Steelers vs. Bengals: What they're saying in Cincinnati after win

This time around, Joe Cool did his thing.

Harassed and hounded by Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt in Week 1, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow meticulously picked apart the Steelers’ secondary through the day Sunday en rote to a 37-30 win at Acrisure Stadium. Watt still had his moments Sunday, but Burrow, with his parents in the stands, played one of his best games of the season.

Burrow threw four touchdown passes and finished the game with 355 yards passing. Wide receiver Tee Higgins catching nine balls for 148 yards.

Sure, he threw two interceptions — one a spectacular play Watt — but that hardly mattered.

The Bengals took another step toward the playoffs. Burrow dominated without two Pro Bowlers in wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase and running back Joe Mixon.

More Steelers:

• Steelers defense fails to hold up in loss to Bengals
• Steelers offense shows positive signs early before regressing
• ‘Any player would be frustrated’ — Diontae Johnson lacking production in Steelers offense
• Mason Cole, Jaylen Warren among Steelers injured during defeat to Bengals

Pittsburgh took a step toward a Top 10 draft pick.

Here’s what they’re saying in Cincinnati:

“Without two stars in Chase and Mixon, Burrow had to get the best out of what the Bengals still had against a Steelers defense that knew the Bengals wanted to throw the ball,” wrote Charlie Goldsmith of the Cincinnati Enquirer. “Burrow had to work around one of the toughest defensive lines in the NFL. He was playing on a brutally cold, windy day on a torn-up grass field where it was tough to find his footing.

“Burrow delivered under pressure. Again.”

Who the heck is running back Samaje Perine? Sadly, the fans at Acrisure Stadium knew his name by game’s end as he wound up with a hat trick of touchdowns.

Six different receivers were recipients of 20+ yard passes, and Samaje Perine ended up with three touchdowns through the air,” wrote John Sheeran of Cincy Jungle. “You read that right.”

????️ To the house!#CINvsPIT | ???? CBS pic.twitter.com/Moc13WQgTB

— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) November 20, 2022

A tale of two halves, indeed.

“The Steelers led 20-17 at halftime following the worst first half of the season from the Bengals defense,” wrote the Enquirer. ” After halftime, the Bengals defense had four straight three-and-outs. The Bengals only allowed two first downs in the second half before they put the game away.”

Besides Perine, Higgins shredded the Steelers’ secondary.

“Higgins once again stepped in to the primary wide receiver role with Ja’Marr Chase sidelined and once again, he delivered,” wrote the Cincy Jungle. “After an incredible sideline catch at the end of the second quarter, early fear was that Higgins was going to have a hip injury of his own, but he was back on the first drive of the second half. Higgins was a steady presence and was able to stretch the field to keep Pittsburgh’s defense honest.”

Speaking of being honest, the Steelers’ season is all but over.

Good luck, Joe Burrow.