Pittsburgh heads into this game after being humbled on Thursday Night Football in Week 12. The good news is that they had a mini bye week to get rested and prepared to take on the Cincinnati Bengals in a tough road environment. Even though the Bengals hold a poor record, they are still a formidable foe. The Steelers are going to have to make adjustments throughout the game to win.
Cincinnati on the other hand is coming off a bye week, so they should be well rested and ready to go. They lost their game against the Chargers before that. It was an offensive powerhouse battle that saw each team score plenty of points. The Bengals were able to come back in that game against LA, but they weren't able to secure victory. Hopefully, that will kill off any comeback vibes from them.
Both teams play different styles of football. Cincinnati is prepared to score fast and put up plenty of points with their passing attack. The Steelers want to establish the run and create plays on the defensive side of the ball. The Bengals have Joe Burrow, and that could be enough to upset the black and gold. This might seem like another winnable contest for Pittsburgh, but it's far from it.
Still Curtain Expert panel predictions bring uncertainty for Steelers
"Steelers get their bounce back this week against another divisional foe. The Bengals look to play spoiler this week, but a rested Pittsburgh gets the better of them." - Andrew Falce (Steelers 28-20)
"The Steelers will look to rebound versus the Bengals after an inane loss against the Browns on Thursday. Unfortunately for us and the Steelers, the loss to the Browns will be the catalyst of a losing streak. Playing on the road two weeks in a row is a recipe for disaster." - Eric C Hassel (Bengals 23-17)
READ MORE: Steelers playoff odds are hardly in jeopardy
"Pittsburgh is coming off a very disappointing loss and this week has the makings of another one if they don't focus. Pittsburgh can't afford to lose a second straight division game and, after 10 days to think about the Cleveland loss they come out and re-enter the win column." - Brandon Kring (Steelers 28-24)
The Steelers are coming off a disappointing loss to the Browns as their struggle against opponents with losing records continues. Now they are on the road for another divisional game. Pittsburgh is 2-3 all-time when facing quarterback Joe Burrow, and this is a low-key tough matchup for Mike Tomlin's defense. Cincinnati's defense can't stop a nosebleed, but their offense has scored 34.0 points per game over their past three contest. I've got the Bengals claiming the home win." - Tommy Jaggi (Bengals 26-23)
"The Steelers are due to correct course offensively and take advantage of a weak Cincinnati defense. But, the Bengals will bring everything they have as a last gasp on the 2024 season. It's going to be a shootout." - Jacob Harrison (Steelers 37-30)
Final prediction has Steelers continuing their fall from grace
Score Prediction: Steelers 23, Bengals 27
The Steelers might sit at an 8-3 record, but another loss here could spark massive red flags. It has started to become common in recent years for the black and gold to limp their way into the playoffs. They hold one of the toughest conclusions to their schedule across the NFL. If they fail to win games like this, then it will be more difficult to prove to everyone they are real contenders worth believing in.
Burrow has plenty of weapons on offense both at receiver and tight end. It is going to take a near-perfect game by the Steeler's secondary if they want a realistic shot at winning this contest. Cincinnati doesn't normally run the ball to perfection, but they might be willing to take a stab at it after Pittsburgh's defense struggled last week. There are plenty of areas for the Bengals to attack.
Russell Wilson and the Steeler's offense will have plenty of pressure put on their shoulders. They will probably need to keep up with the Bengals production. Their defensive counterparts how shown plenty of cracks in their armor over the past couple of matchups. If Cincinnati gets ahead by two touchdowns or more before the end of the first quarter, then this could be a blowout.
When it comes down to it, the Steelers will have to rely on, like the Bengals having an off day on offense and forcing a few turnovers. It's hard to believe the black-and-gold offense will be able to keep up with the pace of Cincinnati. Unless Pittsburgh's defense comes alive, this won't be a happy conclusion for Steelers fans. It's plausible that the losing slide continues for the Steelers.