An old rivalry matchup with a lot at stake
Final week of this NFL season, and with no more Thursday Night Football games we turn our attention to Saturday night. The Steelers (+ 112) host the Cincinnati Bengals (- 132), on what is a must win game for Cincy, as a loss erases what little chances they still have of making it to the playoffs. The Bengals are currently 2.5-point favourites, with the OU at 48.5.
The Steelers lost to the Chiefs last week on a game that was never particularly close as the talent difference overall on the rosters was too much too handle for Pittsburgh, and this game gave perhaps a glimpse of what to expect from the Steelers on their first playoff game. They try and rely on their defense, which is not bad by any means just not good enough to carry the rest of the team, and they will be put to the test against a red-hot Joe Burrow.
The Bengals won a thriller against the Broncos to keep their slim playoff hopes alive last week, on a game that had it all. They were really close to losing after allowing a game-tying field goal late in the game and then missing a chip shot in overtime, but in the end Burrow’s clutch gene prevailed, and their hopes now rest on the shoulders of former Colts’ quarterback Carson Wentz.
Overall, I am siding with the Bengals on this one, as they have all to play for. The Steelers will probably try and sour their division rivals, but overall there is just not nearly as much at stake for them as there is for Cincy.