[ad_1]
Beforehand a league-best, undefeated 11-0, the Steelers have misplaced their final three video games, together with on Monday, happening 27-17 to the Cincinnati Bengals and its third-string quarterback Ryan Finley.
Having performed with an offense that has appeared dysfunctional of their earlier two defeats, it was extra of the identical within the first half for Pittsburgh, as they turned the ball over thrice to permit the beforehand two-win Bengals to race to a 17-0 half-time lead.
Certainly, tensions between the 2 division rivals have been ramped up within the pre-game warm-ups. Movies of large receiver Juju Smith-Schuster dancing on the Bengals brand earlier than the sport appeared to fireside up the Cincinnati defence. And, within the first quarter, security Vonn Bell produced a heavy hit to power a fumble from Smith-Schuster and reclaim possession.
Though the Pittsburgh offense carried out higher within the second half, they could not overturn their first half deficit, inflicting their third defeat in a row.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin admitted his staff are “not soccer group proper now.”
“We’re not soccer group proper now. We perceive the results that include that. We’re engaged on a brief week. We now have to be higher than what we have been. That is simply the truth of it.”
In a aggressive division, alongside the 10-4 Cleveland Browns — who the Steelers play on January 3 — and the 9-5 Baltimore Ravens, the ultimate playoff seedings look to be heading to the wire, with simply two weeks of video games remaining.
[ad_2]