A huge reason why the Cincinnati Bengals won their first two games was that they made significant plays in all three phases.
On Sunday, major mistakes on offense, defense and special teams prevented the Bengals from going 3-0 for the first time since 2015.
A late turnover on offense, giving up explosive plays on defense and two gaffes on special teams propelled the Pittsburgh Steelers to a 30-27 victory.
Instead of having a one-game lead in the AFC North, the Bengals are 2-1 with the rest of the division.
“I think all three phases share that one,” coach Zac Taylor said after the game. “It hurts because you feel like you had every opportunity to win it. We didn’t do it.”
Joe Burrow passed for 282 yards and three touchdowns, but he fumbled at the Steelers 46 after being sacked by Derrick Harmon. Sebastian Joseph-Day's recovery at the Bengals 49 ended any hopes of a tying field goal.
“We had a concept on that we really liked against the coverage that they called, and we’re gonna have a chance at an explosive play,” offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher said Monday. “There’s an early beat, and so he’s not going to be able to hold on to the ball long enough to make that throw. He goes into escape mode and he’s fighting to not get sacked out of field-goal range, and you see quarterbacks all the time able to wriggle just free enough to shovel the ball off and get an incomplete pass. Obviously it didn’t turn out the way he hoped. But I thought Joe played great, and I appreciate what he’s trying to do on that play. Disappointing outcome.”
The defense allowed 10 explosive plays (rushes of at least 12 yards or pass plays of at 16). Four were in the run game after they gave up only two such plays in the first two games. Of the six passes, two were touchdowns.
Special teams might have been the most frustrating. A muffed punt and a roughing-the-punter call resulted in 10 Steelers points.
Burrow said after the game that he hopes his teammates take heed of what was learned from the loss.
“Yeah, we’ve got to play more sound football than what we did today to beat a team like that,” he said.
Burrow had two touchdown passes longer than 20 air yards on quick throws (under 2.5 seconds) against the Steelers. According to the NFL's Next Gen Stats, the rest of the league has combined for one such TD pass this season.
The Bengals have allowed 37 pass plays of at least 10 yards, tied for second most in the league. That included 11 against the Steelers. Aaron Rodgers had two deep TD passes (at least 20 air yards) after he failed to complete a deep ball the first two games.
Offensive tackle Amarius Mims did not allow a pressure in his 21 matchups against Steelers All-Pro linebacker T.J. Watt.
Cedric Johnson's roughing-the-punter penalty during the third quarter was a game-changer. The Steelers took advantage of the penalty and scored when Rodgers completed a 6-yard TD pass to DK Metcalf to put them back on top.
WR Colbie Young (knee) exited in the first half with a knee injury.
14 — Games in which the Bengals have allowed 30 points or more since 2014. Four have been against the Steelers.
The Bengals host Jacksonville for the second straight season on Sunday. Cincinnati rallied to win last year's Week 2 matchup 31-27, but Burrow suffered a turf toe injury in that game that caused him to miss the next nine games, derailing Cincinnati's season.
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Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'marr Chase, left, reacts after scoring a touchdown as Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. , right, tried to defend during the first half of an NFL football game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Ben Skowronek (15) catches a pass for a touchdown as Cincinnati Bengals safety Kyle Dugger (29) moves in on the play during the first half of an NFL football game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) is strip-sacked Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Derrick Harmon (99) by during the second half of an NFL football game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Justin Berl)
CLEVELAND (AP) — Donovan Mitchell and his Cleveland Cavaliers teammates didn't go their separate ways for four months before reassembling a couple weeks ago for the start of offseason workouts.
Instead, from the time the Cavaliers were eliminated in the Eastern Conference finals by the New York Knicks until Monday's media day, which marked the unofficial start of training camp, the group has spent a lot of time around each other.
“I think this is probably the most time I’ve spent with my teammates outside of the actual season in my career," Mitchell said. “From being in New York at the (US) Open and working out there and then going to James' (Harden's) birthday and working out there. And the crazy part is none of us went to summer league (in Las Vegas).”
James Harden was at the forefront of building the team bonding during the offseason. Harden was a midseason acquisition last year, but really didn't get to know his teammates off the court until the summer.
"We really didn’t have an opportunity to have that team bond, games in the regular season. And then you’re preparing for the postseason everything is intensified. So this summer was a really good opportunity for us to learn each other," he said. “Understanding somebody that’s like any job in the world. Now it’s giving them comfortability to come talk to me or me talk to them in ways that we never really had before. I think we’ve built some really good stuff over these last few months.”
Besides the time spent around teammates, both showed their commitment by signing new contracts during the offseason.
Mitchell inked a four-year, $273-million contract extension on the first day of the offseason signing period. The seven-time All-Star had two seasons remaining on his contract and could have waited to re-sign until next summer, when he would be eligible for a five-year supermax deal worth $350 million.
“I could have waited and made it about myself and whatnot, but for me, how can we as a team go out there and find a way to make moves? I’ve said to him (vice president of basketball operations Koby Altman) I want to be here. I’ve said it publicly and I love being here. And I think for me, now it’s about delivering and everything else that comes with it,” Mitchell said.
Harden signed a three-year, $97 million contract last month after declining his player option. He also helped recruit acquiring Peyton Watson in a five-team trade.
“I think it was a no-brainer. He’s young, he’s athletic, he’s gotten a lot better and it just fits what we’re trying to do. He’s been in postseason runs with Denver, so he knows what that looks like,” Harden said of Watson.
Center Thomas Bryant, who also re-signed with the Cavaliers during the offseason, said the biggest group during the offseason is that everyone is speaking the same language when it comes to running plays. That's something that didn't happen last season with the midseason trades and also the Cavaliers having 41 different starting lineups during the regular season due to injuries.
“We’re having these now before we even started the new year with the team. I think that’s a great step of growth going forward,” he said.
Mitchell and Harden will need to put together big seasons again if the Cavaliers are going to contend in the Eastern Conference. The 29-year old Mitchell averaged 27.9 points, 5.7 assists and 4.5 rebounds during the regular season, along with 26 points in the playoffs.
The 36-year-old Harden is going into his 18th NBA season. He averaged 10.7 points for the Cavaliers in the regular season, and 19.7 points in the postseason.
The team bonding will continue over the next week as the Cavaliers hold training camp in Spain. They open the regular season on Oct. 22 at Philadelphia against LeBron James and the 76ers.
“More time together equals more success, in my mind. Number one, it’s just a good group of guys we’ve got here. If you’re willing to sacrifice for each other, that goes such a long way that nothing can make up for," center Jarrett Allen said.
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Cleveland Cavaliers' Jarrett Allen poses for a photo during the NBA basketball team's media day, Monday, Sept 28, 2026, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Cleveland Cavaliers' Donovan Mitchell is interviewed during the NBA basketball team's media day, Monday, Sept 28, 2026, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
