CINCINNATI – At halftime, the Bengals trailed the Steelers 27-21. They led for most of the first half, but Pittsburgh rallied and took the lead into the locker room.

The Bengals hope to improve their mark to 5-7 this season. Here are our observations at halftime:

Cam Taylor Britt

The Bengals need Taylor-Britt to play better and he made a great play in the first half.

The second-year cornerback intercepted Russell Wilson on the Steelers’ first possession and returned it for a 51-yard touchdown. George Pickens stumbled, giving Taylor-Britt the opportunity to make a clean catch and return. Watch the piece here.

Shaky defense

After the pick-six, the Bengals defense returned to its normal self, allowing three straight touchdowns. All three drives were at least 68 yards.

This kept Pittsburgh in the game and, despite the pick-six, the score was tied at 21. The Steelers scored on five straight possessions after Taylor-Britt’s interception.

Wilson completed 21 of 27 passes for 257 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in the first half.

Offensive keeps hopes alive

Joe Burrow and the Bengals made a three-pointer early in the game but recovered with consecutive touchdown drives.

First, Chase Brown had a 40-yard run that brought the Bengals to the Steelers’ one-yard line. Brown scored a one-yard touchdown on the next play from scrimmage.

The Steelers scored at 14, but Burrow answered, leading the Bengals on a nine-play, 70-yard drive that ended with a rushing 4-yard touchdown to Ja’Marr Chase. Watch the piece here.

Key turnover

Burrow fumbled on the Bengals’ fourth possession of the game. He rolled to his right and didn’t realize TJ Watt was behind him.

Watt knocked the ball away at the Steelers’ 37-yard line. Preston Smith found it again.

Pittsburgh’s drive stalled, but Chris Boswell kicked a 50-yard field goal to give the Steelers their first lead of the game (24-21) late in the second quarter.

Burrow completed 12 of 15 passes for 80 yards and a touchdown in the first half. He has been sacked once and has a quarterback rating of 116.7.

The Bengals will win if…

They find ways to stop the defense. They couldn’t stop the Steelers at all after their first possession.

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