The Cincinnati Bengals stunned the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday night to the tune of historic feats.
Cincinnati brought a different type of energy to the game, capitalizing on mistakes by Ben Roethlisberger and rocking logo-dancing wideout JuJu Smith-Schuster, forcing a fumble.
Just how rare was it for the Bengals to win 27-17 after entering the game as massive 14.5-point underdogs?
Quite, in a word.
According to ESPN’s Jamison Hensley, it was the second-largest upset in Monday Night Football history and the most notable since 1978.
And according to Elias Sports Bureau, it was only the third time a team with 10-plus losses took down a team with 10-plus wins.
The most interesting part about the history-making night? It likely saved head coach Zac Taylor’s job.
The Bengals’ win over Steelers was 2nd-largest upset in MNF history.
The largest? A 17-point underdog, the Baltimore Colts beat the Patriots, 34-27, in 1978.
Joe Washington became first NFL player to throw a TD, catch a TD and return one (game-winning 90-yard kickoff return).
— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) December 22, 2020
Tonight was the third time in #MNF history a team with 10+ losses beat a team with 10+ wins, and it's the 2nd such win for the @Bengals (also beat the 11-2 Rams in 1978). The other Monday Night game of that kind was in 2004, a one-point win by Miami vs. New England. #SeizeTheDEY
— Elias Sports Bureau (@EliasSports) December 22, 2020
