Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers Picks and Prediction for Sunday, November 16, 2025
Use Code SSWC The Cincinnati Bengals visit the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium on Sunday at 1:00 PM ET on CBS. Cincinnati is 3-6 following a wild shootout loss, and Pittsburgh is at 5-4 after falling on the road. These teams last met on Oct. 16 with the Bengals winning 33-31 at home as a 5.5-point underdog. The weather is supposed to be in the mid-40s in Pittsburgh. Kickoff clarity: NFL predictions for the Cincinnati Bengals vs. Pittsburgh Steelers prediction.
Cincinnati Bengals Look to Regroup
The Bengals are 3-6, putting up consistent scoring while giving up far too many yards and points on defense. Joe Flacco has thrown for 1,254 yards with 11 touchdowns and only 2 interceptions. Chase Brown leads the running game with 420 yards, while Ja'Marr Chase is the leading receiver with 831 yards. With Flacco at the helm, the offense is based around the passing game. The Bengals have been able to continue moving the ball despite erratic support from the ground game. On defense, they've really struggled to slow opponents, yielding big plays on the ground and through the air.
The Bengals' defense has allowed lots of yardage as the front hasn't put pressure on the offense. Trey Hendrickson leads the team in sacks with four, but he's not expected to play in this one due to injuries. Quarterbacks have been too comfortable, and the Bengals can't force stops at the end of games. Last week, the pass defense allowed Chicago to rack up big plays, while the rush defense gave up 283 yards.
The Bengals are coming off a 47-42 loss to the Bears in a game filled with ebbs and flows. Flacco threw for a career-high 470 yards and kept Cincinnati alive with late scoring drives, including a 9-yard touchdown to Andrei Iosivas and a quick strike to Noah Fant earlier in the fourth. Cincinnati put up 42 points, but couldn't get the defensive stop when it needed one. Tee Higgins had 121 yards, Chase added 111, and the offense racked up well over 500 yards. Cincinnati also allowed a 58-yard game-winning touchdown with 17 seconds left and 576 total yards overall. Chicago ran for 176 yards from rookie Kyle Monangai, highlighting Cincinnati's struggles to stop the run.
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Cincy is last in the NFL with 426.6 yards per game allowed and 30th in pass defense (260.1ypg).
Key Injuries for Bengals:
- DE Shemar Stewart (knee) is out.
- RB Samaje Perine (ankle) is out
- DE Trey Hendrickson (hip) is out.
- QB Joe Burrow (toe) IR
- TE Mike Gesicki (pectoral) IR
Pittsburgh Steelers Look for Response at Home
The Steelers are 5-4 and have performed particularly well a few times this season, though the offense has been inconsistent. Aaron Rodgers has thrown for 1,853 yards with 18 touchdowns but also seven interceptions. Jaylen Warren leads the rushing unit with 474 yards, and DK Metcalf sits at 502 receiving yards with five touchdowns. Pittsburgh plays its best football at home and relies on its defense to set the tone. T.J. Watt leads the team with six sacks, and Payton Wilson anchors the defense with 78 tackles. On offense, turnovers and stalled drives have been issues, particularly in recent losses.
Pittsburgh's offense managed only 161 passing yards and did not convert a third down until deep in the fourth quarter against the Chargers last week. While the defense at times has made games competitive, it also has allowed big plays at crucial times, and its depth has been tested due to injuries. Even with quality pass-rush players, the Steelers have had games where pressure hasn't reached the pocket quickly enough.
The Steelers are coming off a 25-10 loss to the Chargers. Rodgers was 16 of 31 with two interceptions and didn't score until late. Pittsburgh allowed three sacks and was able to score only 10 points despite a 59-yard field goal in the first quarter. The defense allowed a 58-yard pass that set up a short touchdown run in the fourth. Pittsburgh also allowed multiple field goals and failed to get stops on several key downs. The offense never found its rhythm, going 0 for 9 on third down before the lone touchdown drive.
The Steelers are averaging just 281 yards per game on offense to rank 29th and 195 passing yards (23rd). On defense, they allow 269.4 yards per game in the air.
Key Injuries for Steelers:
- LB Cole Holcomb (illness) is out.
- LB Alex Highsmith (pectoral) is out.
- CB Cory Trice Jr. (knee) was hurt in practice and was placed on the IR>
- OG Isaac Seumalo (pectoral) questionable
- CB Darius Slay (concussion) questionable
Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers Pick
Spread Pick for Bengals vs. Steelers
- Cincinnati Bengals +5.5 4 Units
Despite those defeats, the Bengals have still managed to score at a high level, topping 30 in several outings. That kind of production by Flacco, with Chase, Higgins, and Brown, should be ample firepower for the Bengals to make this competitive. Pittsburgh did a poor job of protecting Rodgers last week, failing to sustain many drives, which keeps the margin tighter. Cincinnati's passing game should keep this close enough to cover.
Over/Under Pick for Bengals vs. Steelers
- Over 48.5 (4 Units)
Cincinnati games have turned into shootouts, combining for 85 and 77 total points the past two weeks. The Bengals move the ball but have one of the league's weakest defenses, allowing yardage both on the ground and through the air. Pittsburgh should rebound offensively at home, and the Cincinnati passing attack is positioned to produce once again against a shaky pass defense. The matchup sets up for strong scoring on both sides and pushes the total past the number.
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