The Cincinnati Bengals entered the final game week of the 2024 season with one goal: complete a miraculous comeback from 4-8 to make the playoffs after a year's absence. Standing in their way were the Pittsburgh Steelers, who saw their dreams of a first division title since 2020 disappear when the Baltimore Ravens routed the Cleveland Browns 35-10.Did they accomplish ther goal? Or did their late surge eventually prove too little, too late?Cincinnati Bengals vs. Pittsburgh Steelers box scoreTeams1Q2Q3Q4QTotalCincinnati Bengals103 3319Pittsburgh Steelers0 7 01017Cincinnati Bengals player statsPassingPlayerCompletions/AttemptsYardsTouchdownsInterceptionsRatingJoe Burrow37/462771189.9Rushing and receivingPlayerCarriesYardsTouchdownsReceptionsYardsTouchdownsKhalil Herbert206907140Mike Gesicki0008680Ja'Marr Chase00010961Tee Higgins0004530Andrei Iosivas0002120Cam Grandy000190Drew Sample0004140Tanner Hudson0001110Joe Burrow1-10000DefensePlayerTotal tacklesSolo tacklesSacksTackles for lossAkeem Davis-Gaither12801Josh Newton7600Trey Hendrickson533.53Germaine Pratt5201Mike Hilton4300Shaka Heyward4301B.J. Hill4100Vonn Bell3200McKinnley Jackson3100Cam Taylor-Britt2100Kris Jenkins Jr.2000Geno Stone1100Cal Adomitis1100DJ Ivey1100Ja'Marr Chase1100Cedric Johnson1100Jordan Battle1100Trayveon Williams1000Jay Tufele1000Joseph Ossai100.50Myles Murphy0000KickingPlayerField goalsExtra pointsCade York4/41/1PuntingPlayerPuntsYardsInside 20LongestRyan Rehkow3146157Pittsburgh Steelers player statsPassingPlayerCompletions/AttemptsYardsTouchdownsInterceptionsRatingRussell Wilson17/311481078.4Rushing and receivingPlayerCarriesYardsTouchdownsReceptionsYardsTouchdownsCordarrelle Patterson110000Najee Harris123614200Jaylen Warren6210000Russell Wilson4160000Mike Williams0001250Pat Freiermuth0008850George Pickens000100Van Jefferson0003180DefensePlayerTotal tacklesSolo tacklesSacksTackles for LossInterceptionsCory Trice Jr.117010Payton Wilson108010DeShon Elliott87010Alex Highsmith74000Joey Porter Jr.66000Cameron Sutton63000Patrick Queen53110Keeanu Benton53110Minkah Fitzpatrick32000Ben Skowronek22000Preston Smith21110Nick Herbig21110Elandon Roberts21000Montravius Adams21000Miles Killebrew11000Connor Heyward11000Mark Robinson11000Cameron Heyward10000Larry Ogunjobi10000Beanie Bishop Jr.00001KickingPlayerField GoalsExtra pointsChris Boswell1/12/2PuntingPlayerPuntsYardsInside 20LongestCorliss Waitman5213250Cincinnati Bengals vs. Pittsburgh Steelers game summaryThe Bengals started the night in explosive fashion, as Joe Burrow found Ja'Marr Chase for a touchdown:They then forced a punt and punished it with a field goal.The Steelers opened the second quarter with a rushing touchdown by Najee Harris, having spent six and a half minutes on their drive. Both teams then exchanged losses of possession on successive drives - first a turnover on downs, then consecutive punts - the second of which Calvin Austin fumbled, allowing the Bengals to regain possession in enemy territory.That drive ended in disaster after Beanie Bishop intercepted Burrow, but the Steelers then lost the ball on downs and were punished for it with a field goal.The second half began with a Steelers punt that was punished with a field goal - a pattern that occurred again as the third quarter turned into the fourth. But at last, Russell Wilson found Pat Freiermuth for six to instantly reduce the deficit to single digits:Then they forced a punt on the Bengals; and although the initial drive did not bear anything significant, they regained possession via DJ Ivey muffing the return and hit a field goal.Then, just before the two-minute warning, Keeanu Benton sacked Burrow for an eleven-yard to force another punt. However, a sack and two dropped passes, one each by George Pickens and Freiermuth, caused another turnover on downs that ended the game.