The real reason why Bengals are better than the Steelers this year

The Cincinnati Bengals are currently the number one seed in the AFC. Here’s the biggest reason why they are better than the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2021. 

The Pittsburgh Steelers know how to run a successful franchise. Sadly, this year hasn’t gone according to plan. As they emerge from their bye week, Mike Tomlin’s team sits on a 3-3 record that is good for last place in the AFC North.

There is still plenty of football to be played to change the narrative with this team, but climbing up in the rankings of arguably the league’s best division won’t be easy. One divisional opponent that has exceeded all expectations this year is the Cincinnati Bengals. This was a team that went just 4-11-1 last season. In fact, they haven’t won more than 6 games in a year since 2017.

However, the Bengals seemed to have turned things around in a big way. In Week 7, Cincinnati had arguably their toughest matchup they will face this season on the road against the Baltimore Ravens to take control of the AFC North. Needless to say, they delivered.

Now the Bengals are 5-2 and not only hold the lead in the AFC North, but they currently own the tiebreaker for the number one seed in the entire American Football Conference. So what is the reason the Bengals all of the sudden seem like a much better football team than the Steelers?

Bengals QB play is much better than Steelers

While Cincinnati made a number of offseason additions, that wasn’t going to be enough to turn this franchise around overnight. In reality, quarterback Joe Burrow deserves a vast majority of the credit.

Despite coming off an ACL tear that ended his 2020 season, Burrow has been one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the NFL this year, and he currently leads the league in yards per attempt. Here’s a look at how he has stacked up to Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger so far this season, according to Pro Football Reference:

The Bengals don’t necessarily have a more talented roster than the Steelers. Outside of Burrow and rookie receiver Ja’Marr Chase, this team is void of “stars,” and they haven’t graded out any better along the offensive line either. However, the difference between Burrow and Roethlisberger this season has been on full display.

While Burrow is at the top of the pack in yards per attempt, air yards, and yards per completion, Big Ben ranks near the bottom in each of these categories. This helps lead to a substantial difference in passer rating this season — another area in which Burrow has been excellent.

Though Burrow hasn’t done all of this alone, he’s clearly the common denominator. With his ability to elude the first rusher and constantly make plays down the field, it takes some of the pressure off the offensive line. Likewise, the defense benefits when they can play with a lead and tee off on opposing quarterbacks.

The Steelers will still have a chance to throw their hat back in the ring, and it wouldn’t shock me if they beat the Bengals the second time around. However, if you are wondering how Cincinnati is all of a sudden a better team than Pittsburgh, look no further than the quarterback position. Joe Burrow is legit.