Russell Wilson’s career was called dead after a disastrous stint with the Denver Broncos.
Instead, he’s quarterbacking a first-place Pittsburgh Steelers team fresh off a shootout win over a division rival.
Wilson’s revival was on full display Sunday as he led the Steelers in a 44-38 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. The point total was the highest by Pittsburgh since it scored 52 against the Panthers in 2018. The win kept Pittsburgh (9-3) a game ahead of the Baltimore Ravens (8-4) for first place in the AFC North.
Wilson was integral in Sunday’s offensive outburst on a three-touchdown day that produced the second-highest passing total of his career. He did it while overcoming an early pick 6 that spotted the Bengals a 7-0 lead.
After the pick 6, Wilson led the Steelers on five consecutive scoring drives that gave the Steelers a 27-21 lead. He eventually sealed the win with a deep pass to Van Jefferson that kept a field-goal drive alive and allowed the Steelers to burn valuable fourth-quarter clock.
Wilson bounces back from early mistake
The Steelers responded to the early pick 6 with a touchdown drive that ended with a 17-yard George Pickens touchdown on a screen pass from Wilson. Wilson’s second touchdown was a 23-yard strike to Calvin Austin III over the top of the Cincinnati secondary.
In the third quarter, Wilson leaned on the mobility that became his trademark as a Pro Bowler with the Seahawks. Facing pressure on second-and-5, Wilson stepped up into the pocket and found tight end Pat Freiermuth sitting in a soft spot in the Bengals zone. Freiermuth hauled in the 25-yard pass for a touchdown to extend Pittsburgh’s lead to 34-24 late in the third quarter.
A defensive touchdown extended the Pittsburgh lead to 41-24 before the Bengals put pressure back on the Steelers with a touchdown pass from Joe Burrow to Tee Higgins.
The Steelers responded with an 11-play, 72-yard field goal drive that ate 4:46 off the fourth-quarter clock and extended the Pittsburgh lead to 44-31. Wilson kept the drive alive on third-and-9 with a 43-yard pass to Jefferson into the red zone.
The Bengals responded with a quick touchdown drive to cut their deficit to 44-38 with 2:39 remaining. But a failed onside kick allowed the Steelers to run out the clock on the win.
Wilson approaches career high against beleaguered Bengals
Wilson finished the day completing 29 of 38 passes for 414 yards (10.9 yards per attempt) with three touchdowns and one interception. The effort marked Wilson’s first 400-yard game since he threw for 404 yards with the Seahawks in 2019. It’s his highest regular-season passing total since a career-high 452-yard effort with the Seahawks against the Houston Texans in 2017.
He did this against a Bengals defense that’s been under fire all season. Sunday’s game marked the fourth time this season the Bengals have lost in a game where they scored 30-plus points.
The Bengals have lost to the Commanders, Ravens (twice) and now the Steelers in games where they scored 33 or more points. They’ve also lost six times total whiles scoring 25 or more points. Each of those marks ties an NFL record for a single season.
Bengals losses this season
* 2 with 38+ pts (T-most by any team ever)
* 3 with 34+ pts (T-most by any team ever)
* 4 with 33+ pts (most by any team ever)
* 6 with 25+ pts (T-most by any team ever)— Doug Clawson (@doug_clawson) December 1, 2024
Cincinnati dropped to 4-8 with the loss.
Steelers tie record for
With Sunday’s win, the Steelers clinched their 21st consecutive season with a .500 record or better, a mark that ties the Dallas Cowboys (1965-85) for the most all time. Mike Tomlin’s been the head coach for 18 of those seasons. He’s never produced a losing record as head coach.
