3 Takeaways from Steelers' Week 11 Loss vs. Bengals

The Pittsburgh Steelers opened the 2022 season by going on the road and knocking off the Cincinnati Bengals in overtime. Since then, things haven't gone nearly as well, including on Sunday when they again matched up against their AFC North rival.

Although the Steelers played a competitive game for much of Sunday afternoon, they couldn't hold off the Bengals late, falling 37-30 at Acrisure Stadium. Pittsburgh is now 3-7, having lost seven of nine games since its season-opening win.

The Steelers trailed by only one point when Matthew Wright made a 34-yard field goal with four minutes and 28 seconds to go in the third quarter. Then, the Bengals scored 13 straight points to put the game away.

Here are three takeaways from Pittsburgh's Week 11 loss.

Defense Couldn't Get Enough Big Stops

AP Photo/Don Wright

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) eludes Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Chris Wormley (95) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Don Wright)

The Steelers' offense put up 30 points and 351 total yards while committing no turnovers. A lot of times, that type of performance is enough to win. But that wasn't the case Sunday.

Part of the reason for that was Pittsburgh's defense couldn't slow the Cincinnati offense, particularly in the second half.

The Bengals had 408 total yards and got four touchdown passes from quarterback Joe Burrow, including a one-yard scoring strike to Trenton Irwin that put Cincinnati ahead for good midway through the third quarter.

It's the fourth time this season that the Steelers have given up 400-plus yards in a game. Burrow accounted for 355 of them through the air.

"That should never happen, when someone puts close to 40 points on the board and passes for almost 400 yards," Pittsburgh safety Minkah Fitzpatrick told reporters. "We have to get our chemistry, our continuity back. … We have the talent, so there is no excuse."

The Pittsburgh defense has shown flashes of potential at times, including Sunday, when it intercepted Burrow twice. But the Steelers have to be better at putting together complete games.

Harris Has Looked Much Better in Recent Weeks

AP Photo/Matt Durisko

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris (22) rushes during an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022, in Pittsburgh, PA. (AP Photo/Matt Durisko)

One of the most disappointing aspects of the Steelers' tough start to the season had been the play of Najee Harris. The second-year running back couldn't carry over the momentum from his impressive rookie campaign, and he had plenty of early struggles.

However, the 24-year-old has looked much better of late. In Week 10, he had 20 carries for 99 yards in a win over the New Orleans Saints. Then on Sunday, he had 20 carries for 90 yards and two touchdowns, his first multi-TD game of the season. It was also the first time he had got into the end zone since Week 6.

Jaylen Warren exited Sunday's game with a hamstring injury. If he misses time moving forward, the Steelers will need to rely more on Harris, who was starting to share some of the work with his fellow RB in recent weeks.

That may not be a bad thing, though, if Harris can keep this positive momentum going. He showed what he's capable of in 2021, so it's possible he's going to fare better in the second half of this season than he did in the first.

Schedule a Bit Lighter For Rest of the Way

AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin walks on the field during warmups before an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Over the past two months, the Steelers have faced plenty of challenging opponents. They lost games to playoff contenders such as the New England Patriots, New York Jets, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins and Philadelphia Eagles.

However, the Pittsburgh schedule will be a bit lighter the rest of the way. Five of its final seven games are against teams that currently have losing records. The only exceptions being a pair of games against the AFC North-leading Baltimore Ravens.

Could the Steelers get hot and still make a push to the playoffs? That seems unlikely, given they're tied at the bottom of the division with the Cleveland Browns. Even a 5-2 finish for Pittsburgh would only get it to 8-9.

But now that the Steelers' young players have more experience and will be playing more winnable matchups, there could be some better results.

It wouldn't be too surprising if Pittsburgh bounces back with a win in Week 12, when it will be on the road for a Monday night matchup against the Indianapolis Colts.