Steelers find offensive spark, defeat Bengals 30-27
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PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Aaron Rodgers passed for 292 yards and three touchdowns to outduel Joe Burrow as the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Cincinnati Bengals 30-27 on Sunday.
Pittsburgh (2-1) bounced back from a miserable performance last week at New England to blunt some of Cincinnati’s early momentum.
Rodgers completed 19 of 34 passes, including a 47-yard catch-and-run to massive tight end Darnell Washington that helped set up Chris Boswell’s go-ahead, 33-yard field goal with 2:18 remaining.
Cincinnati (2-1) had a chance late. The Bengals reached Pittsburgh territory, but Burrow fumbled after being sacked by defensive tackle Derrick Harmon. Pittsburgh rookie defensive lineman Sebastian Joseph-Day fell on the ball near midfield and the Steelers escaped.
Jaylen Warren had 176 total yards (127 rushing, 49 receiving) for Pittsburgh, which matched the high-powered Bengals score-for-score as Cincinnati watched a chance for its first 3-0 start since 2015 disappear.
Burrow passed for 292 yards and three scores, including an incredible 28-yard heave to Tee Higgins late in the first half. The ball fell into Higgins’ abdominal area as the wide receiver boxed out Steelers defensive back Asante Samuel Jr. for position just across the goal line.
Yet the Bengals’ opportunity to stamp themselves as front-runners in the AFC North disappeared with some self-inflicted wounds. A roughing-the-punter penalty in the third quarter extended a Pittsburgh drive that ended with a touchdown pass from Rodgers to DK Metcalf.
Cincinnati’s Ke’Shawn Williams muffed a punt deep in Bengals territory midway through the fourth to set up the second of Boswell’s three field goals that tied the game at 27.
Cincinnati backed up Pittsburgh deep in its territory late in the fourth, but the Steelers responded even after a run of 80-plus yards by Warren was wiped out by a holding penalty on Metcalf.
Rodgers, playing behind a new-look offensive line that included rookie first-round pick Max Iheanachor at right tackle, guided the Steelers 77 yards anyway to set up Boswell.
Pittsburgh’s defense, playing without cornerback Joey Porter Jr. for a third straight game, spent much of the afternoon letting Burrow do whatever he wanted before Harmon crashed into Burrow and Joseph-Day, a sixth-round draft pick, fell on it to give first-year coach Mike McCarthy a needed boost.
BROWNS 21, PANTHERS 18
CLEVELAND (AP) -- Deshaun Watson threw two touchdown passes to Harold Fannin Jr., including a 14-yard strike with 1:48 remaining, and the Cleveland Browns rallied for a 21-18 victory over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.
The Panthers went in front 18-13 with 4:25 remaining when John Metchie III hauled in an 8-yard touchdown pass from Bryce Young. But the Browns (2-1) went 65 yards in eight plays for their second straight comeback win.
Watson was 10 of 21 for 67 yards during the first three quarters but was 6 of 9 for 77 yards over the final 15 minutes.
Watson and teammates feared that the 10-year veteran would be showered with boos after he got a negative reception during a preseason game against Buffalo on Aug. 22. But Watson was cheered by most of the fans during the fourth quarter when he came back into the game after taking a hard hit.
It appeared as if the Browns’ chances for a comeback were dashed when Akayleb Evans picked off Watson’s pass intended for KC Concepcion in the end zone with 2:29 remaining. But Carolina linebacker Bobby Okereke was called for roughing the passer to nullify the play. Three plays later, Watson gave the Browns the lead. Watson then connected with Denzel Boston for a 2-point conversion to push the margin to a field goal.
Carolina (1-2) made a late drive, but Ronnie Hickman picked off Young’s pass at the Browns 46 with 9 seconds remaining.
Watson finished 16 of 30 for 144 yards and two TDs. He also ran it 11 times for 45 yards. Fannin had seven receptions for 51 yards. Andre Szmyt kicked two field goals.
Young, who came into the game tied for the NFL lead in passing touchdowns and second in passing yards, completed 26 of 48 for 290 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions.
The Panthers got four field goals from Ryan Fitzgerald before they found the end zone.