Bengals–Steelers rivalry

The Bengals–Steelers rivalry is a National Football League (NFL) rivalry between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Pittsburgh Steelers. The two teams have played each other twice a year since becoming division rivals in 1970. Originally placed in the AFC Central following the 1970 AFL–NFL merger, the two teams currently compete in that division's successor, the AFC North.

Cincinnati Bengals–Pittsburgh Steelers

Cincinnati Bengals Pittsburgh Steelers
First meeting	November 2, 1970 Steelers 21, Bengals 10
Latest meeting	December 21, 2020 Bengals 27, Steelers 17
Next meeting	2021
Statistics
Meetings total	103
All-time series	Steelers, 67-36
Regular season series	Steelers, 65-36
Postseason results	Steelers, 2–0
Largest victory	Bengals, 42–7 (1988)
Longest win streak	Bengals, 6 (1988–90) Steelers, 11 (2015–20)
Current win streak	Bengals, 1

The Steelers lead the overall series, 67-36. The two teams met twice in the postseason, with the Steelers winning both games after the 2005 and 2015 seasons.

History

1970–73: Beginning of the rivalry

Prior to 1970, the Steelers were members of the NFL and the Bengals were part of the AFL. However, as part of the AFL-NFL merger, the two teams were placed in the AFC Central division along with the NFL's Cleveland Browns and the AFL's Houston Oilers. Thus, the Bengals and Steelers have played each other twice every season since (except the strike-shortened 1982 campaign).

The Steelers defeated the Bengals in their first meeting, 21–10 at Pittsburgh's Three Rivers Stadium. However, the Bengals would win the rematch in Cincinnati 34–7 during a 7-game winning streak that pushed the Bengals to the division championship.

The Steelers would win four of the next six meetings to take a 5–3 series lead early in its history.

1974–79: Steelers' Super Bowl dynasty

The Steelers dominated the rivalry – and the entire NFL – mid-to-late 1970s, posting a 9–3 record against the Bengals during this time. The Steelers won four Super Bowls during these six years.

The Steelers were led by their "Steel Curtain" defense, as they held the Bengals to 17 points or less during ten of the twelve meetings during this stretch. The Steelers were also able to win two games despite scoring a single touchdown as they won 7–3 in 1976 and 7–6 in 1978 – the two lowest-scoring games in the history of the rivalry. The Steelers would also win six straight games from 1974–1977.

One bright spot for the Bengals occurred in their 1979 meeting in Cincinnati. The Bengals, who were 0–6 entering the game, forced nine Steelers turnovers on their way to a 34–10 blowout win over the Steelers.[1]

1980–90: Bengals' resurgence

On October 12, 1980, the Bengals defeated the Steelers 17–16 at Three Rivers Stadium, snapping the Steelers' 18-game home winning streak and their undefeated 10–0 record at home against the Bengals. This game, along with an earlier Bengals' win in Cincinnati, were the only two losses for the then-4–2 Steelers, as they eventually finished 9–7, missing the playoffs for the first time since 1971.[2]

The Bengals swept the 1981 season series as well, on their way to their first Super Bowl appearance.

Because of the 1982 NFL Players Strike, the game in Cincinnati that season was cancelled. The Steelers won the only meeting of the year in Pittsburgh, 26-20 in overtime. This marks the only season in which the Steelers and Bengals did not meet twice.

The Bengals closed the gap of the Steelers' lead throughout the 1980s. On November 6, 1988, the Bengals defeated the Steelers 42–7, the largest margin of victory for either team in the series. The Bengals went on to Super Bowl XXIII that season, their most recent appearance in a Super Bowl.

The Bengals won six straight meetings from 1988–1990, which gave them a 21–20 lead in the overall series after the 1990 season. To date, this is the only time the Bengals led the series.

1991–2003: Steelers in contention, Bengals struggle

The Steelers returned to dominating the rivalry in the 1990s. Immediately following the Bengals' six-game winning streak, Pittsburgh won eight straight meetings from 1991–1994.

On November 30, 1992, the Steelers sacked Bengals quarterback David Klingler ten times, one short of the single-game NFL record, en route to a 21–9 Steelers win.[3] Combined with a 20–0 victory earlier in the season, the Steelers did not allow a touchdown to the Bengals in either of their two meetings that year.[4]

On October 19, 1995, the Bengals defeated the Steelers, 27–9 on Thursday Night Football. Despite outgaining the Bengals by 100 yards, the Steelers could not reach the end zone.[4] In their second game that season, the Bengals had a 31–13 lead in the third quarter, but the Steelers scored 36 unanswered points to win 49–31. The Steelers would play in Super Bowl XXX that season, but lose to the Dallas Cowboys.

In 1998, the Bengals struggled to a 3–13 record, however, two of those wins came against the Steelers, as the Bengals earned their first sweep of the Steelers since 1990, and these two led to Bill Cowher's first losing season as Steelers head coach.

Both teams opened new stadiums in the early 2000s. The Bengals opened Paul Brown Stadium in 2000 and the Steelers opened Heinz Field. The two teams opened Heinz Field on October 7, 2001, a 16–7 Steelers win. The Steelers dominated the series in the early 2000s as they were perennial playoff contenders, while the Bengals finished near the bottom of the league.

2004–present: The Ben Roethlisberger era

Both teams drafted franchise quarterbacks in the early-to-mid 2000s. The Bengals drafted Carson Palmer first overall in 2003, while the Steelers selected Ben Roethlisberger in the first round the following year. Roethlisberger's Steelers have posted a 24–7 record against the Bengals, including wins in two playoff meetings.

The Steelers and Bengals met in the Playoffs for the first time in a 2005 AFC Wild Card game in Cincinnati. The Bengals lost Palmer to an injury on their first drive, but built a 17–7 lead. The Steelers to score 24 unanswered points to defeat the Bengals, 31–17. The Steelers would go on to win Super Bowl XL that season.

The Steelers swept the Bengals in 2007 and 2008, on their way to consecutive division titles and a Super Bowl XLIII win following the 2008 season.

In 2009, the Bengals swept the Steelers and won all of their division game for the first time in franchise history. The game in Cincinnati marked Roethlisberger's first loss in his home state of Ohio, having previously been 10–0 at Cincinnati and Cleveland.

Palmer announced his intention to retire after the 2010 season (although he would later return to the NFL with the Oakland Raiders and Arizona Cardinals) and the Bengals drafted Andy Dalton in 2011. The Steelers continued to dominate the rivalry, going 13–3 against Dalton's Bengals.

The teams' second postseason meeting occurred in the 2015 AFC Wild Card game in Cincinnati. The Steelers built a 15–0 after three quarters, however Roethlisberger had left the game due to an injury. Bengals quarterback A.J. McCarron, starting for an injured Dalton, led the Bengals to 16 straight points. However, Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier would force Bengals running back Jeremy Hill to fumble and the Steelers recovered the loose ball. Roethlisberger returned and led the Steelers on their final drive. On an incomplete pass to Antonio Brown, Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict was flagged for unnecessary roughness on a brutal and concussing blow to Brown's head; the hit subsequently led to the suspension of Burfict for the first three games of 2016. Immediately afterwards, Bengals cornerback Adam Jones was flagged for a personal foul due to an altercation with Steelers assistant coach Joey Porter. From there, Steelers kicker Chris Boswell made the game-winning field goal from 35 yards.

In a 2017 game, the Bengals took a 17–0 lead, but the Steelers outscored them 23–3 the rest of the game for 23–20 win. The game was a brutal affair with serious injuries to Shazier, Mixon and Burfict and subsequent suspensions to JuJu Smith-Schuster and George Iloka (with the Iloka's later being overturned).[5] The two teams clocked up four penalties for unnecessary roughness, one for unsportsmanlike conduct, one for roughing the passer and another for taunting. The Bengals themselves clocked up 13 penalties for 173 yards.

In 2018, Roethlisberger led the Steelers to a come-from behind 28–21 win with a late touchdown pass to Antonio Brown. During that game, Burfict was fined $112,000 for illegal hits on Brown and Steelers running back James Conner. There was also controversy surrounding the next play when Burfict pointed at JuJu Smith-Schuster and told him "You're next."[6][7] In their first meeting of the 2019 season, the Steelers, led by backup quarterback Mason Rudolph, defeated the Bengals for a record ninth time in a row.[8]

Season-by-season results

Cincinnati Bengals vs.Pittsburgh Steelers Season-by-Season Results
1970s (Steelers, 14–6) Season Season series at Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers Overall series Notes 1970 Tie 1–1 Bengals 34–7 Steelers 21–10 Tie 1–1 AFL-NFL merger. Both teams placed in AFC Central. 1971 Steelers 2–0 Steelers 21–13 Steelers 21–10 Steelers 3–1 1972 Tie 1–1 Bengals 15–10 Steelers 40–17 Steelers 4–2 1973 Tie, 1–1 Bengals 17–10 Steelers 20–13 Steelers 5–3 1974 Tie, 1–1 Bengals 17–10 Steelers 27–3 Steelers 6–4 Steelers win Super Bowl IX 1975 Steelers 2–0 Steelers 30–24 Steelers 35–14 Steelers 8–4 Steelers win Super Bowl X 1976 Steelers 2–0 Steelers 7–3 Steelers 23–6 Steelers 10–4 1977 Tie 1–1 Bengals 17–10 Steelers 20–14 Steelers 11–5 1978 Steelers 2–0 Steelers 28–3 Steelers 7–6 Steelers 13–5 Steelers win Super Bowl XIII. 1979 Tie 1–1 Bengals 34–10 Steelers 37–17 Steelers 14–6 Steelers commit nine turnovers in loss at Cincinnati. Steelers win Super Bowl XIV.
1980s (Bengals, 13–6) Season Season series at Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers Overall series Notes 1980 Bengals 2–0 Bengals 30–28 Bengals 17–16 Steelers 14–8 Bengals' first ever win in Pittsburgh (they had been 0-10). 1981 Bengals 2–0 Bengals 34–7 Bengals 17–10 Steelers 14–10 Bengals lose Super Bowl XVI. 1982 Steelers 1–0 no game Steelers 26–20 (OT) Steelers 15–10 Game in Cincinnati was cancelled as a result of the nine-week players' strike. 1983 Tie, 1–1 Steelers 24–14 Bengals 23–10 Steelers 16–11 Steelers win game in Cincinnati despite not scoring any offensive touchdowns. 1984 Tie 1–1 Bengals 22–20 Steelers 38–17 Steelers 17–12 1985 Bengals 2–0 Bengals 26–21 Bengals 37–24 Steelers 17–14 1986 Tie, 1–1 Steelers 30–9 Bengals 24–22 Steelers 18–15 1987 Steelers 2–0 Steelers 30–16 Steelers 23–20 Steelers 20–15 1988 Bengals 2–0 Bengals 42–7 Bengals 17–12 Steelers 20–17 Bengals' 42–7 win is largest margin of victory in rivalry Bengals lose Super Bowl XXIII. 1989 Bengals 2–0 Bengals 41–10 Bengals 26–16 Steelers 20–19
1990s (Steelers, 13–7) Season Season series at Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers Overall series Notes 1990 Bengals 2–0 Bengals 27–3 Bengals 16–12 Bengals 21–20 Bengals take first and, to date, only lead in the overall series. 1991 Steelers 2–0 Steelers 33–27 Steelers 17–10 Steelers 22–21 1992 Steelers 2–0 Steelers 21–9 Steelers 20–0 Steelers 24–21 1993 Steelers 2–0 Steelers 24–16 Steelers 37–7 Steelers 26–21 1994 Steelers 2–0 Steelers 38–35 Steelers 14–10 Steelers 28–21 Steelers win 8 straight meetings from 1991-94. 1995 Tie 1–1 Steelers 49–31 Bengals 27–9 Steelers 29–22 Steelers score 36 unanswered points after trailing 31–13 in the 3rd quarter in Cincinnati. Steelers lose Super Bowl XXX. 1996 Tie 1–1 Bengals 34–24 Steelers 20–10 Steelers 30–23 1997 Steelers 2–0 Steelers 26–10 Steelers 20–3 Steelers 32–23 1998 Bengals 2–0 Bengals 25–20 Bengals 25–24 Steelers 32–25 Bengals sweep season series despite a 3–13 record on the season. 1999 Tie 1–1 Steelers 17–3 Bengals 27–20 Steelers 33–26
2000s (Steelers, 15–6) Season Season series at Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers Overall series Notes 2000 Steelers 2–0 Steelers 48–28 Steelers 15–0 Steelers 35–26 Bengals open Paul Brown Stadium. 2001 Tie 1–1 Bengals 26–23 (OT) Steelers 16–7 Steelers 36–27 Steelers open Heinz Field. Bengals win game in Cincinnati after rallying from 23–10 fourth quarter deficit. 2002 Steelers 2–0 Steelers 34–7 Steelers 29–21 Steelers 38–27 2003 Tie 1–1 Steelers 17–10 Bengals 24–20 Steelers 39–28 2004 Steelers 2–0 Steelers 19–14 Steelers 28–17 Steelers 41–28 2005 Tie 1–1 Steelers 27–13 Bengals 38–31 Steelers 42–29 Steelers win Super Bowl XL. 2005 Playoffs Steelers 1–0 Steelers 31–17 Steelers 43–29 AFC Wild Card Round. First postseason meeting in the series. Bengals QB Carson Palmer suffers injury on Bengals' second offensive play. Bengals take early 17–7 lead. However, Steelers would rally to score 24 unanswered points for the win. 2006 Tie 1–1 Steelers 23–17 (OT) Bengals 28–20 Steelers 44–30 Steelers' win in Cincinnati knocks the Bengals out of playoff contention; was also Bill Cowher's final game as Steelers' head coach. 2007 Steelers 2–0 Steelers 24–13 Steelers 24–10 Steelers 46–30 2008 Steelers 2–0 Steelers 38–10 Steelers 27–10 Steelers 48–30 Steelers win eighth straight game in Cincinnati. Steelers win Super Bowl XLIII. 2009 Bengals 2–0 Bengals 23–20 Bengals 18–12 Steelers 48–32 Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger suffers first loss in his home state of Ohio (he had been 10–0 in Cincinnati and Cleveland). Bengals win all of their division games for the first time in franchise history.
2010s (Steelers, 18–3) Season Season series at Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers Overall series Notes 2010 Steelers 2–0 Steelers 27–21 Steelers 23–7 Steelers 50–32 Steelers lose Super Bowl XLV. 2011 Steelers 2–0 Steelers 38–10 Steelers 27–10 Steelers 52–32 2012 Tie 1–1 Steelers 24–17 Bengals 13–10 Steelers 53–33 Bengals clinch playoff spot with win in Pittsburgh. 2013 Tie 1–1 Bengals 20–10 Steelers 30–20 Steelers 54–34 2014 Steelers 2–0 Steelers 42–21 Steelers 27–17 Steelers 56–34 Steelers clinch AFC North title in final game of the season in Pittsburgh. 2015 Tie 1–1 Steelers 33–20 Bengals 16–10 Steelers 57–35 2015 Playoffs Steelers 1–0 Steelers 18–16 Steelers 58–35 AFC Wild Card Round. The Bengals led 16-15 with a chance to run the clock out, but RB Jeremy Hill fumbled to give the Steelers one last chance. After two late Bengals personal fouls including a brutal hit by Vontaze Burfict that led to a three-game suspension, K Chris Boswell made the game-winning 35-yard field goal. 2016 Steelers 2–0 Steelers 24–20 Steelers 24–16 Steelers 60–35 Steelers' K Chris Boswell makes a franchise record six field goals at Cincinnati 2017 Steelers 2–0 Steelers 23–20 Steelers 29–14 Steelers 62–35 Game in Cincinnati was a brutal affair with serious injuries to Steelers' LB Ryan Shazier and Bengals' LB Vontaze Burfict and subsequent suspensions to Steelers' WR JuJu Smith-Schuster and Bengals' S George Iloka (Iloka's was later rescinded). 2018 Steelers 2–0 Steelers 28–21 Steelers 16–13 Steelers 64–35 2019 Steelers 2–0 Steelers 16–10 Steelers 27–3 Steelers 66–35 Steelers win 7 straight meetings in Cincinnati (2014–19).
2020s (Tie, 1–1) Season Season series at Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers Overall series Notes 2020 Tie 1–1 Bengals 27–17 Steelers 36–10 Steelers 67–36 Steelers win 11 straight meetings (2015–20).
Summary of Results Season Season series at Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers Notes Regular Season Steelers 65–36 Steelers 31–19 Steelers 34–17 Postseason games Steelers 2–0 Steelers 2–0 no games Regular and postseason Steelers 67–36 Steelers 33–19 Steelers 34–17

References

1. Clark, Dave (29 November 2017). "5 times Cincinnati Bengals got best of Pittsburgh Steelers". Cincinnati.com. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
2. "1980: Bengals Upset Steelers to Snap Home Winning Streak". Pro Football history. 12 October 2013. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
3. Klingler Runs, but Can't Hide : AFC: Steelers sack Bengal rookie 10 times, Foster breaks Harris' rushing records in 21-9 victory.
4. Today in Bengals history
5. Patra, Kevin. "JuJu Smith-Schuster, George Iloka each suspended for one game". NFL. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
6. "Vontaze Burfict fined $112k for hits vs. Steelers". NFL. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
7. https://www.apnews.com/d3e2b0e2dd5b437a937575933d53452e
8. "Bengals at Steelers final score: Pittsburgh rides ground game, defense in 27-3 rout of hapless rivals". CBSSports.com. Retrieved 2019-10-03.