Steelers vs Bengals preview: How to watch, what’s at stake, key matchups with AFC North on the line
Cincinnati (8-8) at Pittsburgh (10-6)
Saturday, 8 p.m., EST, ESPN/ABC.
BetMGM NFL Odds: Bengals by 1 1/2.
Against the spread: Bengals 10-6; Steelers 10-6
Series record: Steelers lead 71-39.
Last meeting: Steelers beat Bengals 44-38 on Dec. 1, 2024 in Cincinnati.
Last week: Bengals beat Broncos 30-24 in overtime; Steelers lost to Chiefs 29-10
QB Joe Burrow is having the best year of his career. The fifth-year pro leads the NFL in completions, yards and touchdowns and has thrown for 250 yards and three touchdowns in eight straight games, an NFL record.
LB T.J. Watt. The perennial All-Pro has been quiet lately, failing to get a sack in three of Pittsburgh's past four games. Watt was his usual disruptive self in the first meeting with the Bengals, dropping Burrow twice and forcing a fumble that was scooped up by teammate Payton Wilson.
Pittsburgh's secondary against Bengals WRs JaMarr Chase and Tee Higgins. Chase and Higgins, one the best wide receiver duos in the league, combined for 11 receptions, 155 yards and two touchdowns in the first meeting with the Steelers. Pittsburgh's pass defense was lit up last week by Patrick Mahomes, who threw for 320 yards. Several Steelers veterans — namely safety DeShon Elliott — complained afterward about communication issues that shouldn't be happening in late December. With Cincinnati's offense rolling, expect Burrow to test the Steelers down the field repeatedly.
Bengals: DE Sam Hubbard (knee) is out. WR Tee Higgins (ankle/knee), WR Charlie Jones (groin), OT Amarius Mims (ankle/hand), TE Drew Sample (groin) and CB Cam Taylor-Britt (ankle) are questionable.
Steelers: CB Joey Porter (knee) is expected to play after sitting out the loss to the Chiefs. CB Donte Jackson (back) is questionable.
Pittsburgh has won four of the past five meetings, including the 44-38 thriller in Cincinnati on Dec. 1 in which Russell Wilson threw for 414 yards. ... The Steelers are 36-18 at home against Cincinnati, though the Bengals have won in two of their past three visits to Acrisure Stadium. This is the first regular-season meeting between the two clubs in January. They’ve met twice in January in the playoffs, with the Steelers winning both times (2005 and 2015). ... Pittsburgh’s 71 wins over the Bengals are its second most against any opponent (Cleveland, 82).
The Bengals have won four straight since they were 4-8 in their first meeting with the Steelers Dec. 1. ... Cincinnati can clinch the last AFC wild-card spot with a win over Pittsburgh coupled with losses by Denver and Miami on Sunday. ... The Steelers locked up a playoff berth weeks ago but have dropped three straight to lose their grip on the AFC North. Pittsburgh would need a victory over the Bengals and a loss by Baltimore earlier Saturday to Cleveland to clinch its first division title since 2020. ... Otherwise, the Steelers would lock up the fifth seed in the AFC with a victory or a loss by the Los Angeles Chargers to the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday. ... If neither of those things happens, Pittsburgh would drop to the sixth seed, forcing it to travel to Baltimore in the opening round. ... Seven of the Bengals' eight losses have been by one score. ... Watt has 11 1/2 sacks heading into Week 18. His lowest total in a non-injury interrupted season is 7, set during his rookie year in 2017. Watt's dip in sack production mirrors that of his team. Pittsburgh has just 36 sacks this season, on pace for its lowest total since 2014 (32). ... Steelers K Chris Boswell's 40 field goals are tied for the second most in a season in league history, trailing only the 44 David Akers made in 2011 while kicking for San Francisco.
Considering the current state of Pittsburgh's defense, the roll he's been on and the stakes for the Bengals, starting Burrow is a no-brainer. Still need convincing? He's averaging 334 yards passing in his past three starts against the Steelers.
