The National Football League is trying to take over the Christmas weekend as there are a pair of games set to take place on Saturday. The Cincinnati Bengals visit the Pittsburgh Steelers in one of those games for a huge matchup in the AFC North Division.
An injury to Joe Burrow looked like it would end the season for the Cincinnati Bengals, but this team has since won three straight games. Cincinnati is now sitting at 8-6 on the year, and they are in a great spot in the playoff race.
Pittsburgh is heading in the other direction as they have lost three straight games to fall to 7-7 on the year. The Steelers can still make the playoffs in the AFC, but it’s going to take a big finish for them to get there.
Cincinnati is a slim two-point betting favorite on the road against their AFC North rivals.
Bengals Not Missing Burrow
The Cincinnati Bengals have scored at least 27 points in three straight games, and all of those wins have come without Joe Burrow under center. Backup quarterback Jake Browning has thrown for 1,248 yards in six games this season, and he has completed nearly 74 percent of his passes.
Running back Joe Mixon has stepped up his play during this run as well, and he is now up to 815 rushing yards on the season. Cincinnati has a ton of playmakers on offense, and all of those playmakers are having a huge season.
The defense for Cincinnati is still struggling a bit as they have allowed 22.2 points per game this season. Cincinnati has really struggled to stop the run and that is going to be a major key in this matchup.
Steelers Have to Get Stops
If the Pittsburgh Steelers are going to win this game then it will have to be the defense that makes that happen. Pittsburgh is allowing just 20.0 points per game this season, but they offense is scoring less than 16 points per game.
This Steelers team does have 39 sacks on the year, and they will be coming after Jake Browning in this matchup. If Pittsburgh is able to create some turnovers then that could swing the game in their favor.
Pittsburgh is averaging just 177 passing yards per game this season, and Mitch Trubisky continues to prove that he is not the answer. The Steelers will look to establish the run in this game, but Trubisky also needs to make some big throws.
Cincinnati Continues to Roll
A great defense can definitely help a team win a championship, but at some point that team has to score. Pittsburgh just hasn’t been able to do anything on offense over the last month, and that trend will continue in this game.
Cincinnati just has so much momentum on offense this season, and Jake Browning continues to make great plays with the football. This Bengals team isn’t going to roll into Pittsburgh and blow out the Steelers, but they are going to win this game.
Bet on the Cincinnati Bengals to win this game and cover the small two-point spread over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
