A long touchdown bomb to A.J. Green looked like it would be a back-breaker for the Pittsburgh Steelers. But suddenly, the Steelers floored it, piling up 24 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to beat the Cincinnati Bengals, 42-21, and pull closer in the AFC North race.
Steelers vs. Bengals 2014 final score: 3 things we learned from Pittsburgh’s 42-21 win
Another monster day from Le’veon Bell fueled a fourth-quarter scoring explosion that helped the Steelers pull away late.
On the final play of the third quarter, Green broke loose for an 81-yard score to slingshot the Bengals into the lead. But the Steelers had an answer. After knocking through a field goal on the opening drive of the fourth quarter, Pittsburgh found the end zone with a 13-yard run from Le'Veon Bell to go up 28-21, a drive sparked by a costly Andy Dalton fumble.
The Steelers broke the game open when Ben Roethlisberger found breakout rookie star Martavis Bryant for a 94-yard score midway through the fourth quarter. Bell added the finishing touches with a 22-yard touchdown run, his third score of the game.
The Steelers improve to 8-5 and pull within striking distance of the Bengals, who drop to 8-4-1.
Here’s what we learned from the game:
1) Le’Veon Bell is in the MVP conversation now.
Bell was terrific both on the ground and through the air, rushing for 185 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries and catching six passes for 50 yards and another score. His third-quarter rushing touchdown gave the Steelers a lead they wouldn’t surrender and his 22-yarder late in the fourth was the nail in the Bengals’ coffin.
In his last three games, Bell has an astounding 711 yards from scrimmage and five touchdowns. He is the first player since Walter Payton to put up at least 200 yards from scrimmage in three consecutive games. If it weren't for DeMarco Murray, we would be talking about Bell being the best running back in the NFL right now. Bell, who is second in the league in rushing behind Murray, has worked his way into the MVP conversation with this late-season surge.
2) Ike Taylor is a liablity.
Last week, Taylor allowed the Saints' Kenny Stills to get behind him for three big plays, allowing him 162 yards and a touchdown. And it was Taylor who got torched by Green on the 81-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Taylor, who watched Green amass 11 catches for 224 yards in the game, was benched on the very next possession.
Long plays have burned the Steelers all season, and it hasn’t always been Taylor’s fault. But as his benching clearly indicates, his tendency to let receivers get behind him is a major problem. He hasn’t looked right since returning from a broken forearm, and it’s hurting the team.
3) Andy Dalton has wheels.
In addition to a good day throwing the ball (21-of-29 yards for 302 yards, two touchdowns and no picks), Dalton showed off his legs with a 20-yard touchdown scamper off a read-option in the second quarter.
(Note: Troy Polamalu got burned BAD on that play.)
Dalton, who now has four rushing touchdowns on the season, also scored on a read-option run last week to win the game against Tampa Bay. For as much heat as Dalton's arm has gotten him at times, his athleticism is underrated. Don't forget, he also caught a touchdown pass back in Week 3 against the Titans.
Dalton was injured late in the game and was replaced by Jason Campbell.
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