Cincinnati Bengals (8-8) face off against the Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6) this Saturday at 8 p.m. EST. The game will be broadcast on ESPN/ABC, with BetMGM setting the odds with the Bengals favored by 1.5 points. Both teams have shown equal performance against the spread, sitting at 10-6 this season. Historically, the Steelers have a commanding lead in the series, winning 71 out of 110 encounters. The last clash saw the Steelers claim a thrilling 44-38 victory over the Bengals on December 1, 2024, in Cincinnati.
Last week, the Bengals managed to clinch a win against the Denver Broncos, edging them out with a score of 30-24 after overtime. In contrast, the Steelers faced a tougher challenge against the Kansas City Chiefs, suffering a 29-10 loss. Currently, the Bengals’ offense ranks high overall at 6th in the NFL, excelling in passing at 1st place while their rushing game lags at 29th. Defensively, however, there’s room for improvement, as they sit at 27th overall. The Steelers boast a stronger defense in comparison, coming in at 11th overall and 7th against the run, but their pass defense struggles, ranked at 23rd.
One standout player for the Bengals is quarterback Joe Burrow, who is having a career-best season. Burrow leads the league in completions, yards, and touchdowns, and has notably thrown for over 250 yards and three touchdowns for eight consecutive games, setting a new NFL record. The Steelers will be looking to linebacker T.J. Watt, an All-Pro who has experienced a recent dip in performance, failing to sack an opponent in three of the last four games. Watt was impactful in their first meeting this season, where he recorded two sacks and forced a fumble.
A pivotal match-up will be Pittsburgh’s secondary against Cincinnati’s dynamic wide receiver duo of Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. This pair excelled in their last face-off with a combined total of 11 receptions for 155 yards and two touchdowns. Pittsburgh’s pass defense faced a tough challenge last week against Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who threw for over 300 yards. There have been complaints from Steelers players, including safety DeShon Elliott, about communication breakdowns in the secondary. With Burrow’s current form, he is likely to test this unit extensively throughout the game.
In terms of injuries, the Bengals will miss defensive end Sam Hubbard due to a knee issue, while several other key players including wide receiver Tee Higgins and cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt are listed as questionable. For the Steelers, cornerback Joey Porter is expected to return after a knee injury, while cornerback Donte Jackson is questionable.
Recent encounters favor Pittsburgh, who has won four of the last five matches against Cincinnati, including the dramatic battle on December 1 when Russell Wilson threw for an impressive 414 yards. Overall, the Steelers have had the home field advantage against the Bengals, holding a 36-18 record at home. Historically, the teams have only played in January during playoffs twice, with Pittsburgh victorious on both occasions (in 2005 and 2015). The Steelers’ 71 victories over the Bengals are second only to their wins against the Cleveland Browns.
As for the statistics, the Bengals have turned their season around after starting 4-8, currently riding a four-game winning streak. A win against the Steelers would guarantee a spot in the AFC playoffs, contingent upon losses from both the Denver Broncos and Miami Dolphins. Meanwhile, the Steelers secured their playoff position weeks ago but have recently struggled, losing three games consecutively which has cost them their grip on the AFC North. A victory against the Bengals could change their standings, needing a loss from Baltimore against Cleveland earlier in the day to reclaim the division title. Alternatively, if they win or if the Los Angeles Chargers lose, they can secure the fifth seed in the playoffs.
Several standout performances should be noted. Joe Burrow has recorded 26 career games exceeding 300 passing yards, trailing only Andy Dalton in team history. Meanwhile, Ja’Marr Chase has had an exceptional season, breaking franchise records for receptions and yards, and is aiming for the receiving triple crown. The Bengals have scored 453 points this season, close to their all-time record. For the Steelers, running back Najee Harris hit the 1,000-yard rushing milestone yet again, but his backfield partner Jaylen Warren is gaining momentum late in the season. Lastly, kicker Chris Boswell’s 40 made field goals is a significant achievement, ranking second in single-season league history.
For fantasy players, starting Joe Burrow seems to be the obvious choice given the current state of the Steelers’ defense and Burrow’s impressive streak against them, averaging over 334 passing yards in his last three meetings.
