AFC North battles are always a nasty, physical matchup, and NFL fans are lucky enough to get a good one right off the bat in Week 1. Many people like to speak on how great the AFC West and even the NFC West is, but I could make a case that the AFC North is indeed the most difficult division to play in.
The Bengals are coming off of the greatest season they've had since I have been alive.
Writing about the Bengals brings me no joy since they eliminated my Titans in the playoffs last year...
But still, with star QB Joe Burrow for the Bengals leading the way, and with his absolutely STACKED receiving core all around him with Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Tyler Boyd it's safe to say the Bengals are poised to be just as good as they were last season, if not better considering that all of those players I mentioned are very young still. Plus the Bengals addressed a major need in the off-season by picking up a quality tackle in former Cowboy La'el Collins.
On the Steelers side of things, they have been sort of in limbo for about the last half decade. Former legendary franchise QB Ben Roethlisberger has been aging and even injured in recent years before finally retiring after last season concluded. Now, the Steelers are in a bit of an odd situation at QB, but not an entirely awful one. They signed a quality vet, but still pretty young QB in Mitch Trubisky who at the very least can be a bridge QB or more and keep the Steelers competent and competitive for awhile. In addition to Trubisky, the Steelers also drafted a QB in the first round of this past draft in Kenny Pickett. Pickett is not absolutely like a generational talent as far as most can tell, but he does seem to be very pro ready, and many people are pretty high on him. He performed well in the preseason. If Mitch is mediocre or worse, many can absolutely see Pickett taking the reigns in Pittsburgh.
Simply put, this game is going to be competitive and physical. All division teams are pretty much rivals throughout the NFL and pretty much in any sport. But the Bengals and Steelers REALLY seem to dislike each other.
'The Jungle' in Cincy has always been underrated when it comes to their home field advantage, and with the Bengals coming off of a stellar season where they nearly won a Super Bowl, that stadium is going to be LOUD and wild.
I got the Bengals winning this one, 27-14, but who knows. The Steelers are never an easy win.
Leave those predictions below!!!
Past Three Bengals-Steelers Matchups!
- November 28th, 2021 - Bengals Win 41-10
- September 26th, 2021 - Bengals Win 24-10
- December 21st, 2020 - Bengals Win 27-17
