As Pittsburgh hosts Cincinnati in a crucial AFC matchup, predictions are coming in and
the opinions are split. ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI) slightly favors the Steelers,
giving them a 58.6% chance to win and projecting a narrow 3.4-point margin of victory.
Still, many analysts see Cincinnati as a threat. ESPN’s experts have given the Bengals
a 2-to-1 edge in their picks. Maldonado sides with FPI, forecasting a 34-28 Steelers win.
Moody predicts the Bengals take it 27-21, while Walder sees a 30-23 victory for
Cincinnati.
The split underscores the intrigue of this rivalry. FPI highlights Pittsburgh’s defense and
home-field advantage, while analysts point to Cincinnati’s receiving corps looking to
exploit a Steelers defense that has not yet lived up to its billing.
With a game this close, the Steelers are favored at home—but the Bengals are more
than capable of pulling off the season sweep if they again execute in key moments.