Jake Browning has the Bengals on a three-game win streak entering Week 16. (Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Despite losing Joe Burrow, the Cincinnati Bengals are still in the playoff hunt. Jake Browning has stepped in and performed admirably in four starts.
But Saturday will be a test for Browning. The Pittsburgh Steelers are also playing with a backup quarterback, but the team’s defense remains as feisty as ever. Pittsburgh also finds itself in the thick of the playoff race in the AFC, and a win would keep them in the hunt as the regular season winds down.
Can Browning get past a tough Steelers defense? Or will T.J. Watt put an end to Browning’s three-game win streak?
Later in the day, the Buffalo Bills and Los Angeles Chargers will go head-to-head. The Bills are playing their best football down the stretch, but the Chargers could be rejuvenated after the team fired Brandon Staley after Week 15. Buffalo can’t afford to take their opponents lightly considering the jumbled up playoff picture in the AFC.
Follow along as Yahoo Sports provides the latest news, scores and injuries during the Saturday slate in Week 16.
Live17 updates
Najee Harris goes up the middle for 13 yards and the Steelers have a first down at Cincinnati’s 19-yard line.
The Steelers’ offense is really moving. it took six plays to get in the end zone.
Touchback placed the Steelers at their own 20-yard line.
Browning was making progress with a series of short passes. He traveled 59 yards in nine plays, then attempted a touchdown pass that was intercepted in the end zone by Steelers CB Patrick Peterson.
Pickens’ catch-and-run was only the Steelers’ fourth touchdown of at least 71 yards this season.
What a start! On his second play, Rudolph passes to wideout George Pickens for an 86-yard TOUCHDOWN. Boswell’s extra point is good.
Bengals punt after six plays for 22 yards.
Browning went to Joe Mixon on back-to-back plays for a total of nine yards. Two plays later, Steelers CB Levi Wallace almost notched an interception on a Browning’s short right pass to tight end Tanner Hudson.
Pittsburgh won the toss and deferred.
Note: The Steelers haven’t won a game with Rudolph as their starting quarterback since 2019.
Mason Rudolph will be the Steelers’ starting quarterback. Kenny Pickett is out with an ankle injury, while Mitchell Trubisky is back in the backup role. A young fan channeled Rudolph the legendary reindeer in an effort to encourage the Steelers signal caller.
Browning led the Bengals quarterback group out of the tunnel. He has a 4-1 record in his appearances this year, falling only to the Steelers in his first start.
The Steelers are playing Christmas tunes in light of the holiday season.
It’s almost time for kickoff! The Bengals shared content of some of their crucial players during warmups, including quarterback Jake Browning.
Steelers inactives
Steelers inactives:
QB Kenny Pickett S Trenton Thompson CB Darius Rush S Minkah Fitzpatrick LB Blake Martinez OT Dylan Cook DE DeMarvin Leal
