Facing a 2nd and 2 from the Cincinnati 15-yard line late in the first quarter, it appeared that second-year Pittsburgh Steelers’ quarterback Kenny Pickett ripped a 15-yard pass between two Bengals defenders for a touchdown to wide receiver Diontae Johnson, giving the Steelers an early lead.
However, Johnson was unable to hang onto the football as he went to the ground, leading to officials ruling the pass incomplete in the back of the end zone.
One play later, running back Jaylen Warren fumbled the football away, keeping points off the board for the Steelers. Shortly after the incompletion and then the fumble, former NFL official Gene Steratore appeared on CBS and stated that the Steelers should have challenged the play as Johnson had three steps with possession of the football in the end zone, which should have been a touchdown.