Steelers (6-4) at Bengals (5-5)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati
TV: CBS
Spread (BetMGM):
Steelers by 1
Steelers’ keys to victory: Turn the passing game loose down the field with QB Kenny Pickett and WR George Pickens against a defense that ranks near the league’s worst in allowing explosive plays. Setting up play-action with RB Jaylen Warren against one of the league’s worst run and tackling defenses will help. Defensively, blitzing the Bengals usually works out terribly. But with a backup QB starting, DL Cameron Heyward and others should feast while a struggling offensive line attempts to handle extra rushers.
Bengals’ keys to victory: Go under center more and ride RB Joe Mixon to protect QB Jake Browning. Mixon has been quietly very good this season, and being able to do so many things from under center should create high-percentage short looks to the likes of WR Ja’Marr Chase. On defense, a young secondary headlined by rookie CB DJ Turner II and possibly rookie safety Jordan Battle needs to fix communication and tackling woes to stand a chance.
Matchup to watch: Steelers offensive line vs. Bengals DE Trey Hendrickson. Despite being the team’s lone source of pressure, Hendrickson has been one of the NFL’s most efficient pass rushers and is up to 9.5 sacks. If the Steelers let him hit home, it could create game-altering plays and an upset.
Who wins? Even with extra prep time after a Thursday game, the first post-Joe Burrow outing is going to be a rough one for a Bengals offense that has to rework everything down to the timing led by a quarterback with 15 career attempts on his résumé.
Steelers, 24-10