Bengals Bytes: Look at what others are saying after SNF loss

Doc: Andy Dalton remains a tourist
The Pittsburgh Steelers laid a big hurt on the Bengals collective psyche Sunday night, and a bigger one on A.J. Green's head. The former pain should have been forgotten as soon as the Bengals boarded the bus to the airport. The latter is of larger concern.

Entering playoffs, Bengals learn they can't mask Andy Dalton
Joe Flacco, Ben Roethlisberger, Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson … and Andy Dalton. All seven have something important in common, yet the last one, in one big way, is not like the others.

MMQB with Peter King: Inside Jim Harbaugh leaving the 49ers, Watt vs. Rodgers for MVP.
Jim Harbaugh and San Francisco went from three straight NFC title games to 'doomed from the start' in 2014. A source explains what went wrong. Plus, a breakdown of the playoff field, an MVP vote explanation and more from Week 17.

Turnovers costly in Bengals loss to Steelers
There were a lot of factors that went the way of the Bengals Sunday night at Heinz Field. They controlled the time of possession against the Steelers. They ran the ball well. They stopped the run. Yet they left the stadium with a 10-point loss because of their inability to hold onto the football.

Steelers-Bengals: 10 things from Pittsburgh's AFC North clinching win
With the Bengals down by three points with less than 4 minutes to play, Cincinnati appeared to have the Steelers in trouble. Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton, after throwing two first-half interceptions, had settled down and played well to lead the team within striking distance and Cincinnati had already driven into Pittsburgh territory with the hopes of setting up the game-winning touchdown. Instead, this happened.

Bengals lose the handle
A.J. Green just sat there for the longest time in front of his locker, his head in his hands. It was as if he couldn’t believe that after putting the Bengals on the brink of the AFC North title with a 17-yard catch at the Steelers 30-yard line with 3:51 left and the Bengals trailing, 20-17, that he fumbled the ball away.

After loss, Cincinnati Bengals are 'On to Indy'
Observed and heard in the locker room after the Cincinnati Bengals' 27-17 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers:

Bengals look for another bounce back in a season of them
Nose tackle Domata Peko has played in four post-season games, so he sensed the switch turned  even as the Bengals walked off the field from their 27-17 loss in Sunday night’s AFC North title game. "We know what’s in front of us. That’s what we were saying right when we walked in to the locker  room," Peko said. "So we’ll move on Sunday at one o’clock and we’ll get over this hump."

Steelers beat Bengals, 27-17, to win AFC North
It’s been quite some time — in Steelers years anyway — since the AFC North Division championship arrived back in Pittsburgh, and this one came with some additional pain. The Steelers beat the Cincinnati Bengals, 27-17, Sunday night at Heinz Field but might have lost their MVP, Le’Veon Bell, for their first playoff game in the process

AFC postseason picture likely to pit New England Patriots against Denver Broncos
3. Is this the year when Dalton finally thrives in the postseason? Not unless he's about to make a drastic change in what we've seen in the regular season. The inconsistent Dalton had four games when his passer rating was 115 or higher, but he had five games when his passer rating was below 70. The major concern for the Bengals is that Dalton has saved some of his worst efforts for the time of the year when he needs to be at his best.

Miscues cost Bengals in 27-17 loss to Steelers
The Cincinnati Bengals spent four months in control of the AFC North, responding to every bit of adversity with a resiliency that hinted at the kind of growth they believed would carry them into January and beyond.

Injuries to Le'Veon Bell, AJ Green dampen AFC North slugfest
Two and a half months later, the standings tell a far different story. The Steelers, 11-5, wrapped up the AFC North title and secured a first-round playoff home game by downing the rival Bengals on Sunday night, 27-17. Pittsburgh closed the year by winning eight of its final 10 games, including two victories over Cincinnati.