Steelers' Calamity In Cincinnati: NFL Writers Weigh In

PITTSBURGH, PA — If you are coming to the conclusion that the Steelers simply are not a good football team after they were thrashed by the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, you are not alone. Here's what football scribes across the country thought about the Bengals 41-10 win:

• Gary Gramling, Sports Illustrated: "Bengals-Steelers is not a rivalry. That would imply that the Steelers are competitive when the teams play. Over the lastt hree games, it’s Bengals 92, Steelers 37."

• Michael Renner, Pro Football Focus: "In what’s been a very ugly season for the Steelers' veteran quarterback,Sunday was a new low for Big Ben. He had three brutal turnover-worthy plays, with two getting picked. He also coughed up a fumble in what was a complete no-show of a day."

• John Breech, CBS Sports: "Pittsburgh was thoroughly dominated on both sides of the ball. Their offensive line was no match for the Bengals' talented defensive front, led by Sam Hubbard and Trey Hendrickson. Without a running game, the Steelers relied far too much on Ben Roethlisberger, who was let down several times in the first half by Chase Claypool."

• Brooke Pryor, ESPN: "The Steelers are at .500, but with the loss they're at the bottom of the AFC North standings and in danger of slipping farther out of the playoff picture. Once the untouchable kings of the AFC North, the Steelers (5-5-1) have been all but dethroned as their flaws become further exposed every week."

• Nick Shook, NFL.com: "The Bengals have won three in a row versus the Steelers for first time since a Cincinnati six-game winning streak in the rivalry from 1988 through 1990. It's also the Bengals' first season sweep of the Steelers since the 2009 season. Cincinnati won the division that year."

Next: The AFC North division-leading Baltimore Ravens come to Heinz Field on Sunday at 4:25 p.m.