The keys to the AFC North were supposed to be in Mike Tomlin’s hands. For the last two weeks, the Pittsburgh Steelers had looked like the bullies of the division again — physical, confident, and composed. But Thursday Night Football against the Cincinnati Bengals shattered that illusion in front of a national audience.
What was expected to be a statement game quickly turned into a nightmare, and the fallout leaves both Aaron Rodgers and the defense facing a much-needed accountability check.
It all started so well.
On the opening drive, Rodgers looked every bit the veteran maestro Pittsburgh fans had dreamed of when he signed this offseason. The Steelers marched effortlessly down the field, executing with precision and rhythm. Rodgers capped the drive with a ten-yard touchdown strike to Jonnu Smith that felt like a message to the rest of the AFC North: the Steelers were in control.
Unfortunately, that control lasted about five minutes.
When Pittsburgh’s defense took the field, everything unraveled. Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco, — 40-year-old Joe Flacco — turned back the clock and ran a masterclass in efficiency and poise. The 18-year veteran finished with 342 passing yards and three touchdowns, completely dismantling a defense that had looked elite in recent weeks.
His calm leadership and pinpoint accuracy stripped away the swagger Pittsburgh’s defense had built up.
And then there was Ja’Marr Chase — who looked completely unstoppable. Chase torched the Steelers’ secondary, finishing with 16 receptions for 161 yards and a touchdown. Every route seemed open, every throw from Flacco perfectly timed.
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There was no answer from Jalen Ramsey or Joey Porter Jr., no sign of the tight coverage or aggression that defines Pittsburgh’s defensive identity. For much of the night, it looked like the Bengals were running routes against air.
To Teryl Austin’s defense, the game wasn’t entirely out of reach. Even after being gashed repeatedly through the air, the Steelers still had opportunities to seize momentum. But those moments vanished in a blink — courtesy of two costly interceptions from Aaron Rodgers.
They weren’t fluke turnovers, either.
They were careless, unnecessary throws that betrayed both impatience and overconfidence. The timing couldn’t have been worse, killing drives that could have turned the tide and eliminating crucial scoring chances late in the game.
For all of Rodgers’ leadership and poise, Thursday night was a reminder that accountability extends to the quarterback, too — no matter how accomplished he is.
The result was an embarrassing divisional loss, one that continues an ugly streak of Thursday night failures for Pittsburgh. The Steelers are now left searching for answers, and fans are left wondering where the team’s urgency went.
Mike Tomlin’s group must respond — not with words, but with performance. Rodgers has to protect the football and trust the run game. The defense has to rediscover its physical edge and communication. Because right now, the AFC North crown is slipping through their fingers.
For a team that prides itself on discipline, Thursday night was the opposite — chaotic, inconsistent, and humbling. And until the Steelers start holding both sides of the ball accountable, they’ll keep finding themselves watching meaningful football slip away under the primetime lights.