In a nail-biting battle of Ohio, the Cincinnati Bengals clung to their playoff dreams with a 19-17 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, proving that five-game winning streaks may just be their new favorite accessory.

With this narrow win, the Bengals have not only kept their slim playoff hopes alive, but they've also transformed from a dismal 4-8 record to contenders with a dazzling five-game winning streak. Joe Burrow's sharp passing and a heroic defensive performance led to the victory, although they’ll need some help from other teams—and perhaps a rabbit’s foot—to make the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Steelers struggled offensively, losing their footing in what could have been a potentially season-saving game.

Joe Burrow was particularly impressive, throwing for 277 yards and completing 37 of 46 attempts. While his accuracy might lead some to believe he was just tossing open letters to Santa, that 12-yard touchdown pass to Ja'Marr Chase on the opening drive indicated he had more than just holiday wishes on his mind. In fact, the pair seemed to fully embrace the Christmas spirit early on, lighting up the scoreboard like a string of twinkling lights.

Kudos also go to Cade York, who was as dependable as a cat landing on its feet, kicking four field goals throughout the match. It’s remarkable how a kicker can be almost invisible during a game and yet turn up as the decisive factor. One wonders if he was secretly practicing in the backyard while the rest of the teams battled on the turf.

On the other side of the field, Pittsburgh quarterback Russell Wilson had a less-than-stellar day. Finishing with 148 passing yards and one touchdown, Wilson may have spent most of the game looking for a GPS to locate his offense, which managed a total of only 193 yards. The highlight? A 19-yard touchdown to Pat Freiermuth in the fourth quarter—an achievement almost overshadowed by the rest of the team's struggles to find the end zone.

Despite having one shining moment, the Steelers' offense floundered throughout the game, reminiscent of a fish out of water... or should we say a seagull trying to take a nap on an electric wire? In the final minutes, they appeared to have a shot at glory with a potential field goal to win. Alas, they failed to make it even into Bengals territory. One could only imagine the collective sigh of fans as they pondered what might have been.

Meanwhile, the Bengals were left grappling with their own setbacks as they navigated the gridiron without starting running back Chase Brown and lost standout wide receiver Tee Higgins to injury. Such losses can often feel like trying to navigate a maze with blindfolds on, but the team’s resilience shone through in a notable way. They shifted gears and found ways to dig deep, tapping into their inner underdog spirit.

As the Bengals celebrate their five-game winning streak, the reality of their playoff scenario looms like an unwelcome guest at a dinner party. To secure a spot, they are Shakespearianly reliant on the Denver Broncos losing or tying to the Kansas City Chiefs, as well as the Miami Dolphins tumbling into disappointment against the New York Jets. With a set of circumstances that could make anyone feel precariously perched on the edge of a cliff, it's evident that sometimes sports resemble a game of chess played on roller skates.

Trey Hendrickson, for his part, added a sprinkle of defensive brilliance, recording three and a half sacks and giving himself an NFL-leading total of 17 and a half. His performance seemed to convey a silent message to the Steelers’ offensive line: if you blink, you might just miss another sack. But one can’t help but to speculate if there's a secret Hendrickson club, where they gather to share tactics for avoiding tackles while getting right into quarterback dreams.

Every ounce of effort from the Bengals brings them closer to a playoff spot, yet it also reminds them of how fragile hope can be. With every game feeling more like a rollercoaster of emotions—excitement, dread, then faint hope for playoff success—these Bengals are living proof that in football, as in life, simply hanging in there can yield the most unexpected joy. As they head towards the end of the season, one can only hold their breath to see if the universe will align in their favor—whether by means of sportsmanship or sheer luck. And after all that, who wouldn’t appreciate a little magic alongside football?