Live updates: Cincinnati Bengals lead the Pittsburgh Steelers 17-0 at halftime
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In the last game Cincinnati Bengals backup quarterback Ryan Finley started, he completed just 12 passes for 192 yards against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Nov. 2019.
Thirteen months later, Finley will start again and face a Steelers defense that has improved into one of the best units in the NFL.
Replacing injured quarterback Brandon Allen, Finley is starting for the Bengals on Monday Night Football against Pittsburgh.
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The Steelers have lost two consecutive games, but at 11-2 Pittsburgh has the second-best record in the NFL. Cincinnati is looking for its first divisional win of the season and its first victory since Nov. 1.
THIRD QUARTER UPDATES
12:07 left in the third quarter: Bengals 17, Steelers 7.
At first, it didn’t look like quarterback Ben Roethlisberger would take the field for the second half. When he did, he threw a 23-yard touchdown to Diontae Johnson to get Pittsburgh on the board.
Roethlisberger doubled his passing yard total on the Steelers’ first series of the season half.
Halftime: Bengals 17, Steelers 0.
The Bengals have their biggest halftime lead of the season.
Ryan Finley has completed five passes for 75 yards, but three Pittsburgh turnovers and a poor performance from Ben Roethlisberger have the Bengals up 17-0 at halftime.
Roethlisberger has completed seven passes for 19 yards with an interception, and Cincinnati dropped a few more potential picks.
The Bengals scored off all three Steelers turnovers with two touchdowns from Giovani Bernard.
SECOND QUARTER UPDATES
4:20 left in the second quarter: Bengals 17, Steelers 0.
For the first time this season, the Bengals have a three-score lead in the first half.
Following an easy interception for Bengals cornerback Mackensie Alexander, Ryan Finley threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Giovani Bernard.
Finley has completed five passes for 75 yards, while Ben Roethlisberger has completed five passes for -2 yards.
12:05 left in the second quarter: Bengals 10, Steelers 0.
The Bengals have a two-score lead over the best team in the AFC North.
Safety Vonn Bell got the Bengals into scoring position with a loud hit that forced a Steelers fumble. After the Bengals took over on their side of the field, Ryan Finley completed two passes to Tee Higgins to get the Bengals inside the 10-yard line.
Then Giovani Bernard ran for a 4-yard touchdown to give the Bengals their first touchdown of the game.
FIRST QUARTER UPDATES
5:12 left in the first quarter: Bengals 3, Steelers 0.
It took until the sixth drive for either team to record a first down and the Bengals still only have 20 total yards, but Cincinnati has the lead.
The Bengals capitalized off a botched exchange at the line of scrimmage and took over at the 20-yard line. Austin Seibert made a 34-yard field goal.
PREGAME UPDATES
The Bengals named six inactive players: K Randy Bullock, QB Brandon Allen (knee) LB Logan Wilson (ankle), C B.J. Finney, G Alex Redmond and G Keaton Sutherland.
Finley will make his first start of the season. He’s appeared in four games this year and has completed 10 of his 19 passing attempts for 75 yards.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Live updates: Cincinnati Bengals lead the Pittsburgh Steelers 17-7