As both clubs head into this Week 13 matchup, they are well rested. Cincinnati is coming off their bye week, while the Steelers just had ten days of rest due to playing on Thursday night the previous time around. Many might have thought the black and gold would be highly favored in predictions heading into this battle, but their loss to the Browns has squandered their odds.
Even though the Bengals come into this game with a poor 4-7 record, that doesn't tell the full story. Heck, Pittsburgh just lost a game to the Browns who were 2-8 heading into that contest. Everyone in the Steel City knows you cannot chalk up wins until the final buzzer sounds. They are notorious for playing down to their competition and even allowing inferior clubs to upset them routinely.
Cincinnati presents a tough challenge for the Steelers as they have a high-flying offense, but a defense that could struggle. They can score plenty of points in a hurry with Joe Burrow at the helm. Pittsburgh's defense will find its toughest task yet this season in Week 13. It is difficult to predict a Steelers victory when their secondary has struggled in the past several weeks.
Prediction: Steelers struggle against an effective Bengals offense
Despite their record, it is hard to count Cincinnati out of the AFC playoff race for the time being. They have a franchise quarterback who remains one of the best players at his position in the NFL. He has missed chunks of time with injuries throughout his career, but he has played fairly well in his starts against Pittsburgh. The away club will hope to turn that trend around this week.
One of the main matchup that will be a direct influence of this game's outcome will be Joey Porter Jr. versus Ja'Marr Chase. It won't be the only small battle that will affect the finality though. The Bengals have plenty of weapons on offense for Burrow to use. They also have Tee Higgins and a couple of tight ends who can sneak up on the Steelers if they are not careful.
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Jackson posed a unique challenge for the Steeler's defense as he has a strong ability to run with the football and throw based on its success. Pittsburgh did a terrific job against Jackson, but they will have to do the exact opposite against Burrow. He is one of the best passers in the NFL, but he can take off if the open field presents itself.
With how the Steelers' secondary has shown signs of struggle recently, likely, they won't be able to slow down Burrow and company enough in this game. Pittsburgh's defense also showed a lot of issues defending against the run versus the Browns. This is a recipe for disaster as the Steeler's offense won't be able to keep up with the skilled Bengals.