Steelers' defense comes up big against Joe Burrow, forces game-winning fumble in final minute

For 59 minutes, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow looked to be in control against a tough Pittsburgh Steelers defense. So when he got the ball back with a little over two minutes left to play, Steelers fans knew someone would have to come up big to seal the win.

Steelers defensive tackle Derrick Harmon got it done. Harmon sacked and stripped Burrow with just under a minute left to go and the Steelers leading by three. Pittsburgh recovered the ball with 44 seconds left and took a knee to win the contest 30-27.

It was one of the few mistakes made by Burrow the entire game. Prior to that fumble, Burrow had been the reason Cincinnati was in the game, taking what the Steelers gave him and coming up big when he took shots downfield.

Joe Burrow mostly impressive in Pittsburgh

Over his career, Burrow has excelled on the road against the Steelers. Sunday was no exception … until the final minute. Early on, Burrow was happy to take what the Steelers gave him, which was short completions. Burrow started the contest 14-of-14 for 95 yards and a touchdown. His first incomplete pass didn't come until the middle of the team's third drive.

While he played a safe game early, Burrow eventually needed to take a few shots against the Steelers. One of his first deep balls of the game came at the end of the first half, when Tee Higgins boxed out a defender to make a fantastic catch in the end zone for a score.

With the Bengals trailing by four in the fourth quarter, Burrow struck again, hitting tight end Mike Gesicki on a deep ball on fourth-and-2. The Steelers, expecting a run, allowed Gesicki to run by every defender and get wide open for the 25-yard touchdown.

That throw put Cincinnati up 27-24 at the start of the fourth quarter.

Burrow finished the contest 28-of-37, with 282 passing yards and three touchdowns. He took just one sack, the one that led to the game-losing fumble in the final minute.

Prior to the contest, Burrow held a 3-1 record at Pittsburgh. He had thrown nine touchdowns against four interceptions in those four games. While his touchdown and interception figures improved Sunday, he walked out of Pittsburgh with the loss.

Bengals' muffed punt lets Steelers back in game

Cincinnati's defense finally found some life on the next drive, stopping the Steelers and forcing a punt. But the Bengals' stop was all for nothing, as Ke'Shawn Williams fumbled the punt. Steelers wideout Ben Skowronek was there for the recovery, setting up Pittsburgh in prime condition for another score.

While the Steelers weren't able to get into the end zone on the drive, the team did kick a game-tying field goal with 8:47 to play.

The Steelers were then able to stop the Bengals' offense on the next drive, forcing a punt. Pittsburgh again failed to score a touchdown, but did add another field goal to take back the lead and go up 30-27.

Aaron Rodgers flashes his old form early vs. Bengals

Aaron Rodgers mostly matched Burrow, at least early in the contest. The 42-year-old Rodgers stirred the echoes of years past, picking apart the previously strong Bengals defense in the middle of the field early and often. The team's first three drives ended in scores, with Rodgers throwing two early touchdown passes and Chris Boswell hitting a field goal.

While Rodgers' next drive ended in an interception, it wasn't his fault. Rodgers was in line for another strong gain in the middle of the field, but his pass hit Roman Wilson right in the hands and bounced straight into Jordan Battle 's arms for the pick.

After Rodgers couldn't pull off a Hail Mary before halftime, he bounced back on the team's first drive of the third quarter, tossing another touchdown to give the Steelers the lead.

Rodgers found himself more limited later in the contest, with the Steelers forced to settle for field goals in the fourth quarter. That strategy nearly ended in disaster, as Burrow had plenty of time to lead a game-winning — or game-tying — drive at the end of the game before Pittsburgh's defense came up big.

Rodgers finished 19-of-34, with 292 yards, 3 touchdowns and an interception.

Following the contest, both teams sit at 2-1 in what looks to be a much-improved AFC North. The Bengals won't be allowed to rest in Week 4, as the team will take on the Jacksonville Jaguars (2-1) in Cincinnati.

The Steelers, meanwhile, will take on another division opponent, this time traveling to Ohio to take on the Cleveland Browns (2-1).