The idiom “a knee jerk reaction” means that you respond to something in an equally unthinking way. That’s something as sports fans that we typically do, and if it’s in an unthinking way then I definitely qualify. Knee jerks apply especially if you are a full blood Yinzer, or even just a part Yinzer, who am I fooling it’s more like if you are a Steeler fan in general. As is the custom, I compile my knee-jerk thoughts and publish them immediately after each Steelers game (my son Kyle or nephew Warren might have a few things to say as well). It’s my version of running my mouth first and apologizing later (if at all). So with that being said, it’s time to react to the Steelers Week 18 against the Bengals. Let’s get this going, HERE……WE……GO!!!

1st Quarter

• Big Bro is in attendance, so Lil’ Bro is on once again.
• Steelers win the toss and defer. Let’s see what the defense can do to start the game.
• Nothing in the run game on the first play, but completions on the first two passes puts the ball at midfield.
• Bengals throwing all over the Steelers early and into field goal range.
• Cory Trice was all over Ja’Marr Chase but a great throw and great catch still converts the first down. Bengals perfect through the air so far.
• That was about as easy as it could be. Steelers defense looks just as lost as ever. Bengals lead 7–0.
• If the Steelers give up a score that easy and start with a three and out offensively, it goes to show that absolutely nothing has changed. Let’s see…
• And there’s the three and out.
• I can’t believe I thought things would be different after 10 days off. Shame on me.
• Trice comes up for a tackle for loss in the run game. Let’s see if they can stop them on third down.
• Easy conversion. Patrick Mahomes showed last game the way to attack this defense and Joe Burrow is more than capable of duplicating it.
• Steelers defenders walking around after the play looking defeated already.
• This defense has no fight.
• Five minutes after I type about the Steelers defense walking around Troy Aikman brings it up on the broadcast.
• Steelers get a strip sack but once again can’t get on the ball. It costs them three points. Bengals 10–0.
• Everyone in the stadium knew that was going to be a run and yet Harris got 10 yards despite almost falling down.
• Terrible looking attempted screen.
• Steelers end the first quarter with a 26-yard moon ball to Mike Williams who made a fantastic toe tap on the sideline. Still, Steelers down 10–0.

2nd Quarter

• Steelers have now moved the ball into the red zone.
• The Steelers are having more success running up the middle and they are on the outside. I hope they take note. It’s not as much about the runner as it is the blocking.
• The quarterback sneak gives the Steelers first and goal. They’ve got to get seven points here.
• Run to the outside gets nothing. Not surprised.
• Smart move to try to throw it to Washington in the end zone. When the defender grabs his arm like that it has to be a penalty.
• Steelers run it up the middle with Harris for the touchdown. They needed that one bad. 10–7.
• Rather than kick it into the end zone and give the Bengals the ball at the 30, the Steelers kick it short and let them return it to the 44.
• There’s the first incompletion of the game for Burrow. And it goes off the receivers’s hands and is in the air forever but with no one in the neighborhood it falls harmlessly.
• Steelers get the stop on third down, but with fourth and one in Steelers territory the Bengals are going for it.
• Captain Cam gets his hand on the pass and the Steelers take over on downs.
• Steelers do nothing after the defensive stop and give it right back to the Bengals with a three and out. At least they somewhat flipped the field.
• After being aided on the first play by a penalty, the Steelers get the three and out as Preston Smith ends the drive with a sack.
• Special teams ruins it with Calvin Austin fumbling on the return and it bounces right to the Bengals.
• How many sacks has T.J. Watt had wiped out this year because of a hold in the secondary? There was another one.
• Beanie Bishop gets the interception to keep points off the board and give the Steelers the ball back with just over a minute! Give the assist to Patrick Queen.
• If the Steelers could get points here that would be huge. Even if it’s just three.
• Wilson‘s first pass gets batted high in the air and hangs up there forever but luckily hits the turf.
• Muth finally gets involved with a first down.
• And again. Almost, after video assist.
• I didn’t like the idea of calling the timeout after the quarterback sneak as I would have rather them run a quick play. The fact that the play got overturned on review makes it even worse.
• The spotting of the ball and the reviews over the last several plays have been a joke. Freiermuth had that first down. He definitely wasn’t a full yard short. That messed up everything.
• The Bengals winning this game gives the NFL more drama on Sunday. I think that’s why you’re seeing the results you’re seeing on these replay reviews.
• Defense holds to only three points. 13–7 going into the half. But not before the Steelers give up another sack for no reason.

3rd Quarter

• Once again, everyone in the stadium knew that run was coming. The toss ultimately loses 4 yards to start the half.
• Big surprise the Steelers go three and out. They completely wasted deferring the coin toss. Gave up a touchdown to open the game and did nothing to start the second half.
• No sooner did I enter that and Big Bro texted me the same thing from the stadium.
• Bengals march right down the field inside the 10-yard line but a sack by Herbig ends the drive. And Joe Burrow is down.
• The Bengals do get three to start the second half. 16–7.
• How much you want to bet it is a run, and most likely a toss on the very first play.
• It is a run but not a toss as Warren picks up nine on first down.
• Please stop with the toss.
• Pickens can’t hold on. Steelers get one first down before they have to punt.
• Can the Steelers throw the ball intermediate? It’s either deep shots or dump offs. The offense is embarrassing.
• We are in the final 20 minutes of the game. This is where the Steelers have been embarrassed over the last three weeks.
• That’s the end of the third quarter. Not only are the Steelers down 16–7, they have been out gained 265 yards to 91 yards.

4th Quarter

• I’m sorry, but 91 yards through 3 quarters of a football game is embarrassing. This is not a playoff team.
• Bengals march down the field but can’t find the end zone. It’s death by field goals. 19–7.
• There is the Steelers second completion of the second half with less than 11 minutes left to play. And it’s 5 yards to Van Jefferson.
• After shaking off a tackle behind the line of scrimmage, Najee Harris gets 12 yards on the pass but is down on the field.
• Once again George Pickens can’t hold onto the ball.
• This time with Freiermuth being open he was actually thrown the ball. Not only did he just win me my bet of 7+ touchdowns for the season, he’s closed the gap to 19–14.
• It’s all on the defense now. If they can get a stop the Steelers could actually win this game. I’m assuming Renegade is queued up.
• Huge third down here…
• Steelers give up a completion but for only 8 yards on third and 14. Here comes the Bengals second punt of the game. The first one was bad for the Steelers.
• Steelers start on their own 11 with just under six minutes to play. If you would’ve told me they would have a chance to score a TD to go ahead at this point, I wouldn’t have believed you.
• Throwing deep on third and one? That was a quick three and out.
• I have not been a fan of Russ’ decision-making tonight.
• Did the Steelers just get the ball back on the punt?
• Sorry, I didn’t believe the Steelers were actually going to get that ball until they finally ran a play.
• Yet another drop by Pickens.
• Even after getting a first down the Steelers only get 2 yards after getting the fumble recovery and settle for a long field goal. 19–17.
• Now it’s on the D again to make a stop. Against this offense, that’s tough.
• Another big return. That gives the Bengals the opportunity to go for it on fourth and short at any point now.
• Benton gets Burrow down for the sack on third down! Punt is coming after the two minute warning.
• Why catch that? It loses 2 yards and the clock runs.
• MMMMUUUTTTTHHH!!!!!
• Seriously? Wilson runs it for a couple yards rather than throw it away and then takes a sack. He has been embarrassing tonight.
• Pickens was open but he was running for the touchdown throw and not the throw to the sideline. If Russ puts it where he is it’s a touchdown.
• Freiermuth drops it.
• I don’t know if they would have been close enough for a FG after a spike, but it didn’t matter.
• So that’s four in a row the Steelers have dropped to end the season. Final score 19–17.
• There is one more game left, most likely in Baltimore. But right now it only feels like an 18th game with not much hope for anything more.

Once again, I just fired off what was going through my head at the time. All reactions were in real time. Basically, it is the equivalent of watching the game with a me and Kyle, you just don’t have to go to another room because of my screaming at the television (sometimes Kyle leaves the room). Now time to process it, some quick analyzing for the Scho Bro Show, and then put it behind me so I can ready myself for Wild Card Weekend. Make sure you get your voice heard in the comments below.