The Pittsburgh Steelers edged the Cincinnati Bengals 30-27 on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, at Acrisure Stadium, and the Pittsburgh Steelers vs Bengals match player stats tell the story of a game that never stayed in one team’s hands for long. Aaron Rodgers threw for 292 yards and three touchdowns, Joe Burrow matched him with three touchdown passes, and kicker Chris Boswell supplied the last two scores of the afternoon.
This breakdown covers the final score by quarter, both quarterbacks’ numbers, team-level stats, every scoring play, the defensive moments that decided the finish, and what the data suggests ahead of the teams’ next meeting on Nov. 15. If you only want the short version of who won and why, the first section has it.
Steelers vs Bengals Final Score and Game Summary
The Steelers beat the Bengals 30-27 in a Week 3 AFC North game. Pittsburgh improved to 2-1 after a rough 20-3 loss at New England the week before, while Cincinnati took its first loss of the 2026 season and dropped to 2-1.
The lead changed hands repeatedly. Pittsburgh went up 7-0, 14-7 and 17-10 in the first half, but Burrow hit Tee Higgins for a 28-yard touchdown with 39 seconds left in the second quarter to make it 17-17 at the break. That score came right after a Rodgers interception. Cincinnati took a 20-17 lead on a 38-yard Evan McPherson field goal in the third quarter, Rodgers answered with a 6-yard touchdown pass to DK Metcalf, and Mike Gesicki’s 25-yard touchdown early in the fourth made it 27-24 Bengals. Boswell then tied it with a 36-yard kick and won it with a 33-yarder at the 2:15 mark.
Quarterback Stats: Aaron Rodgers vs Joe Burrow
Quarterback play shaped the game, and the numbers show two different routes to nearly identical totals.
| Stat | Aaron Rodgers (PIT) | Joe Burrow (CIN) |
|---|---|---|
| Completions/attempts | 19/34 | 28/37 |
| Completion percentage | 55.9% | 75.7% |
| Passing yards | 292 | 282 |
| Touchdown passes | 3 | 3 |
| Interceptions | 1 | 0 |
| Sacks taken | 2 (19 yards) | 1 (13 yards) |
| Passer rating | 101.6 | 123.9 |
| Longest completion | 47 yards | 28 yards |
Aaron Rodgers: Fewer Completions, Bigger Plays
Rodgers completed 19 of 34 passes for 292 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. His completion rate trailed Burrow’s by a wide margin, but he averaged roughly 8.6 yards per attempt, and more than half of Pittsburgh’s passing yards (158 of 292) came after the catch. The biggest play of the day was a 47-yard catch-and-run by tight end Darnell Washington on a throw from Rodgers’ own 21-yard line. It moved the Steelers to the Cincinnati 32 and set up Boswell’s winning field goal.
Context helps here. Rodgers was coming off a game at New England in which he threw no touchdowns and had two turnovers, and he played behind a new-look offensive line that included first-round rookie Max Iheanachor at right tackle. His touchdown passes went to Wilson for 38 yards, Skowronek for 23 and Metcalf for 6.
Joe Burrow: Efficient, but Undone at the End
Burrow was the more accurate passer. He completed 28 of 37 attempts for 282 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions, which produced a 123.9 passer rating against Rodgers’ 101.6. His targets in the end zone were Ja’Marr Chase from 3 yards, Higgins from 28 and Gesicki from 25. Cincinnati’s offense moved steadily but in shorter gains, averaging about 7.6 yards per attempt with just 78 yards after the catch.
The ending is what separates the two stat lines. With the Bengals in Pittsburgh territory and already inside McPherson’s field goal range, defensive lineman Derrick Harmon sacked Burrow and forced a fumble. Sebastian Joseph-Day recovered it with 44 seconds left, and the Steelers ran out the clock.
Team Stats Comparison
Pittsburgh outgained Cincinnati by 59 yards, and the gap came from the ground game and explosive plays. The Steelers averaged 6.0 yards per rush with a longest run of 35 yards, and their 19 completions averaged about 15.4 yards each. Cincinnati’s 28 completions averaged about 10.1. Put simply, the Bengals completed more passes, but the Steelers made each one count for more.
Time of possession was almost even, so this was not a game where one offense ground down the clock. The turnover line is where the margin showed. Pittsburgh’s only giveaway was Rodgers’ interception, while Cincinnati lost two fumbles: a muffed punt by Ke’Shawn Williams deep in its own territory and Burrow’s late strip-sack. The muff set up Boswell’s 36-yard field goal that tied the game at 27.
Every Scoring Play and Who Scored
| Quarter | Team | Scoring play | Score (PIT-CIN) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PIT | Rodgers 38-yard pass to Wilson | 7-0 |
| 1 | CIN | Burrow 3-yard pass to Chase | 7-7 |
| 1 | PIT | Rodgers 23-yard pass to Skowronek | 14-7 |
| 2 | CIN | McPherson 50-yard field goal | 14-10 |
| 2 | PIT | Boswell 44-yard field goal | 17-10 |
| 2 | CIN | Burrow 28-yard pass to Higgins | 17-17 |
| 3 | CIN | McPherson 38-yard field goal | 17-20 |
| 3 | PIT | Rodgers 6-yard pass to Metcalf | 24-20 |
| 4 | CIN | Burrow 25-yard pass to Gesicki | 24-27 |
| 4 | PIT | Boswell 36-yard field goal | 27-27 |
| 4 | PIT | Boswell 33-yard field goal | 30-27 |
Each team got its three touchdowns from three different receivers, so six players caught touchdown passes and neither side scored on the ground. Boswell finished 3 for 3 on field goals from 44, 36 and 33 yards and added three extra points for 12 total points. McPherson was 2 for 2 from 50 and 38 yards and made all three of his extra points for 9.
Defensive Plays That Decided the Game
Pittsburgh’s defense did not pile up sacks (one to Cincinnati’s two), but it made the play that mattered most. Harmon’s strip-sack was the headline, and Cam Heyward’s pressure up the middle forced a Bengals three-and-out on another series. Overall the Steelers recorded 62 combined tackles, six quarterback hits and five passes defended, plus the forced fumble.
The Bengals’ defense hit Rodgers eight times, sacked him twice for 19 yards and intercepted him once, with six passes defended. Safety Bryan Cook left in the first half with a right ankle injury and was replaced by Kyle Dugger, which is worth remembering when you judge how Cincinnati defended the pass after that point.
Pass protection is another useful angle. Rodgers was sacked twice and hit eight times, yet he still averaged more than 8 yards per attempt, which suggests the Steelers found ways to get the ball out quickly or beat pressure with timing. Burrow was sacked once and hit six times by Pittsburgh’s front, but the one sack came when the Bengals could least afford it. A quarterback can survive plenty of pressure over 60 minutes, and the one hit that produces a fumble can still decide everything.
How to Read Steelers vs Bengals Player Stats
Not every number in a box score carries the same weight. Completion percentage shows accuracy, yards per attempt shows how productive a passing game is, and passer rating blends both with touchdowns and interceptions. Yards after the catch tell you how much of a quarterback’s total came from receivers breaking tackles and finding space. Turnovers, meanwhile, often explain the final margin better than any yardage total.
For readers new to the rivalry, the Wikipedia pages on the Steelers and Bengals cover the history of each franchise, and both clubs share the AFC North with the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns. Division opponents see each other twice a year, which is why the second meeting always draws extra attention.
If you like this style of box-score reading, you can see how the Rams and Ravens compared in a separate NFL breakdown, and baseball fans can read a similar game report on the Dodgers and Phillies.
Key Takeaways From Steelers vs Bengals
Explosive Plays Beat Volume
Cincinnati completed nine more passes than Pittsburgh and still lost. The Steelers’ 47-yard Washington catch, 38-yard touchdown to Wilson and 6.0 yards per rush gave them more yardage from fewer successful plays. When two offenses finish with nearly identical time of possession, the one that gains more per snap usually controls the scoreboard.
Ball Security Made the Difference
Burrow did not throw an interception, but two lost fumbles cost Cincinnati field position, a tying field goal and, finally, a chance to win. Rodgers’ interception led directly to Higgins’ touchdown before halftime, so turnovers hurt both sides. The difference was timing. Pittsburgh’s mistake came early enough to recover from, and Cincinnati’s came with the game on the line.
Kickers Shaped the Finish
Five of the game’s 11 scoring plays were field goals, accounting for 15 of the 57 combined points. The last two scores of the game were both Boswell kicks, and McPherson’s 50-yarder showed Cincinnati could answer from long range. In a three-point game, that kind of reliability is part of the box score story even though kickers rarely make the headline.
What These Stats Mean for the Nov. 15 Rematch
The Steelers visit Cincinnati on Sunday Night Football on Nov. 15, 2026. Pittsburgh sits at 6-2 after beating Cleveland 27-6 on Nov. 1. Recent meetings have been tight: Cincinnati won 19-17 in January 2025 and 33-31 in October 2025, and this season’s first game went to Pittsburgh by three.
The first game also showed how little separates these teams. Total yards were within 60, possession time was within 15 seconds, and the winning points came on a kick with barely two minutes left. A rematch in Cincinnati, with the home crowd behind the Bengals, could easily follow the same pattern.
Three things are worth watching. First, whether Cincinnati’s pass rush gets to Rodgers more often than the two sacks it managed in Week 3. Second, whether Pittsburgh can keep Burrow from settling into his 75 percent completion rhythm. Third, which team protects the ball better. One game is only a snapshot, and lineups and injuries change, so compare fresh box scores after kickoff before drawing big conclusions.
Conclusion
The Steelers beat the Bengals 30-27 because they made bigger plays, ran the ball better and avoided the costly mistakes that hurt Cincinnati late. Rodgers was less accurate than Burrow but more explosive, Boswell converted every kick, and Harmon’s strip-sack ended Cincinnati’s last real chance. The Pittsburgh Steelers vs Bengals match player stats from Week 3 give a clear template for the rematch: watch yards per play, turnovers and field goal reliability before you look at who completed more passes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the Steelers vs Bengals game?
The Pittsburgh Steelers won 30-27 on Sept. 27, 2026, at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh.
What was Aaron Rodgers’ stat line against the Bengals?
Rodgers completed 19 of 34 passes for 292 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.
How did Joe Burrow perform against the Steelers?
Burrow completed 28 of 37 passes for 282 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions, but he fumbled late after Derrick Harmon sacked him.
Who scored the touchdowns in Steelers vs Bengals?
Pittsburgh’s touchdown catchers were Wilson, Skowronek and DK Metcalf. Cincinnati’s were Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Mike Gesicki.
Who kicked the game-winning field goal?
Chris Boswell kicked a 33-yard field goal with 2:15 left to give Pittsburgh a 30-27 lead.
What decided the Steelers vs Bengals game?
Late turnovers and big plays. Cincinnati lost two fumbles, including Burrow’s strip-sack in the final minute, while Pittsburgh got a 47-yard Darnell Washington play and 138 rushing yards.
When do the Steelers play the Bengals next?
They meet in Cincinnati on Sunday Night Football on Nov. 15, 2026.
