The goal for the 2026 Bengals was never to go undefeated. It was also not just to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers on the road. For the 2026 Bengals, there are bigger goals that are still very much in play even with the 30-27 loss to the Steelers on Sunday.
First off, it is still disappointing that the Bengals couldn’t find a way to win at Pittsburgh on Sunday. They had two chances in the second half to break the game open, but they gave the ball right back to the Steelers both times. Joe Burrow and the Bengals’
offense went three-and-out and fumbled on their final drive, and the defense couldn’t get a stop on the Steelers’ game-winning drive, despite it starting inside their own 10-yard line.
It was a step back for the Bengals’ defense and a terrible day for the Bengals’ special teams on Sunday. Pittsburgh running back Jaylen Warren and tight end Darnell Washington gashed and steamrolled the Bengals’ defense all afternoon, pushing them around and attacking their weak spots.
Despite all that, my outlook for the 2026 Bengals hasn’t changed. We knew there would be a game where the defense couldn’t get pressure on the opposing quarterback and would give up a lot of yards and points. It’s unfortunate that it came in an AFC North game that felt very winnable, but this Bengals defense was never going to be the 2000 Ravens or the ‘85 Bears.
Even without getting much pressure on Aaron Rodgers and getting gashed and steamrolled by Warren and Washington, the Bengals still had multiple chances to win the game or break it open.
It’s a testament to the fact that the Bengals lost this game because of self-induced mistakes. They didn’t lose this game because of a lack of talent.
Last year, when they were blown out by the Minnesota Vikings in Week 3 and the Denver Broncos in Week 4, there was a sense of hopelessness because the talent disparity between the Bengals and most other teams in the NFL was glaring.
This year, it’s different. The Bengals have talent, and that’s been very evident through three weeks. Ja’Marr Chase and Dexter Lawrence, among others, were very adamant in the locker room Sunday that this is still a team that can be very good. Joe Burrow concurred at his postgame press conference, but he also said they can’t make the mistakes they made on Sunday.
Last year, the Seattle Seahawks lost at home in Week 1 to the San Francisco 49ers and at the Los Angeles Rams in Week 11.
In 2024, the Philadelphia Eagles lost in the last 10 seconds at the Washington Commanders in Week 16.
In 2023, the Kansas City Chiefs lost at home to the Las Vegas Raiders on Christmas.
Tom Brady and the 2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost to the New Orleans Saints… twice… in the regular season.
Brady and the New England Patriots lost to the Miami Dolphins on the Miami Miracle in Week 14 of the 2018 season.
All of these teams went on to win the Super Bowl. Losing at Pittsburgh by three points in Week 3 of the regular season is not going to define this Bengals team. The goal wasn’t just to beat Pittsburgh on the road.
The Bengals have bigger goals this season, and one of them is still beating Pittsburgh. The Bengals can do that in Week 10 when they host the Steelers on Sunday Night Football.
As Joe Burrow famously said in 2021, “We have bigger aspirations than beating the Steelers.”
