Rudolph saves Christmas as Steelers rout Bengals; Bills pip Chargers at death Rudolph saves Christmas as Steelers rout Bengals; Bills pip Chargers at death

Rudolph saves Christmas as Steelers rout Bengals; Bills pip Chargers at death Rudolph saves Christmas as Steelers rout Bengals; Bills pip Chargers at death

Encumbered receiver George Pickens and quarterback Mason Rudolph combined for

two long touchdowns on Saturday,

as the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 34-11 to maintain their dwindling postseason hopes.

On Pittsburgh’s second offensive play,

Rudolph, starting for the first time in two years in place of the

sidelined Mitch Trubisky and the injured Kenny Pickett,

connected wide receiver Austin Pickens for an 86-yard catch-and-run touchdown.

The Steelers (8-7) ended a three-game losing streak in the third quarter when he found a

streaking Pickens with a 66-yard rainbow.

Pickens gained 195 yards by catching four receptions.

Rudolph completed 17 of 27 passes for 290 yards as

the Steelers produced their most potent offensive display in recent memory.

Cincinnati (8-7) lost its third straight game despite 335 yards and a touchdown from quarterback Jake Browning,

who also threw three interceptions that the Steelers converted into points.

Pittsburgh dominated the remainder of the game after jumping out to a 24-point lead at halftime.

With their 34 points in a win, Pittsburgh reached a new high since 2020.

The play also probably hushed Pickens’s detractors for the time being,

as he has been under fire for his somewhat slack playwriting.

Although Pickens, 22, is still developing as a mature player,

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin declined to bench him. Pickens returned the favour by displaying the game-

changing ability that was only infrequently displayed in his first two seasons,

primarily due to the fact that he is a member of an offence that has long had trouble moving the ball effectively.

The negative sentiment around the Steelers amid a late slump that has given rise to rumours that

Tomlin’s 17-year run may be ending vanished for a few hours on Christmas Eve eve.

That will happen if you score points in large quantities for the first time in a long time.

Although the route to the playoffs for Pittsburgh is still difficult

—who knows what will happen in Seattle the following week,

when Pickett might be cleared to return from surgery on his right ankle—

it has become slightly easier to follow after the Steelers’ first sweep of the Bengals since 2019.

Rudolph was dynamic and decisive, qualities that have plagued whoever has been behind centre this season,

despite being deep down the depth chart the previous two years.

He struck Pickens slant-wise,

and the receiver showed off the quickness and agility that had

the Steelers so excited about him prior to the 2022 selection.

Later, in the half, Pickens added a diving 44-yard sideline grab to set up Chris Boswell’s 50-yard field goal.

In more than three years,

Pittsburgh’s first half score was its highest in that period.

Tee Higgins finished with five receptions for 140 yards and an 80-yard touchdown for the Bengals,

but Browning’s errors got his team in trouble early on.

He attempted to throw the ball away with an ill-advised heave into the end zone in the first quarter,

tipped the ball and it ended up in the hands of Steelers safety Eric Rowe,

and failed to complete a fourth down in the end zone late in the first half.

As the starting quarterback in lieu of franchise quarterback Joe Burrow,

who is sidelined for the season due to a right wrist injury, Browning went 3-2.

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