NFL Saturday: George Pickens paces Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens entered Saturday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals with 814 receiving yards in the 2023 NFL season. He finished the contest as a 1,000-yard receiver for the first time in his career.

Pickens had four receptions for 195 yards and two touchdowns as the Steelers scored a 34-11 victory over Cincinnati.

Pickens scored the game’s first points on an 86-yard reception with 10:45 left in the first quarter. He followed the NFL’s longest play from scrimmage in 2023 with a 66-yard touchdown reception as Pittsburgh took a 31-8 lead with 9:38 left in the third quarter.

Pittsburgh’s victory came in the opening game of a Saturday NFL doubleheader. In the nightcap, the Buffalo Bills beat the Los Angeles Chargers 24-22 when Tyler Bass connected on a 29-yard field goal with 28 seconds to play.

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Cincinnati Bengals 34, Pittsburgh Steelers 11

The Steelers stopped a three-game losing streak, during which Pittsburgh scored 41 points, with Mason Rudolph at quarterback. Rudolph started for the first time since Dec. 26, 2021, and helped the Steelers post their best point total since Nov. 21, 2021.

Cincinnati quarterback Jake Browning passed for 335 yards and one touchdown – an 80-yarder to wide receiver Tee Higgins – but he also threw three interceptions.

In addition to Pickens, seven other players from Alabama high schools and colleges got on the field during the Cincinnati-Pittsburgh game:

· Steelers defensive tackle Montravius Adams (Auburn) did not record any stats.

· Steelers linebacker Kwon Alexander (Oxford) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.

· Jordan Battle (Alabama) started at safety for the Bengals. Battle made seven tackles and recorded one tackle for loss.

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· Bengals defensive tackle Travis Bell (Jeff Davis) was designated as a game-day inactive. Bell joined Cincinnati as a waiver claim on Wednesday.

· Bengals cornerback Allan George (Andalusia) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

· Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (Alabama) was designated as a game-day inactive. A knee injury kept Fitzpatrick out of the lineup.

· Najee Harris (Alabama) started at running back for the Steelers. Harris ran for 78 yards and one touchdown on 19 carries. Harris scored on a 3-yard run as Pittsburgh took a 21-0 lead with 7:06 left in the first half.

· Bengals wide receiver Shedrick Jackson (Hoover, Auburn) did not record any stats. Cincinnati elevated Jackson from its the practice squad to make him eligible to play.

· Bengals quarterback AJ McCarron (St. Paul’s Episcopal, Alabama) dressed for the game but did not play.

· Bengals kicker Evan McPherson (Fort Payne) made his only attempt – a 35-yard field goal on the final snap of the third quarter.

· Bengals tight end Irv Smith Jr. (Alabama) was designated as a game-day inactive.

· Bengals cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt (Park Crossing) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.

· Levi Wallace (Alabama) started at cornerback for the Steelers. Wallace made five tackles and broke up one pass.

· Jonah Williams (Alabama) started at right offensive tackle for the Bengals.

Saturday’s result left Pittsburgh and Cincinnati with 8-7 records as they scramble to earn an AFC playoff berth.

The Steelers close their regular-season schedule with two road games, visiting the Seattle Seahawks on Dec. 31 and Baltimore Ravens on Jan. 7. The Bengals visit the Kansas City Chiefs on Dec. 31 and wrap up their regular-season schedule at home against the Cleveland Browns on Jan. 7.

Buffalo Bills 24, Los Angeles Chargers 22

Cameron Dicker’s fifth field goal – a 53-yarder with 5:26 to play – had the Chargers up by one point in their first game since coach Brandon Staley was fired. But Buffalo spoiled Giff Smith’s debut as Los Angeles’ interim head coach with a 13-play, 64-yard drive that included two third-down conversions to get the winning points.

After falling behind 10-0, Buffalo began its comeback with a 57-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Josh Allen to wide receiver Gabe Davis with 9:02 left in the first half. Davis had four receptions for 130 yards in the game.

Easton Stick made his second NFL start for the Chargers with Justin Herbert out for the rest of the season. Stick ran for Los Angeles’ touchdown with 13:49 left in the first half and completed 23-of-33 passes for 215 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions.

Six players from Alabama high schools and colleges got on the field during the Buffalo-Los Angeles game:

· Gerald Everett (UAB/South Alabama) started at tight end for the Chargers. Everett caught seven passes for 42 yards.

· Chargers safety A.J. Finley (St. Paul’s Episcopal) made a tackle on special teams and forced a fumble. Finley caused a fumble on a punt return that Los Angeles recovered at the Buffalo 27-yard line with four seconds left in the first quarter. The Chargers turned the takeaway into a touchdown for a 10-0 lead.

· Bills running back Damien Harris (Alabama) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.

· Chargers long snapper Josh Harris (Auburn) handled the snaps on five field goals, four punts and one extra point.

· Bills cornerback Siran Neal (Eufaula, Jacksonville State) did not record any stats.

· Chargers punter JK Scott (Alabama) averaged 50.0 yards on four punts, with a 47.3-yard net. Scott had a 57-yard punt that was fumbled at the Buffalo 30-yard line and recovered by Los Angeles, a 49-yarder returned 3 yards to the Buffalo 43, a 54-yarder returned 11 yards to the Buffalo 37 and a 40-yarder for a fair catch at the Buffalo 10.

· Bills wide receiver Tyrell Shavers (Alabama) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

· Nick Williams (Minor, Samford) started at defensive tackle for the Chargers. Williams made five tackles and recovered one fumble. Williams’ fumble recovery came at the Buffalo 32-yard line with 7:10 to play and set up Dicker’s final field goal.

Buffalo helped its postseason chances by improving to 9-6 with is third win in a row. With its third straight loss, Los Angeles dropped to 5-10.

The Bills will complete their regular-season schedule with a home game against the New England Patriots on Dec. 31 and a road game against the Miami Dolphins on Jan. 7.

The Chargers will wind up their campaign by visiting the Denver Broncos on Dec. 31 and hosting the Kansas City Chiefs on Jan. 7.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.