Ben Roethlisberger

Cincinnati Bengals Completely Shutout of Second Half in Loss

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 2:32 p.m. ET

Fansided, Matthew Willson/FanSided via Stripe Hype

The Cincinnati Bengals are completely shut down on offense in the second half as the offense completely goes silent. The Bengals ended up losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers 24-20.

The defense held the Pittsburgh offense to six field goals, but the Cincinnati Bengals couldn’t hold them out the end zone forever as they scored in the fourth quarter to finish off a 18 point unanswered run to win.

The Bengals defense was solid until Dre Kirkpatrick wasn’t and back up Pat Sims added his own veteran terrible flare to the mix. For the most part, the disciplined Bengals defense failed to bite on terrible taunting and emotional mix by Steelers players. However, Kirkpatrick started to get beat, Jones made fewer plays, and safeties disappeared.

The Bengals offense were able to capitalize on great special teams play and penalties in the first half. However, in the second half, Ken Zampese proved he can’t make any in game adjustments, and Jeremy Hill‘s few successes in the first hlf, quickly went to loss of yards. Brandon LaFell fell quiet in the second half after starting with six receptions for 77 yards.

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The Steelers started all the issues with players like Maurkice Pouncey, who is best known for his, “Free Hernandez” shirt, Marcus Gilbert, who pushed Vontaze Burfict onto the last offender, David DeCastro, who was constantly in Burfict’s face. However, Burfict was the upstanding citizen with only one questionable tackle on QB Ben Roethlisberger who got a crap call on a hand off, which he could have kept it.

The Cincinnati Bengals are effectively eliminated from playoff contention with this loss. Ken Zampese, although probably a wish with the Bengals refusing to fire a coach, should be done as the offensive coordinator. Paul Guenther was not able to draw up many plays to force punts, but stopping once the Steelers got into field goal range.

They will head to Houston to face the Texans, who just benched their starting quarterback, Brock Osweiler, for back up Tom Savage. The Bengals will have the benefit of Savage’s former receiver Tyler Boyd at the University of Pittsburgh to help. They have a chance to play spoilers to the Texans, who are in the race with the Titans and Colts, and the Ravens still.