Joe Burrow is walking into Acrisure Stadium this Sunday with a 3-1 record against the Steelers in their own house. Dude just owns the place! His only loss in Pittsburgh was way back in his rookie season, which honestly feels like ages ago. This weekend, the Bengals are looking to keep their hot streak going and show the AFC North who’s boss early.
The Bengals Are Firing On All Cylinders
The Bengals are seriously playing some lights-out football, folks. They’re sitting at a clean 2-0 after edging out the Buccaneers at home in Week 1 and then absolutely rolling over the Texans in Houston in Week 2. This isn’t just about Joe Burrow slinging the rock, even though he’s doing his usual magic alongside Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Their defense? It’s finally living up to all that preseason hype we heard! We’re talking eighth in the NFL for scoring defense, third against the rush, and fifth in red zone efficiency. Get this: they haven’t allowed a single touchdown pass yet this season. That’s not just good, that’s ELITE stuff. Offseason pickups like Dexter Lawrence, Boye Mafe, and Bryan Cook are clearly making a massive difference for them.
Steelers’ Struggles and a Nasty Rivalry
On the flip side, Pittsburgh’s offense under Mike McCarthy? Woof. They’ve scored exactly one touchdown through two games this season. You know who else has scored one touchdown? Their defense. That’s a brutal start, man. Their offensive line is struggling big time, especially at tackle, and their receiving corps just isn’t getting it done. DK Metcalf, who can absolutely be a game-wrecker, dropped several passes during those early struggles. TJ Watt is still out there doing TJ Watt things, and their defense, with new coordinator Patrick Graham, has played well. But that offense is holding them back in a major way. This rivalry is always nasty. Remember the 2005 and 2015 playoff games? The Steelers won both, with Carson Palmer getting hurt in ’05 and the 2015 game being one of the nastiest in recent memory. And last year, Ja’Marr Chase got slapped with a $500,000 fine and a one-game suspension after his run-in with Steelers defensive back Jalen Ramsey. Sunday’s gonna be the first time these two meet since that all went down.
So, get ready for another chapter in this brutal AFC North showdown this Sunday, September 27th, at 1 p.m. ET from Acrisure Stadium. You can catch it live on CBS or stream it on Paramount+. The Bengals are favored by 3.5 points, with the over/under sitting at 42.5. Can Burrow keep his Pittsburgh magic alive and push the Bengals to 3-0, or will the Steelers finally get their act together and slow down this surging Cincinnati squad? It’s gonna be a battle, that’s for sure.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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