An AFC North matchup is brewing for Week 6 as the 2-2-1 Pittsburgh Steelers will be traveling to Paul Brown Stadium to take on the 4-1 Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals are winners of two of their last three games with their only loss coming on the road to the Panthers.
The Steelers are coming off a demanding victory against the Falcons, winning 41-17 as they go another week without Le’Veon Bell. With the emergence of Baker Mayfield and the Browns, the AFC North is no joke and remains one of the toughest divisions in football.
Steelers vs. Bengals Odds
Cincinnati is favored at home -2.5 over Pittsburgh, as the Steelers have yet to lose on the road this season after tying the Browns in Week 1 and then defeating the Buccaneers Week 3.
Spread: Bengals -2.5
Total: 53
Steelers vs. Bengals Head to Head
Throughout these two teams’ histories playing against one another, Pittsburgh leads 62-35. They’ve actually been winners of their last six games against the Bengals, but the Bengals seem to be playing with a chip on their shoulder this season. Andy Dalton has been pretty good, throwing for 1,445 yards, 12 touchdowns, and seven interceptions.
Tyler Boyd surprisingly leads the team in receptions (30) when we’ve become accustomed to A.J. Green leading the team in every receiving category. Boyd is what this team has been missing though over the years, a legitimate second option for Dalton to throw to. That will need to hold true for the remainder of the season after the Bengals lost tight end Tyler Eifert to a season ending injury.
The Steelers will continue to lean on second-year running back James Conner while Bell holds out due to a contract dispute. Conner is coming off a very impressive game against the Falcons rushing 21 times for 110 yards and two rushing touchdowns. Conner also tacked on four receptions for 75 yards and the Steelers will need that to continue as the season goes on.
Steelers vs. Bengals Stats
Ben Roethlisberger is currently third in the league with 1,664 passing yards, only trailing Jared Goff (1,727) and Kirk Cousins (1,688). The Big Ben to Antonio Brown connection was in full effect against the Falcons after Brown reeled in six catches for 101 yards and two touchdowns. Brown is currently tied for second place in the league with five touchdown receptions, trailing Falcons rookie Calvin Ridley who currently has six scores.
While Andy Dalton is in the top five of passing touchdowns and A.J. Green is also tied for second in the league with five touchdowns, we’d like to shine some light on an improved Bengals defense. Nick Vigil is currently third in the league with 49 tackles and Geno Atkins is tied for first in sacks with six.
Steelers vs. Bengals News
It was reported by TMZ that Antonio Brown is being sued for allegedly throwing furniture off a balcony, but the league has yet to take any action. The incident happened back in April and is a situation to monitor.
Steelers vs. Bengals Projections
We’ll take the Bengals at home this week over the Steelers 31-24.
