The Pittsburgh Steelers hit the road for their second straight AFC North matchup, this time against the Cincinnati Bengals. Short weeks have rarely been kind to Mike Tomlin and the Steelers, and Thursday night road games have often been a nightmare for Pittsburgh. It’s a tale of two teams heading in opposite directions.
The Steelers have won three straight games, while the Bengals have dropped four in a row. With both teams battling for position in a tight division race, this game carries major implications. A Steelers win would strengthen their hold on the AFC North, while a Bengals victory would stop the slide and keep their playoff hopes alive. Here are five bold predictions for Thursday night’s primetime matchup.
Pittsburgh Steelers predictions for TNF against the Cincinnati Bengals
Prediction 1: Tomlin’s Joe Flacco nightmares come alive once again
Mike Tomlin once admitted he was nervous about the possibility of facing Joe Flacco last season against the Colts, even joking that he told his team to keep Anthony Richardson upright to avoid seeing Flacco on the field. Richardson ended up getting hurt, and sure enough, Flacco came in and tore the Steelers' defense apart.
On Monday, Tomlin brought up Flacco again and took a playful jab at Browns GM Andrew Berry for letting the veteran quarterback land with a division rival. At 40 years old, Flacco still has those classic gunslinger moments, and now, in his second week running an offense that features Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, he should be much more comfortable.
That is bad news for Pittsburgh.
Flacco knows this Steelers defense as well as anyone after all those battles during his Baltimore days. Expect the Bengals to throw the ball all over the field, with Flacco passing for over 300 yards. This game should be a nail-biter that comes down to the final minutes, with Flacco keeping the Steelers on their heels until the very end.
Prediction 2: Aaron Rodgers could turn in his season-best performance thus far
The Bengals' defense has been terrible, and this game could end up higher scoring than fans might like. But after throwing for two touchdowns against Cleveland’s strong defense, the Pittsburgh offense is finally starting to click.
This could be the game where Pittsburgh takes full advantage of a weak Bengals secondary, connecting on a few big completions instead of relying on the quick passing game we have seen so often this season. For one night, we might just catch a glimpse of the Aaron Rodgers of old.
Prediction 3: Steelers poised for their first 400-yard offensive game of the season
The Steelers ran for 100 yards against the Browns, who boast the NFL’s top rushing defense, and 131 yards against the Vikings before that. Now they face the weakest defense of the season, and Pittsburgh should have no trouble imposing its will. The offense will be balanced, with the running game gaining over 150 yards and Aaron Rodgers throwing for more than 250 yards.
Prediction 4: Pat Freiermuth finds the end zone for the first time this season
There has been plenty of chatter about how little the Steelers have used Pat Freiermuth this season. Arthur Smith has leaned more on Darnell Washington and jumbo packages to run the ball efficiently, which has limited Freirmuth’s role since he is not a strong blocking tight end.
Trade rumors have started to swirl, but I think we will see Freirmuth targeted more often in this game to put that speculation to rest. Whether the trade talk is true or not, getting him more involved can either boost his trade value or simply make him happier. Look for Freiermuth to find the end zone for the first time this season.
Prediction 5: Tomlin ends Steelers' road Thursday Night Football woes
Tomlin’s struggles on the road during short weeks are well documented, and he is surely aware of them. He is 2-8 in Thursday Night Football road games and 0-6 in road divisional matchups on TNF. At some point, that trend has to end, and this Steelers team is starting to resemble the team we expected them to be.
Of course, this could still be a trap game for Tomlin. Facing a familiar foe in Flacco and a Bengals squad desperate to stop a four-game losing streak is always risky.
But this Steelers team is playing with confidence, especially on defense, and with a roster full of veterans, they understand the stakes of a divisional matchup. With a daunting three-game stretch ahead against the Packers, Colts, and Chargers, they cannot afford to slip up, especially as the rest of the division has struggled.