Last meeting
Steelers beat Bengals, 34-11, on Dec. 23, 2023, in Pittsburgh.
Key matchup
Bengals WR Tee Higgins vs. Steelers CB Joey Porter Jr.
The Steelers like to deploy the rangy, willing-to-engage Porter against top opposing receivers with size, leaving veteran speedster Donte Jackson to handle receivers more his type. That would mean Jackson might more often be on Ja’Marr Chase with a Porter matchup against the 6-foot-4, 219-pound Higgins. In six career games against the Steelers, Higgins averages 5.3 catches and 95.8 receiving yards while scoring three touchdowns. Four of six times he’s faced the Steelers, Higgins has had 100 or more yards.
Series record
Steelers lead 70-39.
Series notes
The Steelers have won 34 of 55 all-time meetings in Cincinnati and nine of the past 11 (including a playoff game after the 2016 season). … The .604 lifetime win percentage at the Bengals is the Steelers’ best in franchise history for any opponent it has visited at least 30 times. … Since the AFL/NFL merger in 1970, the only teams the Steelers have defeated at a greater rate on the road are the New York Jets (.667) and Kansas City Chiefs (.611). … Since the Bengals entered the league in 1970, the Steelers have won more games in Cincinnati than any road city. They also have faced the Bengals more than any opponent (107). … The Bengals had won four of five against the Steelers until getting swept in the season series last year, albeit star quarterback Joe Burrow did not play in either.
Notable
Despite their 4-7 record, six of the Bengals’ losses have come by a total of 25 points. Their only defeat by more than one possession was a 37-17 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Oct. 27. … The Bengals have had a lead in all but two of their games, including a fourth-quarter lead in three of their losses. And in their most recent game Nov. 17, the score was tied until the Los Angeles Chargers won it with 18 seconds left. … According to Sharp Football Analysis, the Bengals have trailed for only 32.2% of their offensive snaps. That’s the fourth-best rate in the league. … Steelers kicker Chris Boswell leads the Steelers with 114 points. … Burrow’s next touchdown pass will be his 125th, and Sunday is his 64th career game. Only two quarterbacks in NFL history — Patrick Mahomes and Dan Marino — have reached 125 touchdown passes in fewer than 67 career games.
Fantasy tip
Over the past four weeks using standard scoring, the Bengals’ Chase Brown has ranked sixth among NFL running backs in fantasy points per game. Brown has 280 rushing yards, 21 receptions for 148 yards and three overall touchdowns in that four-game span.
