The Steelers and Bengals battled it out in what is certainly returning to being a heated rivalry between the two AFC North teams.
The game started off with a scuffle at midfield prior to kickoff and the intensity didn’t really settle down from that point on. For most of the first half it seemed as there was “extracurricular activities” after each play.
Penalty markers were flying and the training staffs for both teams were just as active. Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton left the game late in the first quarter after throwing an interception to Stephon Tuitt on the Bengals’ first offensive drive.
Bengals linebacker Tyler Eifert left with a concussion and the Steelers lost linebacker Bud Dupree with a tailbone injury.
Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict is showing himself to be a true villain for the Steelers to play against. Almost every push and shove in the game involved him and he was called for unnecessary roughness only once.
For the Steelers it was more about the business of controlling the clock and controlling the football. The offense held the ball almost thirty-five minutes. It wasn’t until midway through the second quarter that Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers offense failed to convert on a third down.
Overall the Steelers were 8 of 14 on converting third downs to the Bengals’ 3 of 8. The biggest difference maker in the game were the turnovers. The Steelers turned the ball over just once on a Reggie Nelson interception of Ben Roethlisberger in the fourth quarter that was quickly erased when Robert Golden intercepted AJ McCarron on the ensuing Bengals possession.
The most memorable interception of the game was William Gay’s pick-six of McCarron in the third quarter. Gay’s interception made him tied with Rod Woodson for most interception touchdowns in Steelers franchise history. He made a point of celebrating the moment to the point where the refs flagged him for excessive celebration. Totally worth it.
You cannot excessively celebrate anymore than William Gay excessively celebrates his pick 6 pic.twitter.com/xyW4cNKSoC
— The Cauldron (@TheCauldron) December 13, 2015
Earlier in the game McCarron connected with Bengals receiver A. J. Green for a 66-yard touchdown and Green punted the ball into the stands as his celebration. He wasn’t flagged. Excessive celebration is just an overall dumb penalty. Let Green punt the ball, let Gay dance, let Antonio Brown hump the goal post if he wants. It’s a game for crying out loud.
The Steelers needed this win badly and they came through big time. Ben Roethlisberger was on fire going 30 of 39 for 282 yards and one interception. He spread the ball around generously with Brown having seven receptions for 87 yards, Heath Miller with 10 receptions for 66 yards, Markus Wheaton with four receptions for 65 yards and Martavis Bryant with seven receptions for 49 yards.
DeAngelo Williams came through with 76 rushing yards on 23 carries and two touchdowns.
For all the “chippiness” that happened during the game and even though at times it seemed some of the Steelers players lost their cool they kept their composure better overall to come away with the victory.
Next: Steelers Unsung Heroes of 2015
The 33-20 win brings the Steelers to 8-5 to keep them in the race for the AFC Wild Card spot. The Bengals will drop to third in the AFC and fail to clinch the AFC North title for now.
Bring on the Broncos! Here we go Steelers! Here we go!