3 Reasons the Steelers Will Upset the Bengals

Head coach Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on during warmups prior to the game against the Detroit Lions at Acrisure Stadium on August 28, 2022 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
Head coach Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on during warmups prior to the game against the Detroit Lions at Acrisure Stadium on August 28, 2022 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) /
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You’re likely already familiar with Mike Tomlin’s incredible track record as an underdog, compiling a 47-26-3 record against the spread (ATS) in his career. However, that’s not the only reason the Pittsburgh Steelers can pull off a huge upset as +220 underdogs against the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Steelers shocked the NFL with a Week 1 win over Buffalo last year and could leave the league’s collective jaw dropped once again. Before we look at why Pittsburgh could win though, you’ve got to hear about FanDuel’s incredible $150 risk-free promo.

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Now that we know we can bet Pittsburgh without worry, here’s why I think the Steelers can secure the upset:

3 Reasons Steelers Will Beat Bengals

Mike Tomlin 

It’s no secret that Tomlin is one of the NFL’s best coaches. The Steelers are 20-9-1 in their last 30 divisional games under his guidance and he always puts his team in a position to compete.

At the least, Tomlin represents a large advantage over Bengals’ head coach Zac Taylor, who has been repeatedly criticized for his play-calling, though also took the team to the Super Bowl last season, so we’ll take him seriously.

Historical Trends

Cincinnati stunned the NFL with an incredible postseason run to the Super Bowl, but Super Bowl losers typically disappoint to start the following season. They’re 4-18 ATS in Week 1 since 2000, winning just nine of those games outright.

To make matters worse, divisional favorites are often overvalued in Week 1. Since 2014, favorites in divisional matchups during Week 1 are 9-29-1 ATS. The Bengals are just 4-7 ATS in their last 11 games as home favorites, so they’ve been poor in this spot as a franchise of late too.

Excellent Defensive Play

TJ Watt is an absolute monster, spearheading a Steelers defense that continually dominates opponents.

The Bengals overhauled their offensive line in the offseason, but it’ll likely take time for that group to gel. Pittsburgh’s defense enters the year fully healthy and will benefit from the massive quarterback upgrade following Big Ben’s retirement. Roethlisberger frequently put his defense in a difficult spot, and it’s nearly impossible for Mitchell Trubisky to perform worse than Big Ben over the last couple of seasons.

With a couple of timely turnovers or a few big sacks, the Steelers can steal a victory in Week 1 against their divisional foe.

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