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Pittsburgh (4-1-0) at Cincinnati (2-4-0)
- When: Oct 16 2025, 8:15 PM
- Where: Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati, OH
- Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video
- Last Meeting: CIN 19-17, January 4th, 2025
Pittsburgh vs Cincinnati Preview & Prediction
Spread: Pittsburgh -5.5
Moneyline: Pittsburgh (-255)
Total: 44.0
Cincinnati Bengals Outlook
Cincinnati’s quarterback room went from “Who’s next?” to “Wait, Joe Flacco again?” in less than a week. The 40-year-old veteran landed in Cincinnati after being traded from Cleveland, giving the Bengals one of the strangest midseason makeovers in recent memory. He now faces a familiar foe, the Steelers, a team he’s battled 25 times throughout his career.
Flacco looked surprisingly sharp in his Bengals debut, tossing for 219 yards and two touchdowns against Green Bay. He showed flashes of his old arm strength and quickly found chemistry with Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. The problem? Cincinnati’s offense has been flatter than week-old soda in the first half of games. They’ve been outscored 79-9 before halftime during their four-game losing streak, and you can’t win many games spotting opponents that kind of lead.
Head coach Zac Taylor emphasized starting faster and sustaining drives on early downs. Flacco’s experience against Pittsburgh’s blitz-heavy schemes could give him an edge, but Cincinnati’s offensive line will have to protect long enough for him to get the ball downfield. If they can limit turnovers and move the chains early, the Bengals might actually keep this one competitive.
Player Prop Pick – Cincinnati: Ja’Marr Chase Over 72.5 Receiving Yards – Chase remains the focal point of the offense, and Flacco loves taking deep shots. Expect plenty of looks his way.
Pittsburgh Steelers Outlook
The Steelers have stormed to a 4-1 start under Aaron Rodgers, who apparently discovered the fountain of youth somewhere in Pennsylvania. At 41 years old, he’s posting a 105.4 passer rating with 10 touchdowns and just three picks, numbers that would make most 25-year-olds jealous.
Rodgers’ quick release has been lethal, averaging just 2.57 seconds per throw, his fastest pace in nearly a decade. That tempo has made Pittsburgh’s passing attack incredibly efficient, and he’ll now face a Bengals defense that’s been shredded by short passes, giving up 7.7 yards per attempt and eight touchdowns on quick throws. Translation: expect Rodgers to surgically carve up the middle of the field.
Defensively, Pittsburgh retooled its secondary for exactly this type of matchup. They added height and physicality to better deal with Chase and Higgins, bringing in veterans like Jalen Ramsey and Darius Slay to complement Joey Porter Jr. It’s a group built to challenge the Bengals’ big-bodied receivers, something Mike Tomlin has wanted for years.
Player Prop Pick – Pittsburgh: Aaron Rodgers Over 1.5 Passing Touchdowns – Rodgers has been hot early this season, and the Bengals’ secondary has been a welcome mat for opposing quarterbacks.
Expert Betting Outlook & NFL Prediction
This one has storyline gold, two 40-plus quarterbacks slinging it out under the primetime lights. The difference? Rodgers has rhythm and chemistry with a surging Pittsburgh offense, while Flacco is still unpacking his bags in Cincinnati. Expect Pittsburgh to jump ahead early and never look back.
Final Score: Steelers 27, Bengals 15
Lean: Pittsburgh -5.5
Total: Under 44.0
- NFL Football Odds source: MyBookie Sportsbook
- Get real-time live scores & latest betting odds here!
