Bengals 27, Steelers 30: drive chart, EPA and box score

Week 3 · Sun, Sep 27 · Acrisure StadiumFinal

Final

	1	2	3	4	T
CIN	7	10	3	7	27
PIT	14	3	7	6	30

Home · 6-2PittsburghSteelers30

At a glanceUpdated Nov 10, 2026, 2:46 PM ET

The Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Cincinnati Bengals 30-27 on Sun, Sep 27 at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA (Week 3, 2026 season). Records after the game: Bengals 6-2, Steelers 6-2. J.Burrow (CIN) led all players with +15.1 EPA on 40 dropbacks.

Who won Bengals vs Steelers?

The Pittsburgh Steelers won 30-27. By quarter: CIN 7-10-3-7, PIT 14-3-7-6.

Who was the best player in Bengals vs Steelers?

By expected points added: J.Burrow (CIN, +15.1 EPA on 40 dropbacks), T.Higgins (CIN, +9.9 EPA on 7 targets) and J.Chase (CIN, +9.3 EPA on 12 targets).

What was the turning point of Bengals vs Steelers?

The biggest swing in win probability (37 points toward the Steelers) came in Q4 at 0:53: (Shotgun) J.Burrow sacked at PIT 46 for -8 yards (D.Harmon). FUMBLES (D.Harmon) [D.Harmon], RECOVERED by PIT-S.Joseph at CIN 49.

Cite this page

Pigskin Nightly, “Bengals 27, Steelers 30: Week 3 recap”, https://pigskinnightly.com/games/2026-09-27-cin-at-pit (updated 2026-11-10).

How we calculate Plain-text version Report an error

The Verdict

Week 3 issue →

Week 3RobbedGame file →

Bengals55% success · +0.31 EPA/play

2730

Steelers48% success · +0.20 EPA/play

CIN 76% deserveddeserved 24% PIT

Bengals played like a 3.8-point better team. A team that plays like that wins 76% of the time. Bengals lost.

Deserved marginCIN by 3.8

Real marginPIT by 3

Luck pts CIN−3.0

Luck pts PIT+1.0

The swingQ4 0:53 · CIN · −42 pts of win probability. (Shotgun) 9-J.Burrow sacked at PIT 46 for -8 yards (99-D.Harmon). FUMBLES (99-D.Harmon) [99-D.Harmon], RECOVERED by PIT-69-S.Joseph at CIN 49.

Flags that moved this game

1Roughing the KickerCIN → helped PIT · Wk 3 Q3 6:48 · 19-C.Johnston punts 53 yards to CIN 6, Center-46-C.Kuntz, downed by PIT-26-B.Echols. PENALTY on CIN-52-C.Johnson, Roughing the…+14.5 WP
2False StartCIN → helped PIT · Wk 3 Q3 13:33 · (Shotgun) PENALTY on CIN-64-T.Karras, False Start, 5 yards, enforced at CIN 34 - No Play.+3.5 WP

Fourth downs our model disagreed with

1CIN · 4th & 2Zac Taylor chose Punt at own 49, Wk 3 Q4 7:46, tied. Model: Go for it (clear call). Result: punted.−1.11 EP
2CIN · 4th & 3Zac Taylor chose Punt at own 49, Wk 3 Q2 4:40, down 7. Model: Go for it (lean). Result: punted.−0.75 EP

Deserved win probability from the snaps, fumble bounces evened out. How we judge

From the Lab

This game, re-drawn

All Lab tools →

Game DNA128 plays, one strand4 lead changes · 15 explosive plays · downloadable poster →

Officiating crewClay Martin11 accepted flags in this game · 13.4 a game this season (about league average)Market vs SnapsLine: CIN by 3.5 · Snaps: CIN by 3.8Steelers covered; the snaps say Bengals should have

27@30

Week 3

If the Bengals had fallen on their own fumble

Bengals after the play3%what really happened

Q4 0:53 9-J.Burrow sacked at PIT 46 for -8 yards (99-D.Harmon). FUMBLES (99-D.Harmon) [99-D.Harmon], RECOVERED by PIT-69-S.Joseph at CIN 49.

Every game's sliding door →

Home win probability, play by play

The river

100%

Hover, tap or drag along the river to read any play. Arrow keys work too. Click to jump to its drive.

PIT ▲CIN ▼

Q1Q2Q3Q4

The five biggest swings

+37%Q4 0:53 · for PIT(Shotgun) J.Burrow sacked at PIT 46 for -8 yards (D.Harmon). FUMBLES (D.Harmon) [D.Harmon], RECOVERED by PIT-S.Joseph at CIN 49.
+22%Q4 11:04 · for PITC.Johnston punts 51 yards to CIN 13, Center-C.Kuntz. K.Williams MUFFS catch, touched at CIN 16, RECOVERED by PIT-B.Skowronek at CIN 14. PIT-B.Echols was injured during the play.
+21%Q4 13:29 · for CIN(Shotgun) J.Burrow pass deep middle to M.Gesicki for 25 yards, TOUCHDOWN. E.McPherson extra point is GOOD, Center-W.Wagner, Holder-R.Rehkow.
+15%Q4 6:16 · for PITA.Rodgers pass short right to D.Washington to CIN 32 for 47 yards (K.Dugger).
+13%Q4 5:23 · for PITJ.Warren left guard to CIN 6 for 26 yards (T.Davis).

Every drive, on the field

PIT attacks →← CIN attacks

Q1 15:00TD4p · 73y · 1:50
Q1 13:10TD11p · 73y · 7:20
Q1 5:50TD11p · 86y · 4:58
Q1 0:52FG9p · 32y · 5:36
Q2 10:16FG6p · 40y · 3:11
Q2 7:05PUNT5p · 18y · 2:35
Q2 4:30INT7p · 37y · 2:50
Q2 1:40TD5p · 53y · 1:06
Q2 0:34HALF3p · 12y · 0:34
Q3 15:00FG12p · 65y · 6:38
Q3 8:22TD11p · 74y · 5:39
Q3 2:43TD8p · 64y · 4:14
Q4 13:29PUNT6p · 11y · 2:37
Q4 10:52FG4p · -4y · 2:07
Q4 8:45PUNT3p · 8y · 1:06
Q4 7:39FG8p · 77y · 5:24
Q4 2:15FUM5p · 19y · 1:31
Q4 0:44END2p · -2y · 0:44

Bengals8 drives5scoring drives (3 TD)63%drives ending in pointsOWN 33avg starting field position1three-and-outs1turnovers incl. downs

Steelers8 drives6scoring drives (3 TD)75%drives ending in pointsOWN 30avg starting field position0three-and-outs1turnovers incl. downs

Scoring summary

Q1
13:10Touchdown(Shotgun) A.Rodgers pass deep left to R.Wilson for 38 yards, TOUCHDOWN. C.Boswell extra point is GOOD, Center-C.Kuntz, Holder-C.Johnston.0–7
Q1
5:50TouchdownJ.Bayer reported in as eligible. J.Burrow pass short right to J.Chase for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN. E.McPherson extra point is GOOD, Center-W.Wagner, Holder-R.Rehkow.7–7
Q1
0:52TouchdownA.Rodgers pass deep right to B.Skowronek for 23 yards, TOUCHDOWN. C.Boswell extra point is GOOD, Center-C.Kuntz, Holder-C.Johnston.7–14
Q2
10:16Field goalE.McPherson 50 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-W.Wagner, Holder-R.Rehkow.10–14
Q2
7:05Field goalC.Boswell 44 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-C.Kuntz, Holder-C.Johnston.10–17
Q2
0:34Touchdown(Shotgun) J.Burrow pass deep right to T.Higgins for 28 yards, TOUCHDOWN [S.Joseph]. E.McPherson extra point is GOOD, Center-W.Wagner, Holder-R.Rehkow.17–17
Q3
8:22Field goal E.McPherson 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-W.Wagner, Holder-R.Rehkow.20–17
Q3
2:43TouchdownA.Rodgers pass short middle to D.Metcalf for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN. C.Boswell extra point is GOOD, Center-C.Kuntz, Holder-C.Johnston.20–24
Q4
13:29Touchdown(Shotgun) J.Burrow pass deep middle to M.Gesicki for 25 yards, TOUCHDOWN. E.McPherson extra point is GOOD, Center-W.Wagner, Holder-R.Rehkow.27–24
Q4
8:45Field goal C.Boswell 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-C.Kuntz, Holder-C.Johnston.27–27
Q4
2:15Field goalC.Boswell 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-C.Kuntz, Holder-C.Johnston.27–30

Team stats

CINvsPIT

352Total yards411

269Passing yards273

83Rushing yards138

6.3Yards per play7.0

19First downs22

6-12 · 50%Third down7-12 · 58%

2-2Fourth down0-0

1-2Red zone TDs1-3

28/37Comp / att19/34

4.6Yards per carry6.0

2Turnovers1

1 (−13 yds)Sacks allowed2 (−19 yds)

6 for 40Penalties5 for 37

30:06Possession29:54

Expected points added · nflverse model

The game in EPA

EPA per play+0.281+0.201

Dropback EPA+0.378+0.238

Rush EPA+0.037+0.133

Success rate55%48%

Explosive plays69

Plays5656

Who moved the needle

J.BurrowDropbacks: 40+15.1

T.HigginsTargets: 7+9.9

J.ChaseTargets: 12+9.3

A.RodgersDropbacks: 36+8.6

M.GesickiTargets: 3+5.1

D.WashingtonTargets: 4+4.0

Cost their side the most

S.PerineTargets: 3-4.2

M.PittmanTargets: 5-0.8

P.FreiermuthTargets: 4-0.6

Box score

Cincinnati Bengals

Passing	C/ATT	YDS	AVG	TD	INT	SACKS	QBR	RTG
Joe BurrowQB	28/37	282	7.6	3	0	1-13	94.3	123.9

Rushing	CAR	YDS	AVG	LONG
Chase BrownRB	13	61	4.7	13
Joe BurrowQB	2	13	6.5	8
Samaje PerineRB	3	9	3.0	5

Receiving	REC	TGTS	YDS	AVG	TD	LONG
Ja'Marr ChaseWR	9	12	98	10.9	1	21
Tee HigginsWR	6	7	90	15.0	1	28
Mike GesickiTE	3	3	37	12.3	1	25
Dohnte MeyersWR	3	5	29	9.7	0	23
Tanner HudsonTE	2	2	13	6.5	0	7
Chase BrownRB	2	2	8	4.0	0	12
Samaje PerineRB	1	3	5	5.0	0	5
Colbie YoungWR	1	1	2	2.0	0	2
Drew SampleTE	1	2	0	0.0	0	0

Defense	TOT	SOLO	SACKS	TFL	PD	QB HTS
Demetrius Knight Jr.LB	9	2	0	0	0	0
Kyle DuggerS	8	4	0	0	1	0
Barrett CarterLB	6	2	0	0	1	1
Tacario DavisCB	5	5	0	0	1	0
Dexter Lawrence IIDT	4	3	2	3	0	2
Jordan BattleS	4	3	0	0	1	0
Dax HillCB	4	2	0	0	1	0
Jonathan AllenDT	3	0	0	0	0	2
Oren BurksLB	2	2	0	0	0	0
Bryan CookS	2	2	0	0	0	0

Kicking	FG	PCT	LONG	XP	PTS
Evan McPhersonPK	2/2	100.0	50	3/3	9

Pittsburgh Steelers

Passing	C/ATT	YDS	AVG	TD	INT	SACKS	QBR	RTG
Aaron RodgersQB	19/34	292	8.6	3	1	2-19	67.1	101.6

Rushing	CAR	YDS	AVG	LONG
Jaylen WarrenRB	17	127	7.5	35
Aaron RodgersQB	3	10	3.3	12
Pat FreiermuthTE	1	1	1.0	1
Travis HomerRB	1	0	0.0	0
Lew NicholsRB	1	0	0.0	0

Receiving	REC	TGTS	YDS	AVG	TD	LONG
Darnell WashingtonTE	3	4	67	22.3	0	47
Roman WilsonWR	3	6	60	20.0	1	38
Jaylen WarrenRB	3	4	49	16.3	0	30
DK MetcalfWR	3	5	31	10.3	1	14
Pat FreiermuthTE	2	4	30	15.0	0	22
Ben SkowronekWR	1	1	23	23.0	1	23
Michael Pittman Jr.WR	2	5	16	8.0	0	8
Germie BernardWR	1	1	14	14.0	0	14
Robert TonyanTE	1	1	2	2.0	0	2

Defense	TOT	SOLO	TFL	PD
Patrick QueenLB	13	4	1	1
Rayshawn JenkinsS	9	5	0	0
Jalen RamseyCB	8	4	1	0
Jaquan BriskerS	8	3	0	0
Payton WilsonLB	6	0	0	1
Jamel DeanCB	5	3	0	1
Yahya BlackDE	4	1	0	0
Jack SawyerLB	2	2	0	0
Brandin EcholsCB	2	2	0	0
Asante Samuel Jr.CB	2	1	0	1

Kicking	FG	PCT	LONG	XP	PTS
Chris BoswellPK	3/3	100.0	44	3/3	12

Before kickoff · Regular season through week 2 · rank out of 32

Where it was expected to be decided

1Bengals pass defense vs Steelers dropback offense
The Bengals' pass defense ranks 3rd in EPA per dropback (-0.18 allowed, 97 dropbacks faced) and faces a Steelers dropback offense ranked 31st (-0.41, 89 dropbacks).
31stPIT offense28 spots apart3rdCIN defense
2Bengals defense against big plays vs Steelers big-play offense
The Bengals' defense against big plays ranks 14th in explosive-play rate (8.7% allowed, 127 plays faced) and faces a Steelers big-play offense ranked 29th (5.5%, 128 plays).
29thPIT offense15 spots apart14thCIN defense

When the Bengals have the ballEdge PIT · +21 ranks

CIN dropback offenseEPA per dropbackPIT pass defense

22nd-0.0373 dropbacks

PIT +21

-0.36 allowed53 dropbacks faced1st

CIN run gameEPA per rushPIT run defense

13th-0.0847 rushes

-0.05 allowed55 rushes faced20th

Dropbacks include sacks and scrambles; rushes are designed runs. What EPA measures.

When the Steelers have the ballEdge CIN · +28 ranks

PIT dropback offenseEPA per dropbackCIN pass defense

31st-0.4189 dropbacks

CIN +28

-0.18 allowed97 dropbacks faced3rd

PIT run gameEPA per rushCIN run defense

22nd-0.1639 rushes

CIN +19

-0.36 allowed30 rushes faced3rd

Third downEdge CIN · +19 ranks

CIN third-down offensethird-down conversion ratePIT third-down defense

11th44.8%29 third downs

29.2% allowed24 third downs faced4th

PIT third-down offensethird-down conversion rateCIN third-down defense

31st20.8%24 third downs

CIN +19

37.0% allowed27 third downs faced12th

Conversions are third-down snaps that gained a first down or scored.

Red zoneEdge CIN · +23 ranks

CIN red-zone offensered-zone touchdown ratePIT red-zone defense

21st50%6 trips

PIT +20

0% allowed1 trips faced1st

PIT red-zone offensered-zone touchdown rateCIN red-zone defense

28th33%3 trips

CIN +23

25% allowed8 trips faced5th

A trip is a drive with at least one snap inside the opponent's 20; the rate is trips that ended in an offensive touchdown. Small samples swing fast here.

Explosive playsEdge CIN · +18 ranks

CIN big-play offenseexplosive-play ratePIT defense against big plays

11th10.8%120 plays

CIN +18

13.0% allowed108 plays faced29th

PIT big-play offenseexplosive-play rateCIN defense against big plays

29th5.5%128 plays

CIN +15

8.7% allowed127 plays faced14th

Completions of 20+ yards and runs of 10+, per snap. Definition.

Pressure & sacksEdge PIT · +23 ranks

CIN pass protectionsack ratePIT pass rush

24th8.2% sacked73 dropbacks

PIT +23

13.2% of dropbacks53 dropbacks faced1st

PIT pass protectionsack rateCIN pass rush

17th6.7% sacked89 dropbacks

CIN +10

8.2% of dropbacks97 dropbacks faced7th

Sacks per dropback. The public play-by-play has no pressure charting, so this is the sack side of it only.

TurnoversEdge CIN · +18 ranks

CIN ball securityturnovers per gamePIT takeaway defense

4th0.5 giveaways a game2 games

2.0 takeaways a game2 games3rd

PIT ball securityturnovers per gameCIN takeaway defense

21st1.5 giveaways a game2 games

CIN +18

2.0 takeaways a game2 games3rd

Interceptions and lost fumbles on offensive snaps, per game. Turnover rates are among the least stable numbers in football.

Sample: CIN 2 games, 120 offensive and 127 defensive plays · PIT 2 games, 128 offensive and 108 defensive plays. Rank 1 is the best offense or the best defense in each stat. Keys are the largest rank gaps (12+ spots) between an offense and the defense it faces, one per stat. Ranks are not schedule-adjusted.

Starters, confirmed

ConfirmedEvery game →

Confirmed from the official snap counts: at every position group the starters are the snap leaders. Expected lineup = today's depth chart, adjusted for the injury report.

Expected, did not start

Oren BurksSLB→ Cashius Howell

Bryan CookFS→ Kyle Dugger

Germie BernardWR→ Michael Pittman Jr.

Ben SkowronekWR→ Roman Wilson

Yahya BlackLDE→ Nick Herbig

Robert Spears-JenningsSS→ Rayshawn Jenkins

AwayBengals2 changes