The Cincinnati Bengals are 0-11 for the first time in team history.

Sunday’s 16-10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers didn’t offer much in the way of fireworks. Those Steelers went down to a third-string quarterback and still won in Paul Brown Stadium while the Cincinnati offense bumbled through another miserable showing.

Some notes and thoughts from the loss below.

 

It was over when …

…the Bengals came out late in the fourth quarter down three points and had a drive last 12 seconds after three pass attempts from a five-wide set. That summed up the game nicely.

 

Quick Hits

— MVP of the early game was Kevin Huber for helping the Bengals win the battle of field position. He ended the day with an average of 46.4 yards over nine punts, sitting four of them inside the 20.

— Two early offensive drives featured little in the way of gains and another Ryan Finley fumble. After two drives, he was four of five for 39 yards but nothing to show for it. That was a sign of things to come. The final tally? Just 12 completions on 26 attempts for 192 yards and the game-clinching fumble.

— The Steelers didn’t have James Conner on the field but a relative unknown by the name of Kerrith Whyte didn’t have problems with this Bengals defense early. After two drives, he had diced up the unit for 42 yards on four carries. It was a sign of things to come, as the Steelers went on to finish with 160 rushing yards on a 4.2 average.

— Turnovers and key returns were going to decide if the Bengals could compete Sunday. Shawn Williams threw his name into the fray in the first quarter with an interception. But that ended up being the only forced turnover.

— Tyler Boyd with a 47-yard grab, then a touchdown on tough catches a week removed from noting he wasn’t being targeted enough by Finley. That was always going to change Sunday. Boyd wasn’t done there — he ended up with 101 yards on five catches.

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— Steelers benched Mason Rudolph for poor play and the Bengals immediately gave up a touchdown to his replacement, Devlin Hodges. That shakeup proved problematic for the Bengals as he went on to tally 118 yards.

— Near the start of the fourth quarter the Bengals were 0-for-9 on third downs consecutively. It was a game-long problem and the final frame didn’t change things as the mark ended at two of 12.

 

Key Stat

2 of 12: Surprised to see third downs spotlighted again? The Bengals just can’t do it. The first two or so drives of the game looked promising before the wheels fell off.

 

Game Ball: Tyler Boyd

Boyd hammered the Steelers all day when targets actually went his way. That wasn’t often, yet he still managed to lead the team in receiving by catching nine of his targets for 101 yards and a score.

 

Up next: The Bengals stay home and get a visit from the New York Jets, a team that is suddenly riding high on a three-game tear.

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