Pittsburgh Steelers vs Cincinnati Bengals January 4th 2025

ABC will televise the week 18 AFC North matchup between the Bengals and Steelers, which is set to kick off at 8:00 ET on Saturday, January 4th. The game is being played at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh. The Bengals are the slight road favorite with a point spread of -1.5 and a money line of -125. The Steelers’ money line odds are +105, and the over/under line is 48.5 points.

Cincinnati vs. Pittsburgh Key Information

• Teams: Bengals at Steelers
• Where: Acrisure Stadium Pittsburgh
• Date: Saturday, January 4th
• Betting Odds CIN -125 | PIT +105 O/U 48.5

The Bengals Can Win If…

With four straight wins, the Bengals have climbed back to 8-8, giving them a 10.1% chance of making the playoffs. Cincinnati ranks 13th in our NFL power rankings and 9th in the AFC. They are 3rd in the AFC North and have a 2-3 division record. The Bengals are 5-3 on the road and 3-5 at home.

Against the spread, Cincinnati is 10-6, with a +2.2 scoring margin. They’ve covered in four straight games, including a 6-point win over the Broncos in week 17. The O/U record in Bengals games is 11-5, with an average of 54.4 points scored.

Joe Burrow has been on fire heading into week 18, throwing for 412 yards and 3 touchdowns in week 17 against the Broncos. He completed 39 of 49 passes without an interception, posting a passer rating of 122. Burrow’s top target was Tee Higgins, who caught 11 passes for 131 yards and 3 touchdowns. However, Burrow has been dealing with a wrist injury and is listed as questionable for this week’s game against the Steelers.

In our offensive power rankings, the Bengals are 5th in the NFL, and they rank 6th in points per game, averaging 28.3. They lead the league in passing yards per game with 274.6, despite being 25th in rushing attempts and 29th in rushing yards. On 3rd down, they rank 4th in the NFL with a conversion rate of 47.3%.

In the Bengals’ 30-24 overtime win over the Broncos, their defense gave up 206 passing yards and allowed three passing touchdowns. Denver completed 77.4% of their passes, but Cincinnati’s defense came up with one interception. The Bengals’ defense held the Broncos to a 33.3% conversion rate on third down.

On the ground, the Bengals allowed 123 rushing yards on 27 attempts. Despite giving up 329 total yards, Cincinnati’s defense made key plays to help secure the overtime victory, including two sacks and forcing turnovers.

• Cincinnati will look to keep things rolling as they have put together a mark of 3-0 over their past three games. Against the spread, the team is 3-0 in these same games while going 2-1 on the over/under.
• Over their last ten regular season games, the Bengals have gone 6-4 straight up. Their record against the spread in this stretch is 7-3 to go along with an over-under mark of 7-3.

The Steelers Can Win If…

Heading into week 18, the Steelers have a 10-6 record, but they’ve dropped three straight games. Despite the losing streak, Pittsburgh has a 100% chance of making the playoffs, though they have just a 5.8% chance of winning the AFC North. They currently rank 14th in our NFL power rankings. The Steelers are 5-2 at home and 5-4 on the road, and they have a +2.2 scoring margin this season.

Against the spread, Pittsburgh is 10-6, but they’ve failed to cover in three consecutive games. Their O/U record is 8-8, with their games averaging 43.2 points compared to an average line of 41.6.

Heading into week 18, the Steelers are 18th in our offensive power rankings. They rank 14th in the NFL in points per game, averaging 22.7, and sit 16th in total yards per game with 327.3. Pittsburgh has leaned heavily on the run game, ranking 3rd in rushing attempts and 10th in rushing yards per game. However, they are 28th in passing attempts and 25th in passing yards per game.

Russell Wilson threw for 205 yards (23/37) and had one interception in week 17 against the Chiefs. Najee Harris led the team with 74 rushing yards on 13 carries, while Pat Freiermuth had 7 catches for 60 yards. The Steelers scored 3 points in the 3rd quarter but were shut out in the 1st, 2nd, and 4th quarters.

In their 29-10 loss to the Chiefs, the Steelers’ defense allowed Kansas City to convert on 30% of their third down attempts. Despite not allowing much in the running game (69 yards on 20 attempts), they struggled to generate pressure, finishing with no sacks and losing the QB hit and tackles for loss differentials.

Pittsburgh’s defense gave up 320 yards through the air, with Kansas City completing 76.3% of their passes. The Chiefs finished with 389 total yards in the game, and the Steelers allowed three passing touchdowns.

• Spanning across their last three games, Pittsburgh have gone 2-1. In these games, they have a 2-1 record vs the spread and an over-under mark of 0-3.
• Across Pittsburgh’s last ten regular season games, their record sits at 6-4. In these contests, the team went just 6-4 against the spread, while going 4-6 on the over-under.

The Lean

Our pick vs. the spread is to take the Steelers to cover as home underdogs in this week 18 matchup against the Bengals. The point spread has the Steelers at +1.5, and we have them winning 28-22.

For the over/under, we are leaning towards taking the over, with a projected combined score of 50 points and the line sitting at 48.5 points.

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Joe Burrow and Bengals Clash with Steelers in a Win-or-Go-Home Showdown

The Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers face off Saturday night in what’s shaping up to be an epic AFC North battle. For the Bengals, it’s do-or-die as they fight to keep their playoff hopes alive. Meanwhile, the Steelers are out to snap a losing streak and take one last shot at the division title.

Bengals: Momentum and Star Power

The Bengals (8-8) come into the game on a hot streak, winning four in a row and playing some of their best football of the season. But they don’t just need a win—they’re also counting on losses by the Denver Broncos and Miami Dolphins to punch their ticket to the playoffs.

• Joe Burrow’s On Fire:
  • Burrow leads the NFL with 4,641 passing yards and 42 touchdowns, and he’s thrown for at least three touchdowns in eight straight games.
  • His connection with Ja’Marr Chase is unstoppable. Chase leads the league in catches (117), yards (1,612), and touchdowns (16), putting him on track for a rare receiver Triple Crown.
  • Burrow on Chase:“He’s a once-in-a-lifetime player, and it’s amazing to have our careers tied together like this.”
• Injury Watch:
  • Running back Chase Brown (ankle), defensive end Sam Hubbard (knee), and tight end Drew Sample (groin) are question marks after missing practice this week. Losing Brown, their top rusher with 990 yards, could hurt.

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Steelers: Fighting to Find Their Groove

The Steelers (10-6) have already clinched a playoff spot, but their chances at the AFC North title hinge on beating Cincinnati and hoping the Ravens lose to the Browns.

• Stuck in a Slump:
  Pittsburgh was rolling earlier this season, winning seven of eight games, but a three-game losing streak has them reeling. They’ve been outscored 90-40 during the skid.
  • Linebacker Patrick Queen summed up the team’s mindset:“It’s one and done from here. No room for mistakes. We’ve got to play like everything’s on the line.”
• Health Update:
  • Linebacker Cole Holcomb, who’s been out for 14 months with a knee injury, could make his season debut. His return would be a big boost to the defense.

Previous Matchup: A High-Scoring Thriller

The last time these two teams met, Pittsburgh outlasted Cincinnati in a wild 44-38 shootout.

• Joe Burrow: Threw for 309 yards and three touchdowns.
• Russell Wilson (Steelers): Had his best game of the season with 414 passing yards and three touchdowns

Expect another intense, back-and-forth game with both teams leaving it all on the field.

What to Watch For

For the Bengals:

• Burrow + Chase Magic: Cincinnati’s offense runs through their superstar duo, and they’ll need to deliver again to take down the Steelers.
• Defensive Depth: Injuries to key players like Hubbard could test the Bengals’ ability to slow down Pittsburgh’s attack.

For the Steelers:

• End the Skid: The Steelers need to recapture their midseason form to stop the bleeding and build momentum heading into the playoffs.
• Defensive Execution: Containing Burrow and Chase is easier said than done, but it’s the key to Pittsburgh’s success.

Players to Watch

• Joe Burrow (Bengals): Can he continue his MVP-level form and lead Cincinnati to victory?
• Ja’Marr Chase (Bengals): A once-in-a-generation talent on the verge of NFL history.
• Patrick Queen (Steelers): The emotional leader of Pittsburgh’s defense has to step up in this high-pressure game.
• Cole Holcomb (Steelers): If he plays, Holcomb’s return could provide a spark for the Steelers’ defense.

Why This Game Matters

For the Bengals, this is their last shot at keeping their season alive and continuing their incredible late-season surge. For the Steelers, it’s about snapping their losing streak, taking the division title, and heading into the playoffs with some momentum.

With everything on the line and some of the NFL’s brightest stars on display, this game promises to be a must-watch showdown.