Bengals Hit Rock Bottom in Pittsburgh: An Ugly 34-12 Loss Leaves Fans Asking What’s Next
The Cincinnati Bengals needed this game to be a turning point. Instead, it felt like the moment the 2025 season officially slipped through their fingers. A 34-12 loss to the Steelers in a division game, after a bye week, and with playoff hopes technically alive, is the kind of collapse that leaves fans shaking their heads and asking the same question we’ve been asking for weeks. How does this team keep finding new ways to fall apart?
Even the positive sight of seeing Joe Burrow return to practice earlier in the week couldn’t soften the blow of what happened yesterday at Acrisure Stadium.
Same Issues, New Week
It didn’t take long to realize this game was heading in the wrong direction. The Steelers offense moved the ball effortlessly, and once again, the Bengals’ tackling looked like a suggestion rather than a must-do job. The defense has now averaged 33.4 opponent points per game this season (StatMuse), serving as a reminder of how far this unit has fallen from anything resembling competitive football.
Meanwhile, the offense started strong with a touchdown to Tee Higgins on the first drive, sparking some life in Bengals fans. But that excitement evaporated quickly as issues emerged: dropped passes, protection problems, miscommunication, I mean, the list could go on. Joe Flacco has proven he has been a solid addition to this offense, but yesterday simply wasn’t his day. When the timing fell apart and the rhythm disappeared, so did any realistic chance of keeping pace with Pittsburgh.
Fourth Quarter Meltdown
If one moment could sum up the frustration of this season, it was the fourth-quarter disaster that took place. Down 20-9, the Bengals needed a clean, urgency-filled drive; instead, we got burned by timeouts early, a delay of game on a critical snap, six plays for a total of one yard, and ultimately settled for a field goal.
For a team that has struggled to finish in big moments, this was just another frustrating collapse added to the list. Zac Taylor’s clock management and play-calling became a talking point once again, and it’s hard for fans not to feel frustrated when the same mistakes occur week after week.
Chase vs. Ramsey Turns Ugly
One of the most talked-about moments came when Jalen Ramsey and Ja’Marr Chase got into a heated altercation. Ramsey threw a punch and was ejected, though it was later revealed that the punch came after Chase spat on him. The NFL will review the incident, and there’s a chance Chase could face a suspension depending on their ruling. It was one of the few moments of life the Bengals showed all game, unfortunately for all the wrong reasons.
What’s Next?
Sitting at 3-7, the Bengals are closer to a top 10 draft pick than a playoff spot. The defense can’t tackle, the offense disappears for entire quarters, and the coaching has been a weekly problem. And no, Joe Burrow returning won’t magically fix all of that. The brutal truth is the Bengals don’t look like a team fighting for a playoff spot, but a team fighting themselves.
But for some reason, we continue to watch and we continue to hope, even when it hurts.
Final Score: Steelers 34, Bengals 12