Bengals vs. Steelers Point Spread: NFL Week 11 Odds, Prediction
The Steelers, at 5-4, have the worst record of a division leader in the NFL, and the suddenly-rejuvenated Baltimore Ravens are just one game behind.
The Bengals (3-6) are only two games back, but it might as well be 2,000 games behind the way their league-worst defence is playing. Cincinnati has scored 80 points combined in its last two contests and lost them both.
Veteran quarterbacks Joe Flacco and Aaron Rodgers face each other for the second time in a month after the Bengals’ come-from-behind, 33-31 victory at home in October.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
The Bengals are 1-3 against the spread on the road, 1-4 ATS in its last five games against the Steelers, and 1-5 ATS in road contests dating back to last season.
Pittsburgh is 3-2 straight up and against the spread at home. The Steelers and Bengals have played to the over four times in their past six meetings, while Cincinnati has played to the over in each of its past five games.
Rodgers, who had four touchdowns against Cincy last month, is -165 to throw more than 1.5 touchdown passes on Sunday. Flacco, who had a career-high 470 yards to go with four touchdown passes in the win over Pittsburgh, is -140 to throw over 1.5 touchdown passes.
Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals’ defence is atrocious. They are dead last in the league in total yards allowed per game with 426.6, dead last in rushing yards allowed per game with 166.4, 13th in passing yards allowed with 260.1, and dead last in scoring defence with 33.3 points allowed per game.
Cincinnati’s offence will need to keep pace all game yet again to have any chance. Both Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins went over 100 yards against the Steelers the last time out. Pittsburgh’s defence has allowed an NFL-worst 279.4 yards per game through the air, so look for Flacco to have another monster day under centre.
Pittsburgh Steelers
This is a tough team to figure out, but at least it has a great chance at extending coach Mike Tomlin’s streak of .500 seasons to 19.
Rodgers has been steady for Pittsburgh all season, but he finally looked his age last week in a 25-10 setback to the Los Angeles Chargers. He went just 16 for 31 for 161 yards, and turned the ball over three times.
The four-time NFL MVP has thrown for 1,853 yards and 18 touchdowns, but he and the rest of the offence could not get going against Los Angeles. The Steelers had 11 first downs on 12 possessions, but went just 2 for 11 on third down.
The Bengals’ swiss-cheese defence should cure what ails Pittsburgh, but this team has lost three of four and is fading fast.
NFL Prediction: Who Will Win Bengals vs. Steelers?
The Bengals have lost six of seven. The team’s -84 differential is only surpassed by the Tennessee Titans and New Orleans Saints in shame.
However, Flacco and the offence move the ball at will. He did it against Pittsburgh last month, and he’ll do it again on Sunday.
The Steelers should find a way to win at home, but it will probably come down to the wire as it did last month. Take Pittsburgh to win but fail to cover in a 31-28 triumph.
CIN
PIT