The big AFC North showdown between the Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers is one of the best games of Week 8. The teams will meet at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, and the game is scheduled to start at 1 PM. ET. On Sunday afternoon.
At 6-0, the Bengals are off to the best start in franchise history, and they will be trying to improve on their undefeated record against their division rivals. They have lost three straight games against the Steelers but have a great chance to end the streak this week.
Roethlisberger looks like he’s good to go, which will be a huge boost for the Steelers.
The Bengals have had a lot of success throwing the ball this year, thanks to the play of Andy Dalton, who has been a lightning rod for criticism due to his inconsistent play over the years. So far this year, Dalton has been very consistent, he is completing 67.4 percent of his passes for 1,761 yards, 14 touchdowns and 2 interceptions.
A big reason Dalton has played so well this season is the protection he has received from his offensive line. He has had plenty of time to throw the ball this year and has only been sacked 6 times.
Defensively, the Bengals are also one of the best teams in the league. They currently allow opponents to score 20.3 points per game, which is 11th in the league. If the Bengals can defeat the Steelers on Sunday, they have a great chance of finishing with one of the best records in the AFC because they only have three teams with winning records left on their schedule.
The Steelers were expected to be contenders this year because they have one of the best offense in the league. Unfortunately, Ben Roethlisberger got injured in week 3, and the team has gone 2-2 in his absence.
The Steelers still have a good chance of making the playoffs, and from early reports, the team expects Roethlisberger back in the lineup this week. If he is able to go, they will have a great chance to win this game, but if he can’t, Landry Jones will get his second start of the year.
The Steelers running game has been very good this year with LeVeon Bell picking up where he left off last season. DeAngelo Williams has also played very well for Pittsburgh, so expect the two backs to get plenty of touches especially if Roethlisberger isn’t playing.
The return of Martavis Bryant from a four-game suspension gives the Steelers another good option at the wide receiver position and already has 182 yards and 3 touchdowns in two games. With Roethlisberger back in the lineup, expect him to put up even bigger numbers.
Defensively, the Steelers have improved over last year and are allowing opponents to score 18.7 points per game, which is 7th in the league.
Bengals vs Steelers Betting Lines
BetOnline.ag currently has the Steelers as 1.5 point favourites in this game. The over/under on total points scored is 48. BetOnline is our top rated NFL sportsbook at the moment. You can read our full BetOnline review here.
My Pick
Without Roethlisberger in the lineup, I’m picking Cincinnati to win, but if he plays, I’m going with the Steelers. The smart play in this game will be to take the under.
Play: Steelers -1.5 @ BetOnline.ag