As the Pittsburgh Steelers offense was attempting to drive at the end of the first half of Week 17 against the Kansas City Chiefs, they lost a key

Freiermuth recorded eight receptions on 11 targets for 85 yards and a touchdown in Saturday's 19-17 loss to the Bengals.

PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers ' coaching staff has left them out to dry far too often in this stretch of games to end the season. There are too many examples to run down in just one paragraph, so let’s examine it a bit closer.

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth catches a 19-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Russell Wilson against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Russell Wilson and the Pittsburgh Steelers don’t want to talk about the past with the playoff approaching. The Steelers finished the regular season on a four-game losing streak after a

Pat Freiermuth led the receiving charge, catching eight passes for 85 yards and one touchdown. Learn more about the Pittsburgh Steelers on Fox Sports. FOX Sports created this story using ...

One of the biggest factors holding the Pittsburgh Steelers offense back this season has been the lack of weapons in the passing game. The front office and coaching staff thought wide receiver George Pickens,

The defense is no longer creating turnovers at the rapid rate that helped carry the Steelers to their 10-3 start. The offense that steadily improved through much of the fall has regressed. And the optimism that flourished not so long ago has dimmed considerably.

Cincinnati, however, was able to get the ball right back. The Steelers’ Calvin Austin III fumbled on the punt return after Bengals LB Shaka Heyward appeared to punch the ball out. Cincinnati recovered the fumble on Pittsburgh’s 33-yard line.

Najee Harris paced Pittsburgh on the ground, rushing for 74 yards on 13 carries. Pat Freiermuth caught seven passes for 60 yards. The Chiefs improve to 15-1 as the Steelers drop to 10-6.

Joe Burrow passed for 277 yards and a touchdown, and the Cincinnati Bengals kept their slim playoff hopes alive with a 19-17 win over the floundering Pittsburgh Steelers.