McPherson’s 52-yard OT winner saves Bengals after Steelers erase 14-point deficit, 34-31

Cincinnati, OH - The Cincinnati Bengals watched a 14-point fourth-quarter lead disappear, survived a furious Pittsburgh Steelers comeback and needed one final kick from Evan McPherson to escape with a thrilling 34-31 overtime victory in Week 10.

With just 13 seconds remaining in overtime, McPherson drilled a 52-yard field goal to end a wild AFC North showdown that featured three defensive fumble-return touchdowns, a remarkable Pittsburgh rally and a Cincinnati offense that struggled to protect quarterback Joe Flacco.

Flacco threw for 310 yards and a touchdown despite being sacked nine times, but it was McPherson who delivered the final blow after the Steelers fought back from a 31-17 deficit to force overtime.

Defensive touchdowns ignite a chaotic first half

The afternoon’s unusual scoring began in the first quarter when Cincinnati recovered a Pittsburgh fumble and returned it 15 yards for a touchdown with 8:39 remaining.

It was the first sign that this would be anything but an ordinary divisional matchup.

Pittsburgh responded in the second quarter, beginning with a 30-yard field goal that cut the deficit to 7-3 with 9:57 remaining. Just 42 seconds later, the Steelers struck again, returning a Cincinnati fumble 37 yards for a touchdown to take a 10-7 lead.

The sudden reversal put Cincinnati on its heels, but Flacco answered.

With 5:17 remaining before halftime, the veteran quarterback connected with Andrei Iosivas for a 35-yard touchdown, putting the Bengals back in front 14-10.

The Steelers weren’t finished. A 1-yard rushing touchdown with 1:42 left in the half restored Pittsburgh’s advantage at 17-14.

Then McPherson provided a preview of what was to come.

With just 27 seconds remaining, the Bengals kicker connected from 52 yards, sending the teams into halftime tied at 17-17.

Neither side had managed to establish control, and the game’s most dramatic swings were still ahead.

Bengals explode in the third quarter

Cincinnati appeared to seize command after halftime.

Chase Brown broke through for a 7-yard rushing touchdown with 3:20 remaining in the third quarter, putting the Bengals ahead 24-17.

Then came another stunning defensive play.

With just 29 seconds left in the period, Dexter Lawrence II recovered a Pittsburgh fumble and returned it 57 yards for a touchdown.

Suddenly, the Bengals led 31-17.

Cincinnati had scored 14 unanswered third-quarter points, with its defense accounting for another touchdown in a game already filled with costly turnovers.

For Pittsburgh, the situation was becoming desperate. The Steelers had generated far more yardage and repeatedly pressured Flacco, yet found themselves staring at a two-touchdown deficit entering the final quarter.

But Pittsburgh wasn’t ready to surrender.

Steelers erase a 14-point deficit

Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers opened their comeback with a 7-yard touchdown pass to Jaylen Warren with 9:13 remaining in regulation.

The score trimmed Cincinnati’s lead to 31-24 and brought Pittsburgh within striking distance.

As the fourth quarter continued, the Steelers leaned on their productive rushing attack. Rico Dowdle had been a problem for Cincinnati’s defense throughout the afternoon, and Pittsburgh continued finding ways to move the football.

With 2:50 remaining, Dowdle powered into the end zone on a 3-yard touchdown run.

The extra point tied the game at 31-31.

Just like that, Cincinnati’s seemingly comfortable 14-point advantage had vanished.

The Bengals had led by two touchdowns at the end of the third quarter, only to watch Pittsburgh score twice in the fourth and completely change the complexion of the game.

Neither team managed to produce the winning score before regulation expired, sending the divisional battle into overtime.

McPherson delivers the final answer

With both teams having already traded momentum throughout the afternoon, overtime offered one final opportunity to settle the game.

And with the clock winding down, Cincinnati turned to a familiar weapon.

McPherson had already connected from 52 yards just before halftime. Now, with the game hanging in the balance, he faced another attempt from the same distance.

With 13 seconds remaining in overtime, McPherson sent his 52-yard kick through the uprights.

Game over.

Cincinnati had survived Pittsburgh’s fourth-quarter comeback, overcoming a massive disparity in offensive production to secure the 34-31 victory.

The Bengals had been outgained, repeatedly sacked and pushed to the brink after surrendering their two-touchdown lead. Yet they still found a way to finish.

Flacco withstands relentless Pittsburgh pressure

Although the game’s final moments belonged to McPherson, Flacco’s performance helped keep Cincinnati competitive against one of the most relentless pass-rushing efforts the Bengals had faced.

Flacco completed 25 of 34 passes for 310 yards and a touchdown without throwing an interception, finishing with a 111.1 passer rating.

Those numbers were especially impressive considering Pittsburgh recorded nine sacks.

Derrick Harmon contributed two sacks, while Patrick Queen and Alex Highsmith recorded 1.5 apiece.

"You look at the pressure and you know there were stretches that weren’t clean, but we stayed with it," Flacco said. "The biggest thing for me was continuing to give our guys chances without putting the ball in the other team’s hands."

Jonnu Smith led Cincinnati’s receiving corps with five catches for 82 yards. Iosivas contributed four receptions for 54 yards, including his 35-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter.

Brown finished with 31 rushing yards and a touchdown as Cincinnati managed just 45 yards on the ground.

The Bengals generated only 288 total offensive yards, but their defensive scores and timely special-teams contributions helped overcome that disadvantage.

Pittsburgh dominates the yardage battle but falls short

For the Steelers, the defeat was particularly frustrating because so much of the statistical battle went their way.

Pittsburgh finished with 457 total offensive yards, including 224 rushing yards, and recorded 30 first downs compared with Cincinnati’s 17.

Dowdle was the centerpiece of the Steelers’ ground attack, carrying 27 times for a game-high 171 yards and two touchdowns.

Warren added 48 rushing yards on five carries and caught five passes for 47 yards and a touchdown.

Rodgers completed 24 of 37 passes for 272 yards and a touchdown without an interception. Pat Freiermuth led Pittsburgh with seven receptions for 54 yards, while DK Metcalf added 53 yards on three catches.

Pittsburgh also produced nine sacks and a defensive touchdown, giving the Steelers plenty of reasons to believe they had done enough to win.

But Cincinnati’s own defense made crucial contributions, recording five sacks and scoring twice on fumble returns.

"There's plenty in the numbers that says we gave ourselves opportunities," Dowdle said. "But when the result is a three-point loss, the yards aren’t what you remember. You remember that we didn’t finish with the win."

The Steelers had erased a 14-point deficit, survived an eventful first half and produced far more offensive yardage.

None of it was enough to overcome McPherson’s final kick.

For Cincinnati, the victory improved its record to 6-3 and provided a dramatic response to its previous loss. Pittsburgh fell to 2-7 after coming agonizingly close to completing one of the season’s more memorable comebacks.

The Bengals didn’t win the statistical battle.

They won the one that mattered.

Up Next

Cincinnati will travel to face the Washington Commanders in Week 11, looking to build on its dramatic overtime victory. Pittsburgh will head to Philadelphia to face the Eagles, hoping to rebound after its heartbreaking defeat.