The Bengals and Steelers clash on Saturday night to determine each other’s postseason fate.
Cincinnati cannot lose another game at 8-8 on the year. The Bengals have rattled off four straight wins but will need some help even with a win here. Denver needs to lose to Kansas City, who has the No. 1 seed locked up, so there is a good chance the Chiefs rest their starters and the Broncos come out on top, which puts them in over the Bengals.
Pittsburgh is 10-6 but lost three straight games in 11 days against some of the best teams in the NFL -- the Eagles, Ravens, and Chiefs. The Steelers are trending in the wrong direction entering the playoffs but they did beat the Bengals 44-38 in a thriller on Dec. 1 in Cincy.
NBC Sports has all the latest info and analysis you need, including how to tune in for kickoff, odds from DraftKings, player news and updates, and of course our predictions and best bets for the game from our staff of experts.
Listen to the Bet the Edge podcast as hosts Jay Croucher and Drew Dinsick provide listeners with sharp actionable insight, market analysis and statistical data to help bettors gain more information before placing their wagers.
Game Details and How to watch the Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday
· Date: Saturday, January 4, 2024
· Time: 8:00 PM EST
· Site: Accrisure Stadium
· City: Pittsburgh, PA
· TV/Streaming: ABC / ESPN
Want to check out the other games on the NFL schedule this week? We’ve got you covered right here on NBC Sports with all the matchup, venue, game-time, and TV/streaming info so you won’t miss any of the action!
Game odds for Steelers vs. Bengals
The latest odds as of Monday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Pittsburgh Steelers (+105), Cincinnati Bengals (-125)
Spread: Bengals -1.5 (-110)
Total: 48.5
The spread reached Bengals -3 at one point but is back down as bettors are backing the Steelers to right their three-game losing streak or Cincinnati’s OT victory over the Broncos left a bad taste in their mouth. The total has dipped between 47.5 and 48.5 everywhere and is expected to stay around the key number of 47.
NBC Sports Bet Best Bet
Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) likes Joe Burrow to go over his 37.5 pass attempts prop and leans the Bengals:
“The Steelers haven’t had any luck with scheduling with the Eagles, Ravens, Chiefs, and Bengals to end the season. Better yet, the first three games come in an 11-day span, which isn’t ideal for anybody this time of year.
Cincinnati will have the fatigue advantage and motivation as they are in a do-or-die situation when it comes to the postseason. While the Bengals’ win last week was as chaotic as it gets, so was the first meeting between these two teams (44-38).
If Chase Brown is out, take a hard look at Joe Burrow Over 37.5 pass attempts because of the situation. Burrow has thrown at least 37 passes in six of the past seven games and it’s hard to imagine him not throwing 40-plus times with the the season on the line and I lean the Bengals on the ML.”
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cincinnati Bengals team stats, betting trends
- The Bengals and Steelers are 10-6 ATS on the season.
- The Steelers are 5-2 ATS at home and 2-1 ATS as a home underdog.
- Pittsburgh is 8-8 on the total and 5-2 to the Under as the home team.
- The Bengals are 5-3 to the Over as the road team and 11-5 to the Over overall.
- Cincinnati is an NFL-best 7-1 ATS on the road this year.
- Cincinnati is an NFL-best 5-0 ATS as a road favorite.
- Russell Wilson has gone back-to-back weeks with 200-plus passing yards.
- Najee Harris had 74 rushing yards last week and crossed 1,000 rushing yards for the fourth straight season.
- Jaylen Warren had a season-high 71 rushing yards against the Chiefs last week.
- George Pickens had three catches for 50 yards on seven targets in his return.
- Joe Burrow threw for 412 yards and three touchdowns last week.
- Tee Higgins had 131 yards and three touchdowns last week.
- Chase Brown led the Bengals with 67 rushing yards but was injured in the fourth quarter.
- Ja’Marr Chase recorded nine receptions on 15 targets for 102 yards and leads the NFL in the triple-crown (receptions, yards, TDs).
Quarterback matchup for Pittsburgh vs. Cincinnati
Pittsburgh: Russell Wilson – Wilson has 15 touchdowns and five interceptions on the year and three touchdowns to two interceptions during the three-game losing streak. Wilson has not gone for 200-plus yards in three straight all season but has a chance this week.
Cincinnati: Joe Burrow - Burrow leads the NFL in passing yards (4,641), touchdowns (42), completions (423), and attempts (606). He ranks third in QBR (76.7) and surpassed 400 yards last week for the second time this season. Burrow is the current favorite for Comeback Player of the Year and top five in MVP voting.
Steelers and Bengals injury update
Pittsburgh’s CB Joey Porter (knee), WR Roman Wilson (hamstring), CB CJ Henderson (neck), and OL Dylan Cook (foot) are out, while QB Justin Fields (abdominal) and DT Montravius Adams (knee) are questionable.
Cincinnati’s DT Sheldon Rankins (illness), DE Sam Hubbard (knee), and LB Joe Bachie (groin) are out, while TE Tanner Hudson (knee) and DB Geno Stone (illness) are questionable.
Rotoworld has you covered with all the latest betting info & tools for NFL with game predictions, player props, futures, and trends!
Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:
Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)