- 1 Pittsburgh Steelers vs Cincinnati Bengals : Aaron Rodgers off form against the AFC Norths hottest attack
- 2 Pittsburgh Steelers : an offence stuck in neutral behind a struggling Rodgers
- 3 Cincinnati Bengals : Burrow, Chase and Higgins are already making the difference
- 4 NFL prediction Pittsburgh Steelers vs Cincinnati Bengals
- 5 First, a word on our free picks
- 6 No commitment from us
- 7 Information moves fast
- 8 Your part
- 9 Responsible gambling first
- 10 Legal age
- 11 About the images…
Pittsburgh Steelers vs Cincinnati Bengals : Aaron Rodgers off form against the AFC Norths hottest attack 
235 total yards and 3 points. That was it from the Pittsburgh Steelers offence in their last outing against New England. Aaron Rodgers finished that game with a 60.5 QB rating, threw an interception and managed just 4.8 yards per attempt.
Across the field, Cincinnati come in on the back of a 20-6 win over Houston, driven by a Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins pairing that piled up 170 receiving yards.
This AFC North showdown takes place at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, with kick-off set for 19:00.
The Bengals are averaging 26.5 points per game and have totalled 618 yards through two weeks, while the Steelers sit 31st in the league for points scored.
The market reflects the gap: Cincinnati are priced at -3.5, with an implied probability of 64% against 37% for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the total is set at 42.5 points.
The difference in offensive form shapes the whole contest, with a Cincinnati defence that produced 27 pressures on just 62 opponent pass attempts last week.
That kind of heat could be a nightmare for a Pittsburgh line that was already under siege in its last outing.
There is also the small matter of division pride. In a rivalry this old, every win lands twice as hard in both dressing rooms.
A third straight victory would stamp Cincinnati as the early offensive standard-bearers in the AFC North. A third straight defeat would drag the Steelers a step closer to the edge.
Pittsburgh Steelers : an offence stuck in neutral behind a struggling Rodgers 
Aaron Rodgers completed 23 of 39 passes in his last game, for 187 yards and a 60.5 QB rating.
That performance fits a worrying trend: Pittsburgh rank 30th in the NFL for total offence, averaging 249.5 yards per game.
They are little better in the scoring column, averaging 11.5 points across the first two weeks, which leaves them 31st in the league.
The defence is the one reliable part of this team, allowing 16.5 points a game, the same number as Cincinnati.
That split between a defence holding its end up and an offence going nowhere sums up Pittsburghs start to the season.
Without a quick offensive spark, the defence could end up carrying this team almost alone.
The Steelers line has to protect Rodgers far better, or they risk reliving the same ugly script they saw against the Patriots.
At 42, the quarterback does not have the physical margin to cover for a leaky line on his own.
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Cincinnati Bengals : Burrow, Chase and Higgins are already making the difference 
Cincinnati head to Pittsburgh with two weeks of solid work behind them, built on 26.5 points per game and 618 total offensive yards.
Joe Burrow is playing through back discomfort picked up in Week 1, and even he has not been able to pin down exactly how it started. He remains the clear starter, though.
Against Houston, he threw for two touchdowns, with Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins combining for 170 yards. Higgins averaged 19 yards per catch on five receptions.
Cincinnati’s defence generated 27 pressures on 62 opponent pass attempts in its last game, a rate that could cause real problems for a Rodgers who is already off his rhythm.
That defensive pressure, combined with the firepower of the Chase-Higgins duo, makes the Bengals the obvious favourites in this division battle.
Burrows physical issue still needs monitoring, but it has not stopped him producing at a high level so far.
With two receivers this dangerous, Cincinnati have an edge Pittsburgh simply do not look equipped to match over four quarters.
That kind of offensive consistency, backed by a defence that holds firm too, puts the Bengals among the most complete teams in the early part of the season.
Probable Pittsburgh Steelers line-up : Aaron Rodgers confirmed as starting quarterback.
Probable Cincinnati Bengals line-up : Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins confirmed as starters.
NFL prediction Pittsburgh Steelers vs Cincinnati Bengals
Our prediction : Cincinnati Bengals to win
The gap in offensive production between these two teams is too wide to ignore. Cincinnati are scoring 26.5 points a game while Pittsburgh are struggling to get past 11.5.
The pressure Cincinnati can bring on opposing quarterbacks should be a major problem for an Aaron Rodgers who just came off a game at 4.8 yards per attempt.
With Cincinnati around 1.55 on the moneyline, the bet still clears a reasonable value threshold without forcing us into a riskier handicap.
The 42.5-point total also points to a tight defensive game, but the Bengals have the clear edge where it matters most on offence.
That blend of an explosive attack and a defence that creates pressure makes Cincinnati the more complete side in this division clash.
Between a red-hot Chase-Higgins combination and a Pittsburgh offence that looks stuck in the mud, Cincinnati have more than enough to leave with the win.
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