The pain that usually hurts the most is the one you cannot see coming — and that’s exactly what the Pittsburgh Steelers and their fans experienced Thursday night.
An embarrassing 33–31 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals was a brutal gut punch. After an impressive start to the season, it felt like Mike Tomlin’s squad finally had control of the AFC North. But when given the chance to create separation, they did the one thing they couldn’t afford to do — get in their own way.
This game wasn’t just another loss; it was a blown opportunity against a Bengals roster many considered inferior.