Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cincinnati Bengals - December 1, 2024

As a retired coach with years of experience analyzing team dynamics and strategies, I find the upcoming matchup between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium particularly intriguing. This is not just another game; it’s a classic AFC North rivalry where every inch gained on the field matters.

The Bengals come into this game as 5.5-point favorites, but their recent performance has been inconsistent, losing to the Chargers in their last outing despite putting up 27 points. They average 27 points per game, showcasing an offense that can be explosive when firing on all cylinders. Their passing game has been efficient with a completion percentage nearing 68%, but they’ve struggled to establish a consistent ground attack with only about 91 yards rushing per game.

On the other hand, we have the Steelers who are sitting pretty at an 8-3 record overall and against the spread. Their offense averages around 22.9 points per game, which may not seem like much compared to Cincinnati’s output, but what stands out is their ability to run the football effectively—averaging over 135 yards per game on the ground with a solid 7.42 yards per attempt. This tells me that they can control time of possession and keep opposing offenses off the field.

When you analyze these teams further, it becomes evident that while both squads have shown vulnerabilities, they also possess strengths that could dictate how this contest unfolds. The Steelers’ defense will need to key in on limiting big plays from Cincinnati’s passing attack while also maintaining discipline against their running backs.

Cincinnati’s offensive line must step up against Pittsburgh’s front seven if they want to protect their quarterback and allow for those deep routes downfield that have worked well for them in past matchups. Conversely, Pittsburgh’s success will heavily rely on establishing their running game early to set up play-action opportunities—something they’ve done well lately.

In terms of betting lines and trends, I believe we might see Pittsburgh cover the spread despite being underdogs in this contest. Historically speaking, when division rivals clash like this one does—and considering how closely matched these two teams often are—the underdog tends to put up a strong fight.

While both teams have seen games go over recently (with five of Pittsburgh’s last six hitting over), I’m predicting that this matchup could end up going under due to both defenses tightening as playoff implications loom larger each week.

So here’s my prediction: The Bengals might edge out a win thanks to home-field advantage and some timely plays; however, I expect Pittsburgh will keep it close enough to cover that spread while limiting scoring opportunities for Cincinnati—resulting in an outcome below the total set for this matchup.

As always in football, anything can happen once those players take the field—but from my vantage point as a coach who has watched countless rivalries unfold over decades, expect grit and determination from both sides come Sunday afternoon!