constituted the second-fewest points allowed in a game this season by Cincinnati.
Taylor also acknowledged problematic tackling.
“It was one of the better games they played,” Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said. “They gave us those opportunities, only allowing 10 points going into halftime after giving up the first drive of the game. I was happy with the punts they forced. Unfortunately, we couldn’t capitalize on offense and get enough points on the board to take advantage, especially getting the ball in the second half. Overall, during the second half, those two (scoring) possessions we just got to get them on the ground.
“There’s a lot of opportunities. We’ve got to get them on the ground. Working like crazy. Talking like crazy. We’ve just got to show up.”
The Steelers’ second half scoring drives were propelled by third-and-long conversions in the second half, including on 3rd-and-11 and 3rd-and-17 situations on the drive that lead to a Boswell field goal for a 13-9 lead. Both conversions came in Pittsburgh territory, and the 3rd-and-17 was a catch-and-run by bruising tight end Darnell Washington.
Washington also made a highlight-reel catch and run late in the first half, stiff-arming and tossing Bengals aside as he went.
On the drive late drive that resulted in a Gainwell touchdown for a 27-12 lead, the Steelers converted another 3rd-and-11. That was also on Pittsburgh’s side of midfield.
Later on that drive, with Pittsburgh behind schedule on a 1st-and-23, Gainwell had a catch-and-run to pick up the first down to move Pittsburgh inside the Bengals’ 10-yard line.
Quarterback Joe Flacco said the Bengals defense showed improvement. Rookie linebacker Barrett Carter wasn’t as convinced, though.
“I saw slight improvements but just nowhere where it needs to be,” Carter said.
Of the tackling, Carter said the Bengals were “horrible,” adding: “It just needs to be better, all levels.”
Rising Crust Pizzeria in Etna says it’s working navigate a difficult time after a truck slammed into the side of the popular shop last month.
The pizza shop took to social media on Tuesday, saying that they know many people have been waiting for an update and that they appreciate people’s patience.
“The past few days have been a whirlwind as we’ve worked through the aftermath of the accident and figured out our next steps.”
Late last month, a truck slammed through the side of the building along Butler Street when a driver lost control having just exited Route 28.
The driver of the truck was taken to the hospital and the pizza shop asked Tuesday that people continue to keep that person in their thoughts and prayers.
Rising Crust also acknowledged the support of the community in the wake of the crash.
“The kindness, encouragement, and concern we have received have been truly overwhelming, and we are so thankful for each and every one of you,” the shop said.
The shop that while they don’t know exactly what lies ahead, they will be back and ready to serve the community as soon as they can.
“Thank you for your patience, support, and understanding,” the shop said.
One of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ top position player prospects is with the team for the start of their series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, though he isn’t yet on the 26-man roster.
Catcher/first baseman Rafael Flores has been placed on the Pirates’ taxi squad, which could potentially signify an injury to a player on the club’s roster.
The Pirates announced that they put C/1B Rafael Flores Jr. on the taxi squad
— Dominic Campbell (@DOMISMONEY) June 9, 2026
Flores hasn’t yet appeared in a big-league game this year and instead has remained in Triple-A Indianapolis, though it’s possible he’ll have a chance to make an impact for the Pirates in the near future.
Flores’ Background
Flores signed with the New York Yankees as an undrafted free agent in July 2022 for a signing bonus of $75,000.
He posted an .874 OPS with 21 home runs between Double-A Somerset and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre during the 2024 campaign, putting him on the map as a legit prospect.
Flores was later used as the centerpiece of the trade deadline deal that saw the Pirates send All-Star closer David Bednar to the Yankees last year.
He slashed .281/.363/.459 with six home runs over 36 games for Indianapolis after arriving in the deal and made his major league debut for Pittsburgh on September 17, 2025.
Across seven contests and 17 plate appearances to close out the season, Flores logged a .627 OPS with a pair of doubles for the Pirates.
The 25-year-old has struggled quite heavily in Triple-A so far this year, however, owning a .207/.320/.344 slash line with four home runs and 27 RBIs in 53 games and 188 at-bats.
Flores was recently ranked as the No. 15 prospect in Pittsburgh’s farm system by FanGraphs.
“Flores has uncommon power for a catcher, and while aspects of his swing path (it’s long) and his tendency to chase make him likely to strike out a ton against big league pitching, if he can get to power in games anyway, he’ll do enough to be a valuable bat-first backup,” Eric Longenhagen wrote. “He’s best when he can get extended against pitches up and away from him, which he’s a threat to deposit from pole to pole. There are all kinds of late-bloomer traits here (Flores’ size, late arrival to catching this often, and small school background), and it’s possible that Flores will have a peak year or two where he hits 15-plus bombs as a part-time cacher and 1B/DH, just as there will probably also be years where he hits .180 and can’t control the run game.”
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