The Bengals vs Pittsburgh Steelers match player stats tell the story of another close AFC North battle, one decided by late-game execution rather than a huge difference in overall performance. On September 27, 2026, the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 30-27 at Acrisure Stadium. Pittsburgh quarterback Aaron Rodgers threw for 292 yards and three touchdowns, while Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow answered with 282 yards and three touchdown passes of his own. The game remained tied or within one score for most of the afternoon, but a late Chris Boswell field goal and a Pittsburgh defensive takeaway in the final minute ultimately separated the teams.
This breakdown focuses on the latest completed Bengals-Steelers matchup as of October 2026, examining the key player statistics, quarterback performances, rushing and receiving production, team numbers, scoring sequence, defensive impact, special-teams plays, and the moments that decided the game.
Bengals vs Pittsburgh Steelers Match Overview
Cincinnati entered the Week 3 matchup unbeaten at 2-0, while Pittsburgh was 1-1. By the end of the afternoon, both clubs were 2-1 after the Steelers earned the three-point victory.
The final score does not fully capture how balanced the contest was. Cincinnati scored seven points in the first quarter, 10 in the second, three in the third and seven in the fourth. Pittsburgh scored 14 in the opening quarter, three in the second, seven in the third and six in the fourth.
| Game Detail | Result |
|---|---|
| Matchup | Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers |
| Date | September 27, 2026 |
| Venue | Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh |
| Final Score | Steelers 30, Bengals 27 |
| Bengals Record After Game | 2-1 |
| Steelers Record After Game | 2-1 |
| Bengals QB | Joe Burrow |
| Steelers QB | Aaron Rodgers |
| Leading Rusher | Jaylen Warren – 127 yards |
| Leading Receiver by Yards | Ja’Marr Chase – 98 yards |
Pittsburgh finished with 411 total yards, compared with Cincinnati’s 352. The Steelers also held a 22-19 advantage in first downs and converted seven of 12 third-down opportunities. Cincinnati converted six of 12. Time of possession was almost perfectly even, with Cincinnati holding the ball for 30:06 and Pittsburgh for 29:54.
Bengals vs Pittsburgh Steelers Match Player Stats
The quarterback numbers were remarkably close. Both Burrow and Rodgers threw exactly three touchdown passes, while the difference in passing yardage was only 10 yards.
The biggest statistical separation came on the ground. Pittsburgh’s Jaylen Warren produced 127 rushing yards on only 17 carries. Cincinnati’s Chase Brown led his team with 61 rushing yards.
Key Offensive Player Stats
| Player | Team | Key Statistics |
|---|---|---|
| Joe Burrow | Bengals | 28/37, 282 passing yards, 3 TD, 0 INT |
| Aaron Rodgers | Steelers | 19/34, 292 passing yards, 3 TD, 1 INT |
| Chase Brown | Bengals | 13 carries, 61 rushing yards |
| Jaylen Warren | Steelers | 17 carries, 127 rushing yards; 3 catches, 49 yards |
| Ja’Marr Chase | Bengals | 9 catches, 98 yards, 1 TD |
| Tee Higgins | Bengals | 6 catches, 90 yards, 1 TD |
| Mike Gesicki | Bengals | 3 catches, 37 yards, 1 TD |
| Darnell Washington | Steelers | 3 catches, 67 yards |
| Roman Wilson | Steelers | 3 catches, 60 yards, 1 TD |
| DK Metcalf | Steelers | 3 catches, 31 yards, 1 TD |
| Ben Skowronek | Steelers | 1 catch, 23 yards, 1 TD |
These numbers show why the game remained competitive until the final minute. Cincinnati had the more efficient passing performance, but Pittsburgh created more total offense and received much more production from its rushing attack.
Joe Burrow’s Performance for Cincinnati
Joe Burrow delivered an efficient performance despite the loss.
He completed 28 of 37 passes for 282 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions, producing a passer rating of 123.9. He also gained 13 yards on two rushing attempts.
Burrow spread his touchdown passes among three important Cincinnati targets: Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Mike Gesicki.
His first touchdown went to Chase from three yards out in the first quarter, tying the game 7-7. Late in the second quarter, Burrow connected with Higgins for a 28-yard touchdown that sent the teams into halftime tied 17-17. He later found Gesicki for a 25-yard fourth-quarter touchdown, giving Cincinnati a 27-24 advantage.
Statistically, Burrow did many of the things Cincinnati needed. He completed more than three-quarters of his attempts, avoided throwing an interception and produced three touchdowns.
The problem came at the worst possible moment.
After Pittsburgh took a 30-27 lead, Cincinnati got another opportunity. The Bengals moved into Steelers territory, but Derrick Harmon sacked Burrow and forced a fumble with 44 seconds remaining. Sebastian Joseph-Day recovered the ball, effectively ending Cincinnati’s final comeback attempt.
That play is an important reminder that a quarterback’s overall stat line doesn’t always explain the result. Burrow’s passing numbers were excellent, but Pittsburgh produced the decisive defensive play.
Aaron Rodgers Leads the Steelers Passing Attack
Aaron Rodgers produced a very different-looking but equally productive quarterback performance.
Rodgers completed 19 of 34 passes for 292 yards, three touchdowns and one interception, finishing with a 101.6 passer rating.
His completion percentage was considerably lower than Burrow’s, yet Pittsburgh generated more yards per completed pass and created several explosive gains.
Rodgers opened the scoring by connecting with Roman Wilson for a 38-yard touchdown. He later found Ben Skowronek for a 23-yard touchdown before the first quarter ended, giving Pittsburgh a 14-7 advantage.
His third touchdown came in the third quarter, when DK Metcalf caught a six-yard scoring pass that moved Pittsburgh back in front 24-20.
Rodgers did throw an interception, with Bengals safety Jordan Battle making the play. Cincinnati converted that opportunity into a touchdown before halftime.
Even with that mistake, Rodgers responded with several important throws later in the game. One of the biggest came during Pittsburgh’s final scoring drive, when he connected with Darnell Washington for a 47-yard gain. That explosive play helped put the Steelers in position for Boswell’s winning field goal.
Joe Burrow vs Aaron Rodgers Statistical Comparison
The quarterback duel was one of the main attractions of this matchup.
| Statistic | Joe Burrow | Aaron Rodgers |
|---|---|---|
| Completions | 28 | 19 |
| Attempts | 37 | 34 |
| Passing Yards | 282 | 292 |
| Passing TDs | 3 | 3 |
| Interceptions | 0 | 1 |
| Passer Rating | 123.9 | 101.6 |
| Sacks Taken | 1 | 2 |
Burrow was more accurate and protected the football better through the air. Rodgers generated slightly more passing yardage despite completing nine fewer passes.
That contrast reflects the two offenses. Cincinnati relied heavily on its star receivers and efficient intermediate passing. Pittsburgh found more explosive gains and complemented Rodgers with a much stronger rushing performance.
Jaylen Warren Changes the Game on the Ground
If there was one offensive player who gave Pittsburgh a clear statistical advantage, it was Jaylen Warren.
Warren carried the football 17 times for 127 yards, averaging approximately 7.5 yards per carry. He also caught three passes for 49 yards, giving him 176 yards from scrimmage.
That versatility was crucial.
Cincinnati couldn’t focus entirely on Rodgers and Pittsburgh’s receivers because Warren consistently threatened the defense from the backfield. His production helped Pittsburgh finish with 138 rushing yards as a team.
One of Warren’s most dramatic runs actually did not count. He broke free for an apparent 87-yard gain in the fourth quarter, but the play was erased by a holding penalty. Pittsburgh responded instead of collapsing after the penalty. Rodgers completed a 14-yard pass to Metcalf, Washington broke loose for 47 yards, and Warren followed with a 26-yard run. That sequence helped set up Boswell’s eventual winning kick.
Chase Brown Leads Cincinnati’s Running Game
Chase Brown was Cincinnati’s leading rusher, recording 61 yards on 13 carries, an average of 4.7 yards per attempt. Burrow added 13 rushing yards, while Samaje Perine recorded nine yards on three carries.
Brown’s performance was respectable, but Cincinnati did not get the same game-changing ground production Pittsburgh received from Warren.
The Bengals finished with 83 rushing yards compared with Pittsburgh’s 138. That 55-yard difference helped the Steelers maintain offensive balance and reduced the pressure on Rodgers to win every possession exclusively through the air.
Ja’Marr Chase Leads Bengals Receivers
Ja’Marr Chase once again served as Burrow’s primary target.
Chase caught nine of 12 targets for 98 yards and one touchdown, leading Cincinnati in receptions and receiving yards. His longest reception went for 21 yards.
His touchdown came early, but his impact stretched throughout the game. Six of his receptions resulted in first downs, illustrating how frequently Cincinnati used him to extend drives as well as create scoring opportunities.
Chase narrowly missed a 100-yard receiving performance, but the raw yardage only tells part of the story. Burrow repeatedly looked in his direction, and Pittsburgh had to account for him throughout the afternoon.
Tee Higgins Delivers Another Major Performance
Tee Higgins gave Cincinnati a dangerous second receiving option.
Higgins caught six of seven targets for 90 yards and a touchdown, averaging 15 yards per reception. His longest catch was his 28-yard touchdown late in the second quarter.
The combination of Chase and Higgins accounted for 188 receiving yards.
That balance creates a difficult problem for a defense. Devoting extra coverage to Chase can create opportunities for Higgins, while focusing too heavily on Higgins can leave Chase in favorable situations.
Higgins’ efficiency was particularly impressive. Six catches on seven targets meant very few wasted opportunities when Burrow looked his way.
Mike Gesicki Makes His Biggest Catch Count
Mike Gesicki finished with only three receptions, but his production was important.
He caught all three of his targets for 37 yards, including a 25-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.
That touchdown gave Cincinnati a 27-24 lead with 13:29 remaining. At that stage, the Bengals appeared to have placed themselves in position to close out the game.
Pittsburgh answered with two Boswell field goals and prevented Cincinnati from scoring again.
Pittsburgh’s Receiving Production Was Spread Around
Unlike Cincinnati, where Chase and Higgins dominated the receiving totals, Pittsburgh distributed its passing production across several players.
Darnell Washington led Pittsburgh with 67 receiving yards on three catches, including the critical 47-yard gain late in the fourth quarter.
Roman Wilson caught three passes for 60 yards and scored on a 38-yard reception. Jaylen Warren added three receptions for 49 yards. DK Metcalf caught three passes for 31 yards and a touchdown.
Ben Skowronek had only one reception, but it went for a 23-yard touchdown.
This distribution made Pittsburgh difficult to defend. Cincinnati couldn’t simply remove one receiver from the game and expect the passing attack to disappear.
Team Stats Explain Pittsburgh’s Narrow Advantage
The Bengals vs Pittsburgh Steelers match player stats become even clearer when viewed alongside the team totals.
| Team Statistic | Bengals | Steelers |
|---|---|---|
| Total Yards | 352 | 411 |
| First Downs | 19 | 22 |
| Rushing Yards | 83 | 138 |
| Passing Yards Before Sack Adjustment | 282 | 292 |
| Third Downs | 6/12 | 7/12 |
| Red-Zone TD Efficiency | 1/2 | 1/3 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of Possession | 30:06 | 29:54 |
Pittsburgh’s 411 total yards were 59 more than Cincinnati’s 352. The Steelers also had three additional first downs.
Neither team dominated possession. Instead, Pittsburgh’s advantage came primarily from explosive plays, rushing production and Cincinnati’s costly mistakes.
How the Scoring Developed
Pittsburgh started quickly.
Rodgers connected with Roman Wilson for a 38-yard touchdown before Burrow answered with a short touchdown pass to Chase. Rodgers then found Skowronek for another touchdown, leaving Pittsburgh ahead 14-7 after one quarter.
The Bengals gradually erased the deficit.
McPherson hit a 50-yard field goal, while Boswell answered from 44 yards. Higgins’ 28-yard touchdown reception then tied the game 17-17 shortly before halftime.
Cincinnati took its first second-half lead on McPherson’s 38-yard field goal. Rodgers answered by throwing a six-yard touchdown pass to Metcalf, putting Pittsburgh ahead 24-20.
Burrow responded again, connecting with Gesicki for a 25-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter.
That made it Cincinnati 27, Pittsburgh 24.
Boswell tied the game with a 36-yard field goal and later kicked a 33-yarder to give Pittsburgh a 30-27 advantage with a little more than two minutes remaining.
Chris Boswell and Evan McPherson Were Reliable
Both kickers handled their opportunities well.
Evan McPherson converted both of his field-goal attempts, including a 50-yarder, and made all three extra points. That gave him nine points.
Boswell was even more important because Pittsburgh repeatedly needed him late. His fourth-quarter field goals from 36 and 33 yards first tied the game and then produced the winning points.
In a three-point game, dependable kicking was obviously significant.
Special Teams Became a Major Factor
One of Cincinnati’s most damaging mistakes came outside the traditional offensive and defensive statistics.
With the Bengals leading 27-24 in the fourth quarter, returner Ke’Shawn Williams muffed a Cameron Johnston punt. Pittsburgh’s Ben Skowronek recovered it, giving the Steelers another possession.
Earlier, Cincinnati had also committed a roughing-the-punter penalty that extended a Pittsburgh drive. According to the Bengals’ postgame account, those two special-teams errors ultimately translated into 10 Pittsburgh points.
Those moments demonstrate why simply comparing quarterback numbers does not explain the final score.
Defensive Plays That Decided the Match
Cincinnati’s defense had its moments. Jordan Battle intercepted Rodgers in the first half, creating a short field that helped Cincinnati tie the game before halftime.
But Pittsburgh produced the most important defensive play.
With 44 seconds remaining, Cincinnati had crossed into Pittsburgh territory and still had a chance to tie or win. Derrick Harmon finally broke through, sacking Burrow and forcing the quarterback to fumble.
Sebastian Joseph-Day recovered it.
Game over.
Harmon’s sack was Pittsburgh’s first of the afternoon, but its timing made it more valuable than a collection of earlier sacks might have been.
Patrick Queen also led the Steelers with 13 tackles, while Cameron Heyward recorded two quarterback hits.
Why Pittsburgh Won Despite Burrow’s Efficiency
Looking only at Burrow’s line — 282 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions and a 123.9 rating — might make Cincinnati’s loss seem surprising.
Several factors explain it.
Pittsburgh generated 411 total yards. Warren gave the Steelers a major rushing advantage. Rodgers created explosive passing plays. Cincinnati made costly special-teams mistakes, and the Bengals committed the game’s decisive turnover in the final minute.
The Steelers therefore didn’t need Rodgers to outperform Burrow in every statistical category. They needed enough production across offense, defense and special teams to create a narrow overall advantage.
That’s exactly what happened.
What the Match Revealed About Cincinnati
Cincinnati’s passing game remained dangerous. Burrow was accurate, Chase and Higgins combined for nearly 200 receiving yards, and three different Bengals caught touchdown passes.
The concern was complementary football.
Cincinnati’s offense produced enough points to win many games, but special-teams mistakes repeatedly gave Pittsburgh opportunities. The Bengals also couldn’t generate enough rushing production to match Warren’s influence on the other side.
Most importantly, Cincinnati had possession and a chance to answer after Pittsburgh’s go-ahead field goal. The strip-sack prevented the offense from completing the comeback.
What the Match Revealed About Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh’s offensive balance was the most encouraging element of the win.
Rodgers threw three touchdowns and nearly 300 yards, but the Steelers didn’t depend exclusively on their quarterback. Warren supplied 176 yards from scrimmage, and several different receivers made important plays.
The Steelers also showed an ability to recover from setbacks. Warren’s huge fourth-quarter run was wiped away by a penalty, yet Pittsburgh immediately responded with explosive gains and still reached field-goal range.
Then, when Cincinnati threatened on the final possession, the defense generated its biggest pass rush of the afternoon.
Putting the Latest Bengals-Steelers Stats in Context
Bengals-Steelers games can vary dramatically even within a short period.
For example, Pittsburgh beat Cincinnati 44-38 in December 2024 in a game where Russell Wilson threw for 414 yards and three touchdowns. Cincinnati then won the January 2025 rematch 19-17, when Trey Hendrickson recorded 3.5 sacks and the Bengals held Pittsburgh to only 193 total net yards.
The 2025 season brought more swings. Cincinnati won the first meeting 33-31 behind Joe Flacco’s 342 passing yards and Ja’Marr Chase’s Bengals-record 16 receptions for 161 yards. Pittsburgh answered in November with a 34-12 win that included two defensive touchdowns.
The September 2026 game continued that pattern: close, physical, unpredictable and decided by a small number of high-impact plays.
Conclusion
The Bengals vs Pittsburgh Steelers match player stats from September 27, 2026 show just how close this AFC North matchup was. Pittsburgh won 30-27, but both quarterbacks produced three touchdown passes and neither team controlled possession for a meaningful amount of time.
Joe Burrow completed 28 of 37 passes for 282 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. Ja’Marr Chase led Cincinnati with nine catches for 98 yards and a touchdown, while Tee Higgins contributed 90 yards and another score.
For Pittsburgh, Aaron Rodgers threw for 292 yards and three touchdowns. The difference-maker on offense was Jaylen Warren, whose 127 rushing yards and 49 receiving yards gave him 176 yards from scrimmage.
Still, the deciding numbers weren’t simply passing or rushing totals. Pittsburgh benefited from special-teams mistakes, received two late field goals from Chris Boswell, and produced the game’s defining defensive play when Derrick Harmon strip-sacked Burrow with 44 seconds left.
In a rivalry where small mistakes frequently become major moments, Pittsburgh made enough plays across all three phases to turn an extremely competitive game into a 30-27 victory.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the latest Bengals vs Pittsburgh Steelers match?
The Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 30-27 on September 27, 2026, at Acrisure Stadium. The result moved Pittsburgh to 2-1 and handed Cincinnati its first loss of the season.
What were Joe Burrow’s stats against the Steelers?
Joe Burrow completed 28 of 37 passes for 282 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. He finished with a 123.9 passer rating but lost a fumble on Pittsburgh’s decisive late strip-sack.
What were Aaron Rodgers’ stats against the Bengals?
Aaron Rodgers completed 19 of 34 passes for 292 yards, three touchdowns and one interception, finishing with a 101.6 passer rating.
Who had the most rushing yards in Bengals vs Steelers?
Jaylen Warren led all players with 127 rushing yards on 17 carries. He also caught three passes for 49 yards, giving him 176 total yards from scrimmage.
Who had the most receiving yards in the game?
Ja’Marr Chase led the game with 98 receiving yards on nine catches, including one touchdown. Cincinnati teammate Tee Higgins followed with 90 yards, while Darnell Washington led Pittsburgh with 67 receiving yards.
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