The Pittsburgh Steelers rallied to 9-3 with a divisional win over the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 13 to maintain their lead in the AFC North, regardless of the outcome for the Baltimore Ravens in the afternoon slate.

It was the Steelers’ first 41-point day since Week 10 of the 2018 season and their first game with 41+ points on the road dating back to Week 14 of the 2014 season. Pittsburgh totaled 520 yards of offense, averaging 7.9 yards per play.

Things looked bright on the team’s opening drive, as the defense held the Bengals to a three and out, only to quickly be overlooked by a pick-six on the following drive that should have been nullified due to a penalty. They fought back valiantly, however, with several explosive plays on offense to follow, including a 17-yard score from Russell Wilson to George Pickens on the following drive for their first touchdown of the game.

They followed up that first touchdown with three more consecutive scoring drives (two touchdowns, one field goal) and had an opportunity to make it four if it weren’t for a blocked 42-yard field goal.

Wilson’s 414 passing yards marked the second-most passing yards he’s ever had in a single game throughout his career — a particularly notable landmark for Steelers fans went the entirety of OC Matt Canada’s tenure with the team without 400+ scrimmage yards. My, can a lot change within a year. Though he didn’t break his single-game passing record, Wilson did break his record for most passing yards in a road game, beating his previous best of 390 with the Seattle Seahawks, back in 2020 against the Buffalo Bills.

The defense bent, for sure, allowing 375 total yards against the Bengals, though they did manage to generate turnovers with a strip-sack fumble from second-year edge Nick Herbig recovered by rookie ILB Payton Wilson and an interception from CB Donte Jackson.

Though it was an exhilarating matchup and what felt like a statement win coming off a min-bye against a divisional opponent, there are still plenty of things to fix coming out of Week 13. Chief among those concerns are continuing penalties against second-year CB Joey Porter Jr. and some discipline concerns for up-and-coming star WR George Pickens.

Pickens did lead the team with 74 receiving yards (catching one of Wilson’s two pass TDs), but there continued to be a sense of boiling frustrations when things went wrong that earned him a penalty toward disqualification. He was also penalized for using his fingers as a gun in a celebration, seemingly lucky that didn’t count toward ejection.

Though it wasn’t the cleanest of wins, there’s no doubt that this Pittsburgh Steelers team is headed in the right direction with Russell Wilson at center.

How are we feeling, Steelers fans?