Pittsburg, PA

Did Bengals defense show signs of improvement in loss to Steelers?

Published

6 months ago

November 16, 2025

Press Room

Did Bengals defense show signs of improvement in loss to Steelers?

The Bengals defense allowed only 20 points to the Steelers, the second lowest total of the season.
The Steelers, however, converted 7 of 13 third-down conversions and one fourth-down attempt.
The Steelers converted third downs of 17 yards and 11 yards twice in the second half.

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.”

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Pittsburg, PA

Supporters ready to cheer on runners at Pittsburgh Marathon

Published

4 hours ago

April 30, 2026

Press Room

Supporters ready to cheer on runners at Pittsburgh Marathon

More than 50,000 people will run in one of the Pittsburgh Marathon events this weekend. It’s capped off by the marquee event of the marathon itself.

Call it a runner’s high or insanity; the marathon takes just about everything a person can muster up physically and mentally. That’s why supporters line the course, especially the tough miles down the stretch.

“It gives you a boost. It gives you a little bit of that rush to keep going, knowing that people are standing out there in sometimes not great conditions cheering you on,” said Ali Ewig with Dancing Gnome Running Club, which will be cheering around mile 23.

Running clubs, which are recent additions to the cheering sections, along with neighborhood groups like the Bloomfield Citizens Council and the Highland Park Community Council, which have been cheering for decades, all do their part. It can feel more like a block party with the vibes the groups give off as they help every runner get back Downtown.

“It’s a blast to finally be able to celebrate a sport that a lot of people do by themselves en masse together with everyone,” Dan Lampmann of Yinz Run Club said. His group will have a cheer section near PNC Park and on the South Side.

Arguably one of the toughest stretches can be crossing the Birmingham Bridge and climbing up the hill to get into Oakland. It can be a real gut check time for runners. So, Scottie Brown, dressed as Spiderman, will run up the hill with people to keep them going.

“I just run with them, encourage them, bring light to their day as they are halfway through the race, hitting that tough hill,” Brown said over Zoom.

And whether they are a yinzer running through town or someone from the other side of the world, there is pride in cheering people through the city’s neighborhoods.

“I think that we all have a lot of pride in cheering on these people that are maybe for the first time or maybe for the 50th time running this monumental personal goal for themselves,” Jessica Bowser Acrie of the Highland Park Community Council said. Her team will be set up around mile 20.

Sunday morning promises to be another marathon with miles of cheers.

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