Week 3 presented a highly entertaining contest between these two AFC North rivals. Ending 30-27 in favor of the hometown Steelers, both offenses saw plenty of success, combining for 763 total yards. Pittsburgh’s rushing attack experienced its best outing of the season to that point, gaining 138 yards, anchored mostly by an energetic Jaylen Warren (137 yards and a touchdown).
Leading up to Week 3, analysts saw obvious improvement in the Cincinnati defense, a roster that experienced a near total overhaul during the offseason. Since Week 3 the Bengals’ defense has gradually regressed, allowing 363.8 yards and 24 points per game. Two weeks ago they allowed the Titans, categorically one of the worst offenses in the league, to put up 440 yards and 36 points.
If the Cincinnati defense doesn’t improve, it will be a major issue as teams begin their playoff push. On the bright side, Joe Burrow and the Bengals’ offense has never looked better.
It's been said one million times but it's still worth repeating: the Bengals' passing attack owns the most talented group in the National Football League. Burrow doesn’t need stats to prove to us that he’s among the league’s greatest QBs – we saw that clearly in his first full season, where he carried the Bengals to a Super Bowl appearance. At the same time, it’s nice to see Burrow healthy and thriving. He’s first in the NFL in passing touchdowns (23) and second only to Jordan Love in total passing yards (2386). Against Pittsburgh in Week 3, he had one of his best outings of the season – 28-37, 282 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.
We have little doubt that Burrow will find some success in Week 10, too, although there is one important caveat. The Steelers are coming off their bye and their defense is completely healthy. Historically the Steelers have been very good in this spot, too, particularly at Cincinnati. Only in Burrow’s Super Bowl season did he have his way with their Pennsylvania rival (a 41-10 victory) at “the Jungle.” Since then, Pittsburgh has won three of their last four battles at Cincinnati. In that one loss, it was only a two-point finish (33-31 Bengals last year, and that was with Flacco at QB).
It’s also worth noting that Aaron Rodgers had his way with the Cincinnati defense in the first battle, ultimately out dueling Burrow by leading a 77-yard game clinching field goal drive with under two minutes remaining in the game. As good as Burrow and the Bengals’ offense has looked, we have to expect another close war.
Steelers vs Bengals prediction: Steelers +3.5 (-110) available at time of publishing. Playable to 3 (-110).
