Cincinnati Bengals 13 Pittsburgh Steelers 10

Remember that time, oh so long ago when the Steelers actually won a game? Oh, ’tis but a memory now, but what a grand memory it was.

The Steelers playoff hopes are also but a distant memory, as the lost against the Bengals eliminated the Steelers from the playoffs. This January while Ben Roethlisberger and company are enjoying lovely golf weather who knows where, the likes of the Ravens and the Bengals will be fighting for a shot at the Lombardi.

It’s the same old same old from the Steelers who have not looked like a competent team since the Week 8 win in New York. To their credit, the defense played their best game of the year. Cortez Allen was a one-man fumbleception inducing machine with two interceptions and one forced fumble.

But when it comes to the Steelers offense, they live by Big Ben and die by Big Ben. One week after throwing a crucial interception in overtime that set up the game-winning field goal for Dallas, Roethlisberger threw two interceptions that lead to 10 points for the Bengals. Big Ben used to be clutch in two-minute situations, but now he’s looking like a mere mortal. Perhaps he can use the long off-seasons to refocus and adjust his game.

The Steelers take on the Browns next week in a game that means absolutely nothing for the Steelers. The Browns are playing for pride, so perhaps the Steelers can be jerks and beat them just because. If the Steelers and the Browns play in a meaningless game, does anyone actually care?