The Bengals’ defense spent too much of Sunday chasing the game instead of setting the tone, and it started almost immediately. On the opening snap against Pittsburgh, Jaylen Warren was already showing the exact problem that has lingered since Week 1 against Tampa Bay: when opponents get the ball to a running back in space, Cincinnati’s linebackers and safeties have too often been forced into tough one-on-one tackles.
Warren was a headache all afternoon. He ran for 127 yards at 7.5 yards per carry and added 49 receiving yards, including the first big strike for the Steelers. That early burst was a warning sign the Bengals never fully solved.
Pittsburgh’s first touchdown exposed Cincinnati in another way. Roman Wilson got behind the defense on a deep pass, and the Bengals’ secondary looked tangled up near the line. Dax Hill’s movement across the snap seemed to throw Jalen Davis off, and Davis was beaten cleanly for an easy score.
There were a few encouraging moments for Cincinnati, and rookie edge rusher Cashius Howell was one of them. He was among the few defensive ends who consistently created pressure on Aaron Rodgers, and he also held up well against the run.
On one first-half snap, Howell anchored on the edge and helped finish a stop near the line of scrimmage. He looks like the Bengals’ best edge rusher right now, even ahead of veteran addition Boye Mafe, and the snaps should keep coming.
But too much of the day came down to missed tackles. Jordan Battle came in far too high on Darnell Washington in the first half, and that was the kind of mistake that simply invites trouble against a 300-pound tight end. Washington powered through contact again later, and Cincinnati kept paying for poor angles and weak finish.
Barrett Carter had another rough outing. For the second straight week, the tackling issues were hard to ignore.
He has flashed at times this season, but the inconsistency has been a problem. If that doesn’t improve, the Bengals should at least look into Bobby Wagner.
He won’t offer much in coverage, but the tackling has been dependable throughout his career.
Dax Hill’s day followed the same uneven script. He did come through with a strong third-down play that forced a Steelers punt, but that stop ended up buried by Ke’Shawn Williams’ muffed punt. It was the kind of swing that made Hill’s good play feel far less important than it should have been.
The worst defensive snap of the game came with the score tied 27-27 on Pittsburgh’s final drive. Darnell Washington broke free down the sideline for a 47-yard catch-and-run, and Barrett Carter missed the first tackle again.
From there, the effort to finish the play fell apart. Tacario Davis couldn’t get around Germie Bernard.
DJ Turner slowed up instead of closing. Jordan Battle’s attempt to make contact didn’t do much of anything.
Kyle Dugger finally brought Washington down, but the damage was already done.
Even so, the Bengals defense managed one more stop and held Pittsburgh to a field goal. Dexter Lawrence picked up his second sack of the game, giving Joe Burrow and the offense more than two minutes to answer and possibly steal the win.
That chance disappeared when Burrow and the offense fumbled it away, and Cincinnati walked out with a 30-27 loss. It was a frustrating defeat with all three phases contributing, and the revamped defense has to clean up the tackling fast before Week 4 against Jacksonville. The Jaguars beat the defending AFC Champion New England Patriots 35-6 on Sunday.
In Other News...
Bengals Draft Regret Suddenly Looks Even Worse After Burrow Hit
The Bengals entered the 2025 draft hoping Shemar Stewart would become a difference-maker off the edge, but the early return has only sharpened the spotlight on that decision. Selected 17th overall, Stewart had a minimal rookie impact and then did not play a defensive snap in Cincinnatis AFC North opener in his second season, a development that left the Bengals looking for answers from a pick they expected to help reshape the front.
Meanwhile, Derrick Harmon, the defensive tackle the Steelers took in that same range, was making his presence felt in the same game with a key strip sack. For Cincinnati, the comparison is hard to ignore because it goes beyond one play or one afternoon, touching the way the defense might have looked, the resources the team has tied up, and how much pain lingers when a first-round swing doesnt land the way the front office envisioned. [Read more 🡒]
Amarius Mims Passed A Huge Bengals Test Despite One Costly Mistake
Amarius Mims had the kind of game the Bengals have been waiting to see from their 2024 first-round pick. Against the Steelers, he held up well at right tackle and gave Joe Burrow a cleaner pocket than Cincinnati has often had this season, even with Pittsburgh sending elite pressure off the edge. For a young tackle still learning the NFL pace, the performance suggested he can already handle big moments against top pass rushers like T.J. Watt.
Of course, it was not a spotless afternoon. Mims had some penalties and a late pass protection breakdown, the sort of hiccup that can swing attention in a close divisional game, and Cincinnati fell 30-27 anyway. The bigger concern for the Bengals was not just one rookie mistake, but how the loss also featured problems on defense and special teams, leaving Mims' encouraging work as one of the few clear positives to come out of the day. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Injury Concerns Suddenly Loom Larger After Steelers Loss
The Bengals left Pittsburgh with more than just a loss to process, and Zac Taylors postgame injury update added another layer to an already uneasy Sunday. Colbie Young looks likely to miss next weeks game against the Jaguars, while several other injured players remain in limbo as Cincinnati tries to sort out its roster heading into the next stretch.
Taylor also addressed defensive end Shemar Stewarts limited workload, tying it to his recent practice history, while Joe Burrow said he came out of the game without any new injuries. Burrows focus was on the missed chances against the Steelers, but the bigger question for Cincinnati now is how many moving parts will still be available when the Bengals try to bounce back. [Read more 🡒]