ANALYSIS: Too little, too late? 5 takeaways from Bengals’ win over Steelers

They now await results from two games Sunday that will determine their playoff fate, needing the Dolphins to lose or tie against the Jets and the Broncos to lose to the Chiefs.

Here are five takeaways from the win Saturday:

1. Defense got it done

The defense has made big strides over the last five games, but the performance Saturday was the best indicator of progress after the Bengals gave up more than 500 yards in a 44-38 loss to the Steelers in the first matchup.

Pittsburgh finished with just 193 yards of offense Saturday and the Bengals forced four three-and-outs and a crucial turnover on downs in the final minute. Quarterback Russell Wilson, who threw for 414 yards against them five weeks ago, had just 148 yards passing this time, and the Bengals sacked him four times with Trey Hendrickson involved in all of them.

Hendrickson’s play was crucial in helping the Bengals protect their lead. Two of his sacks came in the fourth quarter, including on second-and-7 on the last drive with 24 seconds left before a turnover on downs.

The Bengals allowed just 18.8 points per game over the final five weeks and changed the narrative from a defense that cost the team games to becoming one that saved a couple wins at the end. This was the second straight one-score win.

Credit: AP

Credit: AP

2. Three league leaders

The Bengals should finish the season with three players leading the league in various statistical categories.

Hendrickson finished Saturday’s game with 3.5 sacks, which extended his league lead to 17.5 sacks for the season. Myles Garrett, whose Browns lost to the Ravens on Saturday, is in second with 14 sacks, so it’s likely Hendrickson keeps ahead of the pack after the final games Sunday and Monday.

Although the offense wasn’t as good as it has been of late, Ja’Marr Chase and Joe Burrow padded their stats enough to ensure they finish as league leaders as well. Chase finished with 10 catches for 96 yards and a touchdown, which put him at 127 receptions (18 more than Amon-Ra St. Brown), 1,708 yards receiving (229 more than Justin Jefferson) and 17 touchdowns (five more than St. Brown) and likely locks up the receiving triple crown. His 17 touchdowns also tied the franchise single-season record set by Carl Pickens in 1995.

Burrow threw for 277 yards and a touchdown on 80.4 percent passing, putting him at 4,918 yards passing and 43 touchdowns for the season. No one else is within 500 passing yards of him, and he has a four-touchdown lead on the quarterbacks still left to play this weekend. Baker Mayfield is closest at 39 touchdowns, but the passing yards lead seems secure.

3. Cade York steps up

Kicker Cade York bounced back from a surprising 33-yard missed field goal attempt in overtime last week against Denver. He made all four of his attempts Saturday, and although three of them were 35 yards or less, those were points the Bengals needed.

Cincinnati went 1-of-4 in the redzone, needing York on three consecutive trips inside the 20-yard line for the team’s final points of the game over the second, third and fourth quarters. York’s long of 48 yards gave the team a 10-0 lead late in the first quarter after the Bengals had gotten a 12-yard touchdown from Burrow to Chase on the opening drive.

York has only ever attempted four field goals twice in his NFL career and only made all four in his rookie debut with the Brown in a 26-24 win over Carolina on Sept. 11, 2022.

Credit: AP

Credit: AP

4. Overcoming adversity on offense

The Bengals have leaned on Cody Ford a lot more than expected this season, and he stepped into a third position Saturday starting at right tackle in place of Amarius Mims. It was no easy task, but he played a key role in T.J. Watt not getting any official sacks. The one time he did get to Burrow, the play was negated by a penalty.

Mims was on the bench as an emergency backup with a broken hand, and he was called upon for one drive early in the fourth quarter when Ford exited with a chest injury. The Bengals had Devin Cochran as an option but Mims and Ford were the first two choices to handle Watt. Ford returned on the last play of that drive he missed snaps on while getting checked out – the team’s final field goal drive.

With Ford playing right tackle, Cordell Volson got his starting job back at left guard but showed why he had been pushed to the bench after Ford was no longer needed at left tackle once Orlando Brown Jr. returned from a leg injury two weeks ago. Volson struggled against Pittsburgh’s defensive front, and he especially had trouble keeping Cam Heyward out of Burrow’s face. Heyward batted down three passes and had multiple pressures.

Cincinnati also had to overcome the absence of running back Chase Brown, but trade-deadline acquisition Khalil Herbert did well under the circumstances with 83 yards from scrimmage. Tee Higgins also missed most of the second half because of an ankle injury, which he had been nursing for the past three weeks.

Credit: AP

Credit: AP

5. Too little too late?

It’s surprising the Bengals could finish the season so strong and perhaps still not make the playoffs, but Burrow acknowledged the team didn’t do what it needed earlier in the season to prevent any doubts. Now the Bengals’ fate is out of their control. They have seven losses by a touchdown or less that could have been the difference.

If the Bengals, who notched their fourth straight winning season, don’t get the help they need to make the playoffs, they’ll become just the third team in the last 30 seasons to finish on at least a five-game winning streak and still miss the playoffs. The other two were the 2017 San Francisco 49ers and the 2005 Miami Dolphins.

Cincinnati, which collected a third road win in primetime this season in five attempts, also finished 9-8 last year and didn’t make the playoffs.