Pittsburgh Crushes Bengals in AFC North Brawl
November 18, 2025
In a hard-hitting AFC North showdown, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals delivered another chapter in one of football’s most physical rivalries. Momentum swung throughout the afternoon as both teams traded big plays, punishing drives, and crucial defensive stands. By the final whistle, it was Pittsburgh that emerged on top, capitalizing on key moments to secure a statement win and tighten the lead in the division. The game had no shortage of drama, and the performance from both sides made it clear why this matchup remains one of the NFL’s most compelling battles.
The Steelers started off strong, opening the game with a 78 yard drive, thanks in part to a huge run on 2nd down for a 35-yard gain by Jaylen Warren. Two plays later, Aaron Rodgers found Kenneth Gainwell leaking out of the backfield for an eleven yard touchdown pass. The Bengals came out ready to respond though, moving the ball down the field with ease, mostly through the air. They capped off a 71 yard drive with a 28 yard touchdown pass to Tee Higgins but after a penalty on the PAT, opted to go for two and were unsuccessful. The rest of the first half was inconsistent offense and punts until the final two minutes when Darnell Washington bullied his way for 31 yards running over 3 defenders to get into the Bengals side of the field. The Steelers stalled out as the half came to an end though and had to settle for a field goal to take the lead 10-6 into halftime.
The Bengals started the second half with the ball and got a quick 35 yard run out of Chase Brown to get on Pittsburgh’s side of the field. After a couple incompletions though, the Bengals were forced to kick a field goal and settle for three points. Pittsburgh, now with their lead cut to one at 10-9, started the second half with starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers still in the locker room dealing with a left wrist injury, meaning it was Mason Rudolph’s time to save the season once again (2023). Mason Rudolph looked poised and after a couple nice passes to Roman Wilson and Darnell Washington, had the Steelers in field goal range. A 0 yard run play on second down followed by an incompletion forced the Steelers to settle for a field goal once again. The Bengals had the ball again down 13-9 and were looking for some second half magic just like a couple weeks ago. It was newly acquired safety Kyle Dugger with some magic of his own, picking off a Joe Flacco pass and returning it 73 yards for a touchdown to make it 20-9, his first INT as a Steeler and first Steelers safety with a pick-six since Minkah Fitzpatrick and third all time joining Minkah and Troy Polamalu. The Bengals had the ball again needing a score this time. After an incredibly long drive lasting about six minutes of game time and 45 minutes real time, they were held to a field goal to make it 20-12. Unfortunately for the Steelers though, Jalen Ramsey was ejected from the game on the drive for punching Jamarr Chase in the face mask, and it wasn’t until after the game it was discovered that this was retaliation for Chase spitting on Ramsey, one of the least classy moves you can perform as a man. This only lit a fire under the home crowd, as they erupted in “ref you suck” chants. Mason Rudolph with the ball again and the chance to ice the game, seemingly was making all the right throws, and at times was even looking better than Aaron Rodgers. After a couple good gains by Kenneth Gainwell through the air, it was Gainwell getting found leaking out of the backfield once again for a five yard receiving touchdown, his second of the game. The Bengals now down 27-12 were running out of hope and needed something fast. On the first play though, Flacco found Noah Fant for a five yard gain, but Brandin Echols forced a fumble on the tackle, to be scooped up by James Pierre and returned for a touchdown, the Steelers second defensive touchdown of the game. This put the icing on the cake, making it 34-12.
In the end, Pittsburgh’s blend of resilience, opportunistic defense, and unexpected contributions from key depth pieces proved too much for Cincinnati to overcome. Even with injuries and tempers flaring, the Steelers stayed composed long enough to turn big moments into game-breaking swings, punctuated by two defensive touchdowns that electrified the home crowd. For a team fighting to solidify its identity and position atop the AFC North, this win felt like a statement not just of talent, but of toughness and resolve. As the season pushes deeper into November, the Steelers walk away from this rivalry clash not only with a decisive 34–12 victory, but with the kind of momentum that can redefine a playoff push.
Ben, Author
Communication major and junior from Ohio. I played college ball at the D2 level for Lake Erie College as a defensive end…so I know a thing or two about grit (and laundry day after turf stains). I’m a proud fan of the Steelers, Michigan, and Red Sox, and when I’m not watching or debating sports, you’ll probably catch me at a Steelers game.
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