When the season started, it sure seemed like the AFC North -- or at least a playoff spot -- might be on the line when the Pittsburgh Steelers (8-5) and Cincinnati Bengals (5-7-1) met in Week 15. Things have obviously not worked out that way.
Cincinnati has been ravaged by injuries throughout the season. Everyone from draft picks William Jackson III and Andrew Billings to veterans A.J. Green, Giovani Bernard, Tyler Eifert, Wallace Gilberry, and more have missed multiple games, while several other players have been playing hurt for much of the year. The Bengals won their opener against the Jets, but things started going downhill pretty much as soon as they met with the Steelers the following week.
Pittsburgh, meanwhile, is back in the catbird seat in the AFC North after rebounding from a four-game losing streak with a four-game winning streak. Le'Veon Bell is dominating every defense in his path, last week amassing a Steelers-record 236 rushing yards (and three touchdowns) in a 27-20 win over the Bills. Bell's hot streak is bad news for the Bengals. who rank 23rd in Football Outsiders' defensive DVOA and have not fared well against running backs that catch passes out of the backfield.
Bell was not on the field the first time these two teams played this season as he was still serving a three-game suspension. He's not the only one playing his first Steelers-Bengals game this season; Vontaze Burfict was also suspended at the start of the year, and you can bet Pittsburgh wants to hand him a loss, given what happened the last time these two teams played each other when Burfict was in uniform.
More than revenge, the Steelers likely have playoff positioning on their minds. Want to watch them try to handle the Bengals and hang onto their spot? Here's how.
How to Watch
- What: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cincinnati Bengals
- When: Sunday, Dec. 11, 1 p.m. ET
- Where: Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio
- TV: CBS
- Streaming: CBS All Access (click here to sign up for a free one-week trial)
- Sunday Ticket: DirecTV
- Online: NFL Game Pass (available to watch online after midnight)
- Odds: The Steelers are 3-point favorites, according to SportsLine.
Injury report
Steelers
- WR Darrius Heyward-Bey (Foot) -- Out
- S Shamarko Thomas (Concussion) -- Out
Bengals
- DE Wallace Gilberry (Calf) -- Doubtful
- WR A.J. Green (Hamstring) -- Doubtful
- LS Clark Harris (Groin) -- Questionable
- S Derron Smith (Thigh) -- Questionable
- TE C.J. Ozumah (Calf) -- Questionable
- WR James Wright (Knee) -- Questionable
Prisco's Pick
This once looked like it would be a big game for the division race, but the Bengals have no chance now. Even so, I expect them to show up against a team they hate. The Bengals will keep it close, but the Steelers will pull it out even playing consecutive road games.
Pick: Steelers 23, Bengals 17