The Cincinnati Bengals (8-8) travel to Pittsburgh to play the Steelers (10-6) in a make-or-break game to keep their playoff hopes alive. Pittsburgh can win the AFC North if Baltimore, playing the earlier Saturday game, loses to Cleveland. Our Bengals vs Steelers prediction is for favored Cincinnati to cover the 2-point spread.
Head-to-head, Pittsburgh has dominated with a record of 71-39.
Offshore Odds: The Bengals Are Slight Favorites
| Team | Spread | Money Line | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bengals | -2 (-110) | -136 | O 48 (-110) |
| Steelers | +2 (-110) | +116 | U 48 (-110) |
Cincinnati Needs to Win and Get Significant Help
If the Bengals don’t make the playoffs, it will provide little solace this offseason that they’re the one team nobody wants to face.
Their Week 17 win over Denver neatly summarized their season. In overtime, Bengals kicker Cade York — on the team because Evan McPherson injured his groin in Week 13 — missed a 33-yard field goal that would have won the game.
After forcing a Broncos punt on the subsequent possession, Joe Burrow marched the Bengals down the field and threw the winning touchdown pass with little over a minute remaining in the game.
They lived another week.
Here’s how Cincinnati can make the playoffs as the last AFC Wild Card:
- Beat the Steelers
- The Broncos lose to the Chiefs
- The Dolphins lose to the Jets
They control their fate against Pittsburgh.
Kansas City has clinched the best record in the AFC. It’s unlikely that Patrick Mahomes, Isiah Pacheco, Travis Kelce, or Chris Jones will see substantial action if they play at all. But Andy Reid will have his guys play hard for a half and see where the game is before backing off.
Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa has a hip injury and is likely out. And since it’s the Jets, there’s an overwhelming probability that they’ll mount their best performance of the season in what could be Aaron Rodgers’ final game.
Then there’s the reality that the NFL would love to have the Bengals, Burrow’s star power, and their aerial show in the playoffs.
Pittsburgh’s Math is Rudimentary
Browns-Ravens will be over by the time Pittsburgh takes the field.
Baltimore is a heavy favorite over Cleveland. If the Ravens win, the Steelers must decide how hard to push.
The more favorable Wild Card matchup for them is Houston, who they will play if they beat Cincinnati. Baltimore would host the Los Angeles Chargers. If Baltimore wins and Pittsburgh loses, it’s Round 3 of Pittsburgh vs Baltimore.
Knowing Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh will want to break its three-game losing streak and get the preferred Wild Card matchup against the vulnerable Texans.
The Steelers won a shootout with Burrow and the Bengals in Week 13, 44-38.
Bengals vs Steelers Prediction: There’s Something About the Bengals
Cincinnati had inordinately bad luck early in the season, but their fortunes have changed since that loss to Pittsburgh. They’ve won four straight and they can outscore anyone.
They’ll cover the 2-point spread.
Then they’ll await their fate.
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