Niner Noise
FanSided

NFL power rankings: Breaking down all 32 teams’ standings in Week 14

By Peter Panacy

ORCHARD PARK, NY - DECEMBER 3: Dion Dawkins #73 of the Buffalo Bills shakes hands with Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots after a game on December 3, 2017 at New Era Field in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
ORCHARD PARK, NY - DECEMBER 3: Dion Dawkins #73 of the Buffalo Bills shakes hands with Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots after a game on December 3, 2017 at New Era Field in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) /
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CINCINNATI, OH – DECEMBER 04: Vince Williams #98 of the Pittsburgh Steelers tackles Joe Mixon #28 of the Cincinnati Bengals during the first half at Paul Brown Stadium on December 4, 2017 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH – DECEMBER 04: Vince Williams #98 of the Pittsburgh Steelers tackles Joe Mixon #28 of the Cincinnati Bengals during the first half at Paul Brown Stadium on December 4, 2017 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

team. 56. . L, 23-20 vs. Steelers. Previous: . Cincinnati Bengals. 22

You know things are going to be rough and ugly when the Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers square off, especially on Monday Night Football.

This particular contest was about as close a must-win game for Cincinnati to keep its playoff hopes alive.

And for a while, it looked like the Bengals would pull off the upset.

Up 17-0 just before the half, Cincinnati gave some momentum back to Pittsburgh, who managed to score a field goal just before halftime.

Not surprisingly, the Steelers used that momentum to turn things around in the second half, winning 23-20 on a last-second field goal as time expired. And it wasted a fine effort from quarterback Andy Dalton.

This sort of collapse is something we’ve grown used to when the Bengals face their AFC North rivals. And it happened again.

Combine that with some dirty play, as well as 13 penalties for 173 yards, and it’s clear who has the edge in this rivalry.