The Cincinnati Bengals and the Pittsburgh Steelers meet for the first time this season. Both are coming off losses, so expect an intense battle at Heinz Field between two teams who don’t want to find themselves in the bottom of the AFC North after three weeks of football. Check out our preview of this game below.
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Betting Preview for the Cincinnati Bengals vs Pittsburgh Steelers Regular Season Week 3 Game on September 26, 2021
Where: Heinz Field, Pittsburgh
When: Sunday, September 26, 2021, 1:00 PM ET
Line: Cincinnati Bengals (+4.5) vs Pittsburgh Steelers (-4.5) – view all 2021 NFL lines
TV Broadcast: CBS
Betting on the Cincinnati Bengals (+4.5)
Regular Season Record: 1-1
The Bengals ran into a brick wall in Week 2, as they lost to the Chicago Bears, 20-17. Joe Burrow was up and down in that game, going 19/30 for 207 passing yards and two touchdowns with three interceptions, one of which was returned for a TD by Roquan Smith. Nevertheless, Burrow can continue pushing the ball through the air knowing he’s got quality weapons downfield in the trio of Tyler Boyd, Tee Higgins, and Ja’Marr Chase. Those receivers can look forward to facing the Steelers’ supposedly stout defense but had just given up 113 receiving yards on five catches to Henry Ruggs in Week 2. There is life in the Bengals’ passing attack that’s enough to keep opposing defenses honest despite Burrow’s errors. However, the Bengals should show more life on the ground. In Week 2, Joe Mixon rushed for just 69 yards on 20 carries for a mere 3.5 yards per carry average. Cincinnati is also squaring off a Steelers team that has not covered the spread in all of its last five games in which it was the favorite.
The Bengals, meanwhile, are 13-3 against the spread in their last Week 3 games.
Betting on the Pittsburgh Steelers (-4.5)
Regular Season Record: 1-1
After pulling off an upset 23-16 win in Week 1 over the Buffalo Bills on the road, the Steelers got tripped up last Sunday by the Las Vegas Raiders in a 26-17 home loss. Ben Roethlisberger racked up almost 300 passing yards on 24/40 completions, but he only had a touchdown pass with an interception while also getting sacked twice. The Bengals’ defense doesn’t look like much, but the Steelers, especially their offensive line, need to ramp up their protection of the aging Big Ben, who was also hit in the pocket 10 times in Week 2. Despite the struggles of their defense in Week 2, the Steelers can still be viewed as a huge threat to the Bengals’ attack. Cincy is a turnover-prone team that is 25th in the NFL after two weeks in TO margin per game and 23rd with 2.0 TOs per contest. There could be fumbles to recover for the Steelers’ pass rush against the Bengals, who allowed four sacks in Week 2 and nine overall this season.
The Steelers are 5-2 against the spread in their last seven September games.
Writer’s Prediction
The Steelers win, 21-17.
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