The Cincinnati Bengals (8-8) and Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6) will face off on Saturday in NFL Week 18. Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET from Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, and the game will be broadcast live on ABC and ESPN.
Bengals vs. Steelers odds have Cincinnati installed as a 2.5-point favorite over Pittsburgh with the game total set at 48 points scored. Cincinnati is -135 on the moneyline, while Pittsburgh is +115 to pull off the upset at home.
Let's preview the matchup before we get into our Bengals vs. Steelers predictions and NFL picks for this Saturday Week 18 matchup.
Bengals vs. Steelers Predictions, Parlay
You can create a parlay using our picks at BetMGM for a +550 NFL same-game parlay.
- Bengals -2.5
- Najee Harris Over 1.5 Receptions
- Under 48
Bengals-Steelers Same-Game Parlay Odds: +550 at BetMGM
Bengals vs. Steelers Preview
The Bengals need a lot to go their way in NFL Week 18 to make the playoffs. They need to beat the Steelers, then have the Dolphins and Broncos lose. Miami travels to face the Jets without Tua Tagovailoa on Sunday, while the Broncos will play the Carson Wentz-led Chiefs at home.
The Bengals have won four straight games, including a crucial win in overtime last week over the Broncos. Cincinnati is 3-7 in one-score games this season, but has a chance to sneak into the playoffs if things go its way.
Amidst the team's struggles, Joe Burrow is having the best statistical season of his career. He has already set career highs with 4,641 passing yards and 42 touchdowns, and his 109.8 Passer Rating would be the highest of his career.
The Steelers, meanwhile, are likely playing to clinch the No. 5 seed in the AFC. Assuming the Ravens beat the Browns as 20-point favorites, Baltimore will win the AFC North. Still, a win here over Cincinnati would mean the Steelers will earn a trip to face the Texans in the Wild Card Round.
Pittsburgh isn't exactly thriving entering the playoffs. In three straight games against contenders, the Steelers have lost by 14 or more points to the Eagles, Ravens and Chiefs. The Russell Wilson-led offense is only averaging 13.3 points per game during this skid, but a matchup against the Bengals defense might be just what the Steelers need before the playoffs.
Bengals vs. Steelers Pick Against the Spread
Bengals -2.5 (-108)
By John LanFranca
I am going to join the public in backing the Bengals' playoff push. Pittsburgh has lost three consecutive games and is undoubtedly limping into the playoffs.
Over those three games, the Steelers passing game has fallen off of a cliff. Pittsburgh is 27th in yards per attempt over that span and its offensive line has surrendered 10 sacks. Part of the problem for Arthur Smith and the offense is that Russell Wilson is throwing to his first read just 51.1% of the time since Week 15. Receivers are not getting separation and Wilson is not trusting what he is seeing in terms of anticipating where to go with the football.
For the Bengals offense, things couldn't be going much smoother. Joe Burrow is clearly playing at the highest level of his career and, most importantly, this is not a difficult matchup for him. Over the past six weeks, only the Panthers have surrendered more passing touchdowns than the Steelers. The Pittsburgh passing defense ranks 27th in adjusted net yards per pass attempt allowed over that span. In comparison, over that same time period, the Bengals pass defense ranks as the sixth best in adjusted net yards per attempt allowed.
While I don't expect Mike Tomlin to rest key players Saturday night after Baltimore seals the No. 3 seed earlier in the day, I do believe his team faces a significant uphill battle in defending the league's hottest passer. I am fully comfortable playing the Bengals at anything less than a field goal.
Bengals vs. Steelers Player Props
Najee Harris Over 1.5 Receptions (+100)
By Charlie Wright
