Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow got off to a disastrous start before leading a remarkable turnaround, but ultimately it wasn’t enough as the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Bengals 23-20 in overtime.
Burrow, who led the Bengals to a Super Bowl berth last season endured perhaps the worst possible way to begin the 2022 campaign when he was picked off with his first pass of the game and returned for a touchdown by Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick.
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It got worse for Burrow, as he was strip-sacked by Steelers linebacker Alex Highsmith for a fumble in the first quarter as Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward pounced on the loose ball.
Burrow was then picked off a further three times, with TJ Watt, Ahkello Witherspoon and Cameron Sutton intercepting the Bengals star.
The Steelers held a 17-6 lead at halftime, but the Bengals flipped the contest on its head in the second half.
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Burrow threw a touchdown to Tyler Boyd in the third quarter and the Bengals made the gutsy call to go for a two-point conversion.
It was ultimately successful and the Bengals were within three points of the lead.
However, a field goal early in the fourth quarter from Steelers kicker Chris Boswell increased the buffer to six points.
The contest was not over, as a touchdown with the last play of the game from Burrow to star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase tied the scores at 20-20.
With a chance to win the game, Bengals kicker Evan McPherson missed the extra point attempt as the contest was forced into overtime.
The kicking woes weren’t just limited to McPherson, with Steelers kicker Chris Boswell missing a 55-yard field goal attempt in overtime as his effort smacked the post.
Ultimately it was Boswell who came up clutch, drilling a 53-yard field goal to secure victory for the Steelers in the first game of the season.
CASUALTY WARD ALREADY GROWING
With the first game of the season in the books, a number of stars are facing a stint on the sideline.
New England Patriots QB Mac Jones injured his back in his side’s 20-7 defeat to the Miami Dolphins.
The severity of the injury remains unknown, but the Patriots did not make Jones available to media after the loss and the QB was seen heading to an X-Ray room after the game.
The Pittsburgh Steelers could also be without a key player for a lengthy period of time, as TJ Watt has reportedly torn his pec.
Watt will undergo scans on Tuesday for a full diagnosis, but according to NFL reporter Ian Rapoport, the Steelers defensive standout walked to the sidelines during the game and appeared to mouth the words, “I tore my pec.”
The Kansas City Chiefs have bee forced to make do without kicker Harrison Butker after he was carted from the field in the Chiefs’ match against the Arizona Cardinals.
Chiefs safety Justin Reid has taken up the vacant kicking duties and already looks at home, smashing an extra point over the safety net behind the posts.
FULL RESULTS
Lions 35-38 Eagles
Bears 19-10 49ers
Bengals 20-23 Steelers
Dolphins 20-7 Patriots
Panthers 24-26 Browns
Texans 20-20 Colts
Falcons 26-27 Saints
Jets 9-24 Ravens
Commanders 28-22 Jaguars
Vikings v Titans
Chargers v Raiders
Cardinals v Chiefs
Cowboys v Buccaneers
