Cincinnati then caught a break as Steelers linebacker Mykal Walker leaped to tip a pass over the middle. The ball flipped into the air and was grabbed by wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, who went 31 yards to the Pittsburgh 16.
That set up an 11-yard touchdown pass from Browning to tight end Drew Sample on a catch-and-run as the Bengals took a 7-3 lead early in the second quarter.
The Bengals had the opening possession of the third quarter and marched to the Pittsburgh 18. But on third-and-7, Browning attempted a short out pass to Chase that Trenton Thompson picked off for his first career interception, returning it 6 yards to the 21.
The Steelers methodically marched downfield after that, with Freiermuth catching a pair of third-down passes to keep them on the field and score on a 5-yard touchdown run by Harris to take a 10-7 lead with 1:34 remaining in the third quarter.
Pickens was injured trying to catch a deep ball down the sideline early in the fourth quarter, leaving the game for a handful of plays while he regained his composure.
But upon his return, Pickett connected with him for a 43-yard gain to the Cincinnati 20 to set up a 34-yard Boswell field goal that increased the Steelers’ lead to 13-7 with 8:03 remaining.
The Steelers forced a three-and-out by the Bengals – punctuated by a Watt sack on third down – and quickly moved into range for a 33-yard field goal by Boswell that put them ahead by two scores at 16-7 with 2:51 remaining in the game.
The Bengals hit a 39-yard screen pass to Joe Mixon on their next possession for a gain of to set up a 47-yard field goal by Evan McPherson to cut the Steelers’ lead to 16-10 just before the two-minute warning, but Pickens recovered an onside kick and the Steelers ran out the clock from there.
Pickett threw for a season-high 278 yards in the game.
“I thought we did a good job of coming together and staying together in a time of adversity and getting a win on the road, a big AFC North victory,” said Pickett. “It feels good.”
