The Pittsburgh Steelers fell to the Cincinnati Bengals by a score of 33-31 on Thursday Night Football in Week 7 of the 2025 season. This was a game the Steelers were expected to win, but the team fell on the road to a divisional rival in primetime yet again. This could have been a crucial victory for Pittsburgh as it would have grown an already large lead in the AFC North, but the team faltered and could not get the job done. Pittsburgh still has firm lead in the division, but the fan base would be able to sleep a lot more comfortably had the group escaped Ohio with a win.
Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' TJ Watt and Keeanu Benton get home on a sack of Joe Flacco while playing the Cincinnati Bengals in 2025.
The offense played well for Pittsburgh in the win over the Bengals aside from a pair of turnovers, and there is no denying that the unit put up enough points to win the game. The concerns came on defense, which was a reoccurring issue at the start of the season. Pittsburgh could not slow down Joe Flacco and the way he was able to get the ball to Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins as that trio torched Pittsburgh all night long.
Outside linebacker TJ Watt spoke to the media after the game and he was asked about what makes Chase so hard to stop.
"I don't know man," Watt said. "I'm just trying to rush up front and stop the run and get after the quarterback."
Flacco was able to navigate the game almost perfectly for the Bengals. He was getting the ball out quick, and most of the time, it seemed to be to his first read. This completely nullifies the pass rush, which makes it difficult for a player like Watt to truly make an impact on the game. Watt still managed to get in on a sack of Flacco, but overall, the defense struggled throughout the matchup.
AP Photo
Cincinnati Bengals wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins taking the field during a home game.
Chase and Higgins consistently beat Pittsburgh's secondary throughout the contest. Chase hauled in 16 passes for 161 yards and a touchdown, while Higgins caught six passes for 96 yards and a score. The duo was unstoppable, and the two made Pittsburgh's new-look secondary look like a joke as they were often running open. Watt didn't have anything to say about the matter, but he probably would have liked some more time to get to the quarterback.
Pittsburgh's secondary seemed to have a couple of busted coverages, while defenders were also just straight up getting beat in their matchups. The defense needed a stop after giving up the lead in the first half, and that stop could not be found. The unit has seemed to revert back to how it was playing during the first couple of games of the season, which is a bit concerning as some improvements are going to need to be seen soon.
Steelers' Secondary Showed Serious Concerns In Loss To Cincinnati
Pittsburgh brought in some new faces during the 2025 offseason, including cornerbacks Jalen Ramsey and Darius Slay. Joey Porter Jr. is another cornerback who has shown flashes, but he has struggled to remain consistent.
That trio got beat on Thursday night as none of them could contain Chase or Higgins. Ramsey in particular had a rough night as he gave up a score to Chase, and he also got beat down the left sideline by Higgins to set the Bengals up for the game-winning field goal.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Jalen Ramsey during a loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on the road in the 2025 season.
It isn't just concerning that the secondary got beat all night long, but it just seemed so easy for Cincinnati's offense. Granted, Flacco is an experienced veteran who has played against this Pittsburgh defense plenty of times over the last two decades, but fans still would have liked to see the secondary make the Bengals earn it a little more.
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