Steelers defense answers call in 4th quarter with 2 takeaways vs. Bengals

CINCINNATI — Devin Bush has found himself out of position at times in pass coverage in his rookie season, but he made a play after the catch Sunday that showed why the Pittsburgh Steelers traded up to the No. 10 overall spot to select the former Michigan inside linebacker.

Bush stripped wide receiver Tyler Boyd of the ball at the Steelers 6 with 8 minutes, 45 seconds to play in the fourth quarter of the Steelers’ 16-10 win over the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Bengals were trailing 13-10 and seemed poised to at least tie the score when Bush used his left hand to slap the ball away from Boyd, whose 15-yard touchdown in the first half represented the Bengals’ only touchdown.

“That’s why I’m here,” Bush said.

Minkah Fitzpatrick recovered for the Steelers to snuff out the threat.

The Steelers created another turnover in the fourth quarter after they had taken a six-point lead. Bud Dupree recovered a fumble created by his own strip sack of quarterback Ryan Finley. The Steelers then ran out the clock to escape with the win over the 0-11 Bengals.

“We embrace it,” Fitzpatrick said about the 28 turnovers the defense has created through 11 games. “It’s an opportunity to show how good of a defense we are. It’s an opportunity to go out and make plays.”

Until the fourth quarter, the Steelers hadn’t forced a turnover since the late in their victory against the Los Angeles Rams two weeks earlier.

“We needed some type of splash,” Bush said.

For Bush, the 16-10 victory represented another first in his young career.

“It’s my first win in Ohio,” he said.

Michigan lost both matchups in Columbus against Ohio State when Bush played for the Wolverines, and the Steelers lost at Cleveland on Nov. 14.