Bengals Host Steelers In AFC North Showdown
Andy Dalton and the Cincinnati Bengals will look to maintain their lead at the top of the AFC North.
Division rivals and playoff hopefuls clash Sunday afternoon as the Cincinnati Bengals host the Pittsburgh Steelers in an AFC North showdown.
Kickoff at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. ET.
With both teams striving to top the division and make the postseason, this clash has a heavyweight fight feel to it. It also has a sense of win-or-go-home about it, at least as far as the Steelers are concerned.
The Story So Far
Cincinnati (8-3-1, 4-1-1 home) began the season 3-0, garnering plaudits for being one of the league’s most rounded team. A 0-2-1 record over the next three games suggested that those plaudits were unfounded.
Things have gone a little better for the Bengals since, with Marvin Lewis’ side picking up five wins in the last six games. The Bengals earned an ugly win (but a win nonetheless) over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week, maintaining a marginal lead at the top of the AFC North.
With three divisional games left on the docket, the Bengals – currently 2-1 against AFC North opponents – are in the front seat as far as the division stands. That advantage could fall by the wayside if the team doesn’t win on Sunday.
Pittsburgh (7-5, 3-3 road) flip-flopped wins and losses through the first seven weeks of the season. A three-game winning streak between October 20 and November 2 – which included wins over the Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts and Baltimore Ravens – suggested that Mike Tomlin’s side had turned things around.
A shock loss to the New York Jets in Week 10 set alarm bells ringing. Those alarms sounded a little bit louder last week when the Steelers struggled mightily at home, losing to the New Orleans Saints.
The Steelers are now a part of a sextet of AFC teams sitting at 7-5. That’s a lot of congestion for what could prove to be one (or maybe two) postseason berth. That means the Steelers need to win…now.
Head-to-Head
Since the two sides first met in 1970, Pittsburgh owns a 54-34 advantage over Cincinnati.
The Steelers have won six of the last eight head-to-head meetings, and 11 of the last 15.
Pittsburgh is 27-19 all-time on the road against the Bengals, and has won 11 of its last 13 trips to Cincinnati.
Since 1991, the Steelers are 19-5 against Cincinnati on the road.
Following Sunday’s game, the two sides will meet again on December 28 at Heinz Field.
Injury Report
Cincinnati defensive tackle Domata Peko (elbow) is doubtful for Sunday’s game. Cornerback Adam Jones (concussion), linebacker Vontaze Burfict (knee) and defensive ends Robert Geathers (hip) and Marqus Hunt (ankle) are all listed as questionable.
Pittsburgh linebacker Jarvis Jones (wrist) is expected to be activated from the injured list ahead of the game. Linebacker James Harrison (knee), cornerbacks Brice McCain (hamstring) and Cortez Allen (thumb), and safety Troy Polamalu (illness) are all listed as questionable.
Check out the full injury list
Le’Veon Bell and the Steelers must find a way to win.
Betting Report
Below you’ll find Betting Sports’ breakdown of odds and betting trends.
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cincinnati Bengals odds for 12/07/2014
Moneyline: Cincinnati (-190) opened as the favorite over Pittsburgh (+165) on the moneyline but that advantage has slipped somewhat ahead of kickoff.
Pittsburgh is 3-3 on the road while Cincinnati is 4-1-1 at home.
The Bengals are 2-1 against AFC North opponents, compared to Pittsburgh’s 2-2 record in divisional play.
The Bengals have won two of the last three head-to-head meetings, but were dominated prior to that stretch.
Spread: The spread opened at 4 but had dropped to 3 at the time of writing.
Cincinnati (6-5-1 ATS) has fared better than Pittsburgh (5-7-0 ATS) against the spread this season but only marginally.
The Bengals are 3-2-1 ATS at home and 2-4-1 ATS as the favorite. The Steelers are 2-4-0 ATS on the road and 2-2-0 ATS as an underdog.
Pittsburgh has failed to cover the spread in three straight games. However, Pittsburgh is 6-2-0 ATS in its last eight games against Cincinnati, and 10-2-1 ATS in its last 13 trips to the Queen City.
Total: The total opened at 47.
Pittsburgh (8-4-0 O/U) has heavily favored the over this season while Cincinnati (4-8-0 O/U) has favored the under.
The total has gone under in four straight games involving the Bengals, but over in five of Pittsburgh’s last six.
The total has gone under in four of the last five head-to-head meetings, but over in four of Pittsburgh’s last six trips to Cincinnati.
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