There’s no doubt about it: the Cincinnati Bengals have been one of the best teams in the NFL through the first seven weeks. Andy Dalton has hardly put a foot wrong, as he’s led his team to a perfect 6-0 record. Cincinnati can tighten its already viselike grip on the AFC North with a win over its closest (and only) rivals for the division – the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Steelers, though, should finally get Ben Roethlisberger back to lead the charge against Cincy, who Pittsburgh has dominated in recent years. Ge a complete breakdown of this big AFC North battle with our preview below. Meanwhile, check out more big Week 8 division matchups with our previews of the Dolphins vs. Patriots and Niners vs. Rams.
[sc:Football ]Cincinnati Bengals vs. Pittsburgh Steelers Preview
Where: Heinz Field, Pittsburgh
When: Sunday, November 1, 1:00 PM ET
Line: Cincinnati Bengals (-1) at Pittsburgh Steelers (+1); total: 48.5 – view all NFL lines
TV Broadcast: CBS
Betting on the Cincinnati Bengals (6-0)
Through six games, the other shoe has yet to drop for Andy Dalton. The Bengals QB is having an excellent season, and is on pace to shatter his career-best numbers in terms of completion percentage, passing yards, passing touchdowns, and interceptions. He’s also proven he’s no front-runner, as he led them to a thrilling come-from-behind overtime win against Seattle back in Week 5.
[sc:NFL240banner ]Dalton has been surrounded with all the tools he needs to succeed – a rock-solid offensive line, a competent defense, an effective running game and a host of capable receivers – and he’s making full use of those tools.
Since Dalton became the Bengals’ starting quarterback in 2011, Cincy is just 2-6 (SU and ATS) in eight games against the Steelers. But with an extra week’s rest after their bye, the Bengals (6-0 SU, 5-0-1 ATS) won’t have a much better opportunity to get one over on their division rivals.
Ben Roethlisberger’s return has the potential to turn their Week 8 matchup into a shootout – Cincy has given up 33 points per game in its last three against Pittsburgh – but Dalton and the Bengals now have the weapons to fight fire with fire.
The Bengals are averaging 30.3 points per game this season (third in the league), and put up 34 points on the road against a formidable Bills defense prior to their bye.
A.J. Green hasn’t been putting up monstrous numbers because of all the balance in the Bengals offense, but he might get his time to shine against the Steelers secondary. In his last five games against Pittsburgh, Green is averaging 8.8 catches and 111.2 receiving yards per game, including an 11-catch 224-yard game in a losing effort last year.
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Betting on the Pittsburgh Steelers (4-3)
As it turns out, there’s a reason Landry Jones is a third-string quarterback. After his heroics against the Arizona Cardinals, Jones disappointed in his first (and possibly last) career NFL start as he completed just 55 percent of his passes and threw two picks in a 23-13 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
On the bright side for the Steelers, it’s likely to be the last start needed from their backup quarterbacks with Ben Roethlisberger set to return from his month-plus-long layoff due to a knee injury. The return of Big Ben should be able to unleash an offense that just so happens to feature two of the best offensive players in their respective positions – running back Le’Veon Bell and wideout Antonio Brown.
Bell had another very productive game with 137 total yards from scrimmage against the Chiefs. And after enduring some rough outings with Mike Vick at QB, Brown finally resumed normal production with 124 receiving yards.
Look for Brown to have another big game against a Bengals defense ranked way down in No. 28 in terms of defending opposing No. 1 receivers this season. He torched Cincy’s secondary to the tune of 16 catches for 245 yards in two games last season.
Don’t forget about Martavis Bryant, either. In two games this season, Bryant already has nine catches for 182 receiving yards and three touchdowns. With the sheer number of weapons at his disposal, Big Ben and the Steelers attack should be able to give the Bengals defense its toughest test to date.
The Steelers defense flat out didn’t play well against the Chiefs, as they missed a bunch of tackles. However, this is still a unit that ranked No. 5 in run defense per DVOA through Week 6. Expect a bounce-back game from that defense, which can limit a ground game that’s been vital to the Bengals offense.
Since 2010, the Steelers are 8-2 (SU and ATS) against the Bengals, and 4-1 (SU and ATS) in the last five at Heinz Field.
Writer’s Prediction
Big Ben’s return sparks the Steelers offense as they outgun the Bengals, 31-27.
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