PITTSBURGH — Joe Burrow will head to Cincinnati’s coaching facility on Sunday.
He’ll carry weights. He may watch some video. After which he’ll be part of the remainder of his teammates and hope.
It’s not a lot.
But it surely’s the one factor left for Burrow and a Bengals workforce that definitely seems to be playoff-worthy all over the place however the standings after a 19-17 victory at Pittsburgh late Saturday evening saved Cincinnati’s slim postseason hopes flickering into the season’s ultimate day.
“It’s not ideal,” Burrow stated after throwing for 277 yards and a landing. “But we put ourselves in this position.”
In a number of methods.
The Bengals have been floundering at 4-8 a month in the past, with seven of the losses coming by eight factors or much less. They responded by ripping off 5 straight to wrap up the common season, together with a win over the reeling Steelers.
For the Bengals to seize the ultimate playoff spot within the AFC, they want Patrick Mahomes-less Kansas Metropolis to beat Denver and the New York Jets to summon the vitality on the finish of a chaotic season to topple Miami.
Yeah, for Bengals followers it will likely be bizarre rooting for the Chiefs. It beats having nothing to root for in any respect, which is definitely the place Cincinnati appeared headed a month in the past.
“I don’t know how many guys will be playing for (Kansas City),” Burrow stated with a small giggle. “Hopefully some.”
Whereas Burrow threw an interception and had his NFL-record streak of consecutive video games with a minimum of 250 yards passing and three touchdowns come to an finish, he did sufficient to ship the Steelers (10-7) reeling into the playoffs with a four-game dropping streak.
Pittsburgh would be the fifth seed and journey to AFC South champion Houston if the Los Angeles Chargers lose at Las Vegas. If the Chargers win, the Steelers would be the sixth seed and go to AFC North rival Baltimore subsequent weekend.
“We’re in a single-elimination tournament now, so we better turn our attention toward playing good football and better than we have particularly in recent weeks,” Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin stated.
If Tomlin needs a lesson on the right way to get it collectively beneath difficult circumstances, Cincinnati’s play over the past month has supplied it.
The Bengals’ late run started after a 44-38 loss to the Steelers on Dec. 1 dropped them to 4-8. They haven’t misplaced since, with Burrow enjoying at an MVP degree and their as soon as porous protection enjoying its finest soccer of the season.
Burrow accomplished 37 of 46 passes, together with a 12-yard landing to Ja’Marr Chase on Cincinnati’s first possession that gave the Bengals a lead they by no means gave up.
Chase completed with 10 receptions for 96 yards to place the NFL’s “Triple Crown” for receivers (catches, yards and touchdowns) inside attain.
Cincinnati held reeling Pittsburgh (10-7) to 193 yards — greater than 300 lower than the 520 the Steelers rolled up within the first assembly — and turned apart a late rally.
Trey Hendrickson sacked Russell Wilson 3¹/₂ instances to spice up his season complete to an NFL-leading 17¹/₂ on an evening the Bengals by no means let the playoff-bound Steelers get on observe.
“Obviously, our season hasn’t gone the way we wanted, but we like how we closed out to get over .500 and give ourselves a chance,” Cincinnati cornerback Mike Hilton stated.
Wilson handed for 148 yards and a landing, each the rating and the overwhelming majority of the yards coming in the course of the fourth quarter when the Steelers have been desperately enjoying catchup. Wilson hit Pat Freiermuth for a 19-yard landing move and Chris Boswell hit a 54-yard discipline objective to get Pittsburgh inside two.
The Steelers obtained the ball again simply after the 2-minute warning however by no means made it to Cincinnati territory.
Wilson threw incomplete to Freiermuth on fourth down and Burrow got here out for a kneeldown that prolonged the Bengals’ season to the ultimate day.
Whether or not Burrow and his teammates head to work on Monday to arrange for a visit to Buffalo or to wash out their lockers and switch their consideration to what might be an eventful offseason is unsure. Contemplating the place his workforce was a month in the past, Burrow will take it.
“I know that if we get in, we can make some noise with the players and coaches that we have in this building,” he stated. “We’ve just got to hope for some help tomorrow and sit back and watch it.”
