As the Cincinnati Bengals travel to face the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, the stakes in this AFC North matchup are high. Pittsburgh is sitting at 5–4 and will attempt to extend its lead atop the division. Cincinnati is 3–6 and is fighting to keep its playoff hopes alive. Before kickoff from Acrisure Stadium, continue reading to get my Bengals vs Steelers prediction for Week 11.
Our Bengals vs Steelers Pick
- Pick: Steelers −5.5
- Confidence: ★★★☆☆
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Cincinnati Bengals vs Pittsburgh Steelers
- Date & Time: Sunday, November 16, 2025, 1:00 p.m. ET
- Venue: Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA
- Broadcast: CBS
Key Storylines
This is a rematch of the earlier meeting between these teams in Week 7 when Cincinnati stunned Pittsburgh 33–31. Cincinnati’s veteran quarterback Joe Flacco went 31-of-47 for 342 yards and three touchdowns in that win, doing enough to overcome Pittsburgh despite Aaron Rodgers throwing four touchdowns. That game sets the backdrop for what should be a motivated Steelers squad at home.
Both of these teams are struggling mightily going into Week 11. The Bengals have dropped four of their last five games, while the Steelers have lost three of their last four. Cincinnati’s defense is reeling of late, having allowed 86 points over the last two games against the Jets and Bears. Pittsburgh will try to take advantage of Cincinnati’s defensive woes in this contest.
Quarterback Play
Joe Flacco has exceeded expectations given the circumstances. He has thrown for 1,254 yards, 11 touchdowns and only 2 interceptions so far this season. He has done a nice job of getting the ball to his weapons and filling in for the injured Joe Burrow. The Bengals’ receiving leader, Ja’Marr Chase, has 831 yards and 5 touchdowns on 76 catches. Chase is averaging over 10 yards per catch.
Rodgers has passed for 1,853 yards, 18 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. While that is solid given his advanced age, the Steelers’ offense has lacked big consistency and their defense has given up 25 points or more in three of the team’s last four games. Rodgers will need to help Pittsburgh keep control of the ball more consistently to make things easier on the defense.
Betting Trends & H2H
- Cincinnati is 3-6 against the spread going into this contest.
- Pittsburgh is 4-5 against the spread this season.
- The over is 7-2 in Cincinnati’s games so far this season.
- Pittsburgh is 5-4 to the over this year.
- Cincinnati won the first meeting between these teams this season by a score of 33-31.
Bengals vs Steelers Model Projection
Score Projection: Steelers 27 – Bengals 20
Win Probability: Steelers 63%, Bengals 37%
Final Thoughts
The pass rush of the Steelers should be the deciding factor in this AFC North matchup. Expect TJ Watt and the Steelers to put pressure on Flacco throughout this game and force him into mistakes. Cincinnati’s defense should continue to struggle and I will lay the points with the Steelers in a huge game for them to keep their lead in the AFC North.
