J.T. Watt succinctly summed up the Pittsburgh Steelers' defensive performance on Thursday night.

"That was unacceptable on our part," the All-Pro outside linebacker said.

The Steelers could stop neither the run nor the pass and wound up losing a 33-31 shootout to the Bengals at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati. Evan McPherson kicked a game-winning 36-yard field goal with seven seconds remaining.

The Bengals burned the Steelers for 470 total yards with 40-year-old quarterback Joe Flacco running the offense. It was just Flacco's second game with the Bengals after they acquired him from the Cleveland Browns last week in a trade.

The Steelers traded for or signed six veteran defensive backs in the offseason, motivated in part to stop the Bengals' passing game in their twice-yearly meetings against AFC North rivals.

Yet with star quarterback Joe Burrow sidelined by a toe injury, Flacco completed 31 of 47 passes for 342 yards and three touchdowns.

Ja'Marr Chase had a career-high 16 catches for 161 yards and one touchdown. Fellow wide receiver Tee Higgins finished with six catches for 96 yards and one score.

"We double-teamed (Higgins) some. We double-teamed (Chase) some. It was a mix," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. "They've got the depth and the talent to beat you with big plays, and they did."

The Steelers did not force any turnovers and sacked Flacco just twice, a week after taking down rookie QB Dillon Gabriel six times in a win over the Browns. Ironically, the Browns benched Flacco and replaced him with Gabriel four games into the season.

Meanwhile, Chase Brown added 108 rushing yards on 11 attempts for the Bengals, who gained ground on the Steelers in the division standings. The Steelers (4-2) are still in first place, but the second-place Bengals (3-4) moved within 1 ½ games of the top spot.

Also hurting the Steelers' cause were cornerback Joey Porter Jr. and safety Jalen Ramsey, each of whom was called for two pass interference penalties.

"We've got to be cleaner, we've got to be better, and we weren't tonight," Tomlin said. "And that's life in this business."