Steelers' Russell Wilson Applauded By Mike Tomlin For Rising To The Challenge Against The Bengals

The Pittsburgh Steelers improved to 9-3 with a huge 44-38 road win over the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals were favored to win the game, and there were concerns that the Steelers' offense wouldn't be able to score enough to beat out the potent Cincinnati group. There were valid reasons for those thoughts as the Steelers dropped a game against the Cleveland Browns during Week 12, and their offense has struggled to put points on the board. However, Pittsburgh seemed to have the Bengals' number on Sunday. 

The Steelers have been a bit frustrating in 2024. They have beaten teams that they were supposed to lose to, like the Baltimore Ravens and the Washington Commanders, but then dropped games to the Browns and Dallas Cowboys. Yet, the team has found ways to win, including two games with only field goals. However, quarterback Russell Wilson has received mixed reviews since taking over, especially in the red zone. 

Head Coach Mike Tomlin recently said that they were going to work on better utilizing the replay assistant to help them in the red zone and short-yardage situations. Apparently, they took that to heart during their mini-bye, and Wilson looked the best he has all season. During his postgame press conference, Tomlin said Wilson got to experience what being on the road for AFC North football is like for the first time. 

"It's always a challenge, the intimacy of these divisional relationships," Tomlin shared. "We know them. They know us. But I just thought our group smiled in the face of it, particularly Russ. It's the first time for him going through this AFC North football. I thought he acclimated himself to it well today. He put himself squarely in the history of these series and that series with that performance today, and we're thankful for it."

Wilson certainly made his mark. He had his best game in black and gold in the win over the Bengals. The 257 yards he had in the first half was the most of any first half of his outstanding career. He was 29 of 38 attempted passes overall for 414 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. The Steelers managed 520 total yards of offense. This is the most by any Steelers quarterback in the regular season since Ben Roethlisberger had 462 in 2018.

The Steelers allowed the Bengals to hang on a bit longer than fans would have preferred, thanks to the defense giving up some big plays. However, if the Steelers' secondary can tighten up, the team will continue to have a shot against talented opponents such as the Kansas City Chiefs. Pittsburgh is emerging as a legitimate threat in the AFC.

Steelers And Bengals Both Needed A Win In Week 13

The Bengals were among the favorites to win the AFC North heading into the 2024 season. However, it hasn't gone their way, and they came into Week 13 at 4-7, needing to win to even have a shot at the playoffs. The Steelers were in a much better statistical position but failed to get respect from the media with their losses. 

In his press conference, Tomlin acknowledged that he was aware the Bengals were dangerous and that they were playing with "urgency." Even though Joe Burrow made some big plays in the game, Tomlin said he was proud of Pittsburgh's efforts. 

Tomlin told the media that the team knew that the Bengals could come storming back late in games and that they would likely have to hold them off. The Steelers, once again, managed to win the turnover battle, taking the ball from Cincinnati three times. 

What did you think of Wilson's first road AFC North game? Click to comment below. 

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