The Cincinnati Bengals defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 2's Monday Night Football matchup. This one was played like a division rival, until the Bengals decided to take over late in the game. Bengals' rookie running back, Giovani Bernard had a game to remember as the 21-year-old scored two touchdowns.
Bernard put Cincinnati on the board in the first quarter with a seven-yard touchdown run and then struck again in the second half, going for 27 yards on a pass from Andy Dalton. Bernard finished the evening with 38 rushing yards on eight carries and his one reception ended up in the end zone.
Like in Week 1, the Steelers could not get any form of offense going. Emmanuel Sanders continues to lead the Steelers' No. 1 option, going for five catches and 78 yards. On the ground, however, Felix Jones could not penetrate the Bengals' defensive line.
Wide receiver, Derek Moye caught a touchdown, but that only went for a yard. The Bengals did a great job keep plays short as the Steelers only had three plays that went for over 20 yards. The Steelers defense played well, but a pivotal play late in the game might have cost them the game.
In a pivotal 3rd & 3, Lamar Woodley of the Steelers was called for an offsides, giving the Bengals a first down and placed them inside the 10-yard line. The Bengals continued to milk the clock as the Steelers were trying to get the ball back down a possession. Mike Nugent made it a two-possession game with a 25-yard field goal, giving the Bengals a 20-10 lead.
Reggie Nelson then stepped up for the Bengals with 4:55 left on the clock. He picked off Roethlisberger on a ball intended for Jerricho Cochery. Roethlisberger threw the ball just beyond his receivers' reach, Cotcher went up, but it bounced off his fingertips and Nelson was there to intercept the ball at the Bengals' 13-yard line.
BenJarvus Green-Ellis handled the rest. He did not have the best game of his career, going for 22 carries for 75 yards, but he continued to get first down, after first down, milking the clock and putting the game away.
Roethlisberger's final numbers were 20/37 completions for 251 yards, one touchdown and an interception. It's the second loss for the Steelers this season. The Bengals are now 1-1 in the season.
