The miracle is alive in cincinnati.

So far, so good for the Bengals, who kept their playoff hopes alive with a 19-17 victory over the Tigers. pittsburg steelers Saturday night.

Aside from Ja’Marr Chase’s early touchdown, the Bengals offense didn’t make much of a splash, but this time around, the defense stepped up throughout the game. In fact, the Tigers jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the first quarter but only managed four field goals the rest of the way.

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The Cincinnati Bengals recover a Steelers fumble during the second quarter of the NFL Week 18 game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh. (Sam Greene/The Inquirer/USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images)

After the Steelers scored a touchdown of their own in the second quarter, both offenses struggled for a while – Cincy added a field goal before halftime, and they scored on each of their first two possessions of the second half. Two goals led to a 19-7 lead at the beginning of the final quarter.

But the Steelers offense finally got going, with Russell Wilson leading a nine-play, 65-yard touchdown run that was eventually found by Pat Freiermuth. , turning the game into a five-point game.

With 5:24 left in the game, the Steelers were three-and-out and kicked the ball away. However, the ball was suffocated by the Bengals and recovered at the opposite 38 by Pittsburgh, giving them another shot at life. But they couldn’t take advantage, and on 4th and 18, they had to settle for a 54-yard field goal, trailing 19-17 with 2:39 left in the game.

Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson (91) takes the first shot of the NFL Week 18 game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday, January 4, 2025, at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson (3) was sacked mid-quarter. (Sam Greene/The Inquirer/USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images)

The Steelers completed a three-and-out in the two-minute warning period and had the ball, needing a field goal to win. On third down, Wilson saw an open George Pickens in field goal range, but the pass went through his hands, continuing his rough night filled with drops (he completed one catch, five from code). On fourth down, Freiermuth was unable to connect the ball, and the Bengals ultimately took the victory in a kneel-down fashion.

Now, if both sides are satisfied, the Bengals can make the playoffs denver broncos Either a tie or loss to the Kansas City Chiefs and the Miami Dolphins to the New York Jets.

As for the Steelers, they remain the fifth seed but will drop to sixth if the Los Angeles Chargers win on Sunday.

Burrow was once again nominated for MVP after going 37 of 46 for 277 yards and a touchdown, while Chase had 10 catches for 96 yards and a score in the first quarter.

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Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) during the second quarter of the NFL Week 18 game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh on Saturday, January 4, 2025. Getting fired and then getting back on my feet. (Sam Greene/The Inquirer/USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images)

Wilson went 17-of-31 for 148 yards, but his weapons didn’t do him much good. Freiermuth leads the way with eight catches (85 yards), but the next closest is Najee Harris with four catches.

Most promisingly, the Bengals will enter NFL RedZone on Sunday, becoming the third AFC North team to make the playoffs.