Steelers at Bengals: Game preview, odds, prediction

Check out our peview, odds and prediction for the AFC North clash between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium in Week 15.

The Pittsburgh Steelers can take control of the AFC North by beating their division rivals, the Cincinnati Bengals, in Week 15. Pittsburgh will arrive at Paul Brown Stadium with a one-game lead over the Baltimore Ravens at 8-5.

The Steelers will also enter as favorites against the 5-7-1 Bengals. In fact, the Steelers are favored by three, according to Odds Shark. The interesting bet would be on the over/under of 45.

Going for the over makes sense since the Steelers have built their winning record on an explosive offense. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, wide receiver Antonio Brown and tight end Ladarius Green can beat any kind of coverage. Meanwhile, nobody’s been stopping running back Le’Veon Bell on the ground.

The Steelers can count on getting points, but they’ll need their defense to be on point this week. Cincy may have struggled this season, but quarterback Andy Dalton has been exceptional.

The Red Rifle has thrown 16 touchdowns compared to just six interceptions. Dalton will be delighted to have seen his best receiver, A.J. Green, back in practice this week. Green was set to participate as he accelerates his recovery from a hamstring problem, per Jim Owczarski of the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Green has been out of action since Week 11. But Dalton hasn’t been shy about looking the way of other targets. Specifically, he’s relied on rookie wideout Tyler Boyd and tight end Tyler Eifert.

Both pass-catchers know how to work the middle. Boyd thrives in the underneath passing lanes, while Eifert can stretch the hook and curl zones as well as any player in the NFL.

The Steelers will need strong games from inside linebackers Ryan Shazier and Lawrence Timmons to counter Cincy’s ability to throw underneath. Shazier and Timmons have good instincts as zone defenders and can also wear out Dalton on the blitz.

But the game’s big matchup will involve Pittsburgh’s best receiver against the Bengals’ top cover man. Cornerback Adam Jones has to find a way to keep Brown quiet and force Roethlisberger to look elsewhere.

Jones is already relishing the challenge, according to Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:

Brown can beat any cornerback in football, but the Steelers would still be wise to move their chief playmaker around. Offensive coordinator Todd Haley has to get Brown matched up against defenders other than Jones.

Haley will naturally let Bell lead the way before he works Brown into the game. Bell amassed 298 total yards in last week’s win over the Buffalo Bills, including 236 on the ground.

If the Bengals are going to avoid a repeat, linebacker Vontaze Burfict will need to dominate the guard-center-guard box. D-tackles Geno Atkins, Domata Peko and Pat Sims must keep Steelers blockers off Burfict.

Cincy defensive coordinator Paul Guenther is also likely to put attack-minded safety Shawn Williams in the box. Yet it could be a risky ploy with Green able to unleash wide receiver-like speed and route-running skills over the middle.

Next: NFL Week 15: Best Picks Against the Spread (ATS)

Pittsburgh has the momentum entering Week 15, having won three in a row. The Bengals may have won two-straight, but it’s the Steelers with the greater incentive to win this week.

They can move a step closer to salting away the division and ensuring their place as the one playoff participant no AFC team wants to face this postseason.

Pick: Steelers 27, Bengals 20