After being perfect through their first 11 games, the Pittsburgh Steelers have now lost two in a row, in the process losing their grip on the AFC’s top seed and the only bye in the playoffs. The Steelers will look to right the ship when they visit AFC North rivals, the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday Night Football.
The Bengals haven’t been putting up much of a fight since losing Joe Burrow to injury a few weeks ago, and sportsbooks don’t like their chances here, setting them as nearly two-touchdown underdogs.
We break down the NFL odds with our free Steelers vs. Bengals picks and predictions for Monday, December 21, with kickoff at 8:15 p.m. ET.
Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals Betting Preview
Weather
It could be a messy night in Cincinnati. The forecast is calling for showers throughout the day, but those should taper off as the night moves along. Mix that with a wind coming off the river at 10-15 mph and temperatures in the low-40s could make for some tough playing conditions. Be sure to monitor the gametime conditions with our NFL weather info.
Key Injuries
Steelers: James Conner RB (Out), Kevin Dotson OL (Out).
Bengals: Brandon Allen QB (Out), Geno Atkins DT (Out), Joe Burrow QB (Out), Joe Mixon RB (Out), Logan Wilson LB (Out).
Find our latest NFL injury reports.
Betting Trend to Know
Under is 5-0-1 in Steelers' last six games as a favorite, 4-0-1 in the Bengals' last five games, and 4-0-1 in the last five meetings between these AFC North rivals. Find more NFL betting trends for Steelers vs. Bengals.
Against the Spread (ATS) Pick
The Steelers were rolling heading into Week 13. They were 11-0 and held on to the top spot and lone bye in the AFC playoffs heading into a game against a then 4-7 Washington Football Team, and lost 23-17 as 5.5-point favorites. Pittsburgh then followed that up with a 26-15 loss at Buffalo as 2-point underdogs.
So, if there is a team in need of a win, it would be the Steelers. Enter the Bengals. Cincinnati looked like a scrappy bunch with Joe Burrow at the helm, but since losing the No. 1 overall draft pick for the season to a knee injury, as well as running back Joe Mixon, the Bengals have been toothless on offense.
In the four games since Burrow went down, the Bengals have scored a total of 40 points, and while the Steelers were showing some cracks before their first loss, the defense certainly wasn’t the problem. Pittsburgh ranks first in defensive DVOA rating, scoring defense, and third in total defense.
Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers offense have certainly had their issues, particularly when it comes to running the football, but the Bengals have almost as many issues on defense to boot. While it may seem tempting to fade Pittsburgh considering the spread and their recent play, it just doesn’t seem prudent in what should be a get-right spot for the Steelers.
PREDICTION: Steelers -13 (-110)
Over/Under Pick
At 40.5, the total for this Monday Night matchup is the lowest on the board for Week 15, and with good reason. As mentioned, the Bengals haven’t been able to score since losing Burrow and Mixon, but it's more than that: they also can’t move the ball, ranking 29th in total yards. That just doesn’t bode well against this Steelers defense.
But the Steelers offense hasn’t been anything to write home about either. Roethlisberger and the passing game have been inconsistent, and they have gotten virtually nothing from the running game. As a result, the Steelers rank 23rd in total offense.
That said, the Steelers are the much better team in this matchup and should build a nice lead. Then you can expect them to try to get James Conner rolling by feeding him the ball. Even with a low number, the Under is trending here and we’re betting that trend to continue.
PREDICTION: Under 40.5 (-110)
Player Prop Pick
While the Steelers offense has been inconsistent, Big Ben still has 29 touchdown passes this season, while the Bengals have allowed 25 touchdown passes to opposing quarterbacks (28 is the worst in the league). So, let's look at a guy who is a bit of a longshot to score an anytime touchdown in this game – James Washington. Roethlisberger has looked a little more his way the last few weeks, targeting him 10 times the last two games, with Washington hauling in a touchdown pass in each of those games. At this value, we’re betting he makes it three in a row.
PREDICTION: James Washington Anytime TD (+750)
Steelers vs Bengals Betting Card
- Steelers -13 (-110)
- Under 40.5 (-110)
- James Washington Anytime TD (+750)
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