While most NFL teams were fighting hard for to earn their first victory of the 2022-23 season on Sunday, it often looked like the Cincinnati Bengals and the Pittsburgh Steelers were actively trying to lose their season-openers with turnovers, sloppy play, and missed kicks.
The ugly game started in the first half when Bengals star quarterback Joe Burrow got off to an absolutely abysmal start, throwing a pick-six on his first throw of the season. Burrow then went on to turn the ball over a total of four times in the first half alone. Burrow then threw a fourth interception in the fourth quarter. Counting an additional turnover on downs, the Bengals had a total of six turnovers on the day.
Still, the Steelers weren’t able to take full advantage of the Cincinnati turnovers. Pittsburgh managed just 20 points during regulation, scoring just two touchdowns the entire weekend – one of which came on defense on the opening drive.
The Steelers’ offense allowed the Bengals to stay in the game until the very end when Ja’Marr Chase scored a late touchdown with just seconds on the clock to tie the game at 20 before the extra point. Normally, the extra point would have been relatively automatic for star kicker Evan McPherson. But Cincinnati was down to its second-string long snapper after an injury to the starter, and Pittsburgh was able to take advantage of a slow snap by blocking the extra point to send it to overtime.
In overtime, Cincinnati missed another would-be game-winner due to another bad snap, then Pittsburgh Steelers kicker Chris Boswell clanked a would-be game-winner off the uprights on the other end in response. Eventually, the Steelers made another stop and Boswell kicked a true game-winner as time expired.
It was an absolutely wild game, and the NFL world had plenty to say about it.
The Bengals should walk into the ocean
— Treb (@treblaw) September 11, 2022
I think the ceiling for the Bengals is very high.
One game shouldn’t dissuade you from believing that.
I think today’s offensive performance and situational coaching were both very disappointing.
Talk to you from Twin Peaks in West Chester tomorrow.
Tons to discuss.
— Mo Egger (@MoEgger) September 11, 2022
The Steelers are absolutely awful. The Bengals gave the game away with miserable ball security and then losing their longsnapper.
— Jake Liscow (@JakeLiscow) September 11, 2022
Steelers defense when they see Joe Burrow in the pocket pic.twitter.com/wooGkKwDXN
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) September 11, 2022
This Steelers defense is hilariousssssss
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) September 11, 2022
https://twitter.com/evagreycekane/status/1569061152600080385?s=20&t=8K9_8AZ9BPBJhzfAuuOs2Q
The Bengals will try to rebound from the win with a road matchup against the Dallas Cowboys next weekend while the Steelers will look to extend their winning streak against the Cleveland Browns next week.
