Steelers at Bengals how to watch: TV, streaming, odds, predictions as Cincinnati looks to wipe out Pittsburgh

It’s been 31 years since Cincinnati Bengals won three games in a row Pittsburgh Steelers. Boomer Esiason is the Bengals quarterback, Chuck Noll is the Steelers coach, and the Christmas hit “Home Alone” just hit theaters.

A Bengals win on Sunday would do more than repeat history. A Cincy win over the Steelers will create a significant gap between the two teams in the AFC Northern qualifying race as well as the wild card race. With a score of 6-4, the Bengals are now in the middle of the AFC playoffs, while the Steelers, who are leading 5-4-1 after beating last week’s match against Charger, is currently outside looking in. And considering what the opponents are up front, the Steelers are in need of a win on Sunday to improve their odds of reaching the knockout stages for a second straight season.

We’ll be previewing the game along with our predictions for Sunday’s results. Here’s how you can track the action in real time.

How to watch

Day: Sunday, November 29 | Time: 1 p.m. ET
Location: Paul Brown Stadium (Cincinnati, Ohio)
TV: CBS | Current: Paramount + (click here)
Monitor: CBS Sports App
The odds: Bengals -4.5, 45

When the Steelers have the ball

Pittsburgh’s offense, despite scoring a season-high 37 points in last Sunday’s loss to Los Angeles, has some serious concerns. The offensive line has had a setback in recent weeks, especially when it comes to opening holes for rookies to run back. Najee Harris. The unit is currently ranked 27th in NFL on dash and 29th on average per take. Pittsburgh’s roster had its job cut out on Sunday against a Cincinnati defense that finished sixth in the NFL in allowable pens. Harris won’t have to run around, but he will have to provide consistent returns to keep the Bengals’ defense honest. The Steelers can’t get out of the running game, even if it’s a tough early ski game.

An encouraging aspect of Pittsburgh’s offense is enhanced quarterback play Ben Roethlisberger, who in his last five games threw nine touchdowns and failed to intercept. The Steelers will have to do well to protect Roethlisberger, who was knocked down four times and beaten several more times in Pittsburgh’s 3rd Week loss to Cincinnati. An important match will be the Steelers’ attacking ball Dan Moore Jr. and Chukwuma Okorafor against the defensive ends of the Bengals Sam Hubbard and Trey Hendrickson. Both Hubbard and Hendrickson were fired in Cincinnati’s 24-10 win over Pittsburgh in Week 3.

When Bengali have shadow

Cincinnati has had a steady season from second-year midfield Joe Burrow, who placed 14/18 with two encounters to rookie phenom Ja’Marr Chase in Cincinnati’s Week 3 win over Pittsburgh. For the only time this season, Burrow wasn’t fired in that game; a big reason why the absence of Steelers passers TJ Watt and Alex Highsmith. Watt is working this way again after multiple injuries kept him out of last Sunday’s loss to the Chargers. The Steelers are also hoping to have the full-back back Joe Haden and there will be safety Minkah Fitzpatrick back for Sunday game. If Watt is at a near-fit level, rest assured that Burrow won’t make Sunday’s game in vain. More pressure could also lead to a change for Burrow, who has thrown at least one intercept in nine of Cincinnati’s first 11 games.

The Bengals’ offense has also enjoyed a strong campaign from running back Joe Mixon, who has amassed 953 all-around yards and 11 touchdowns this season. A two-time 1,000-yard sprinter, Mixon played a key role in Cincinnati’s Week 3 win over the Steelers, dashing for 90 yards on 18 executions. He could be in for an even bigger game against Pittsburgh’s remarkably flimsy defence. Stopping Mixon will fall to Cam Heyward, who despite two consistent teams are having an All-Pro level season.

Guess

Latest rate:

Pittsburgh Steelers +3.5

Bengalis are popular and for good reason. They have a significant advantage in defence, and Burrow has proven he can outdo the Pittsburgh defence. But the Steelers have historically been able to come out on top in similar situations under head coach Mike Tomlin, while the Bengals have yet to prove they can win a big game at the end of the season. Pittsburgh will likely mimic the game plan they made with them to return to Cleveland in Week 8, when they halted Cleveland’s offensive behavior while relying on a balanced attack for a win. Road win is essential. Expect a similar result Sunday in Cincinnati.

Scored: Steelers 20, Bengals 17