Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cincinnati Bengals Picks and Prediction for Thursday, October 16, 2025
Use Code WWWC Week 7 of the 2025 NFL season kicks off an AFC North matchup when the Pittsburgh Steelers battle the Cincinnati Bengals Thursday night in the land of Skyline chili and we have you covered with our Steelers vs. Bengals prediction. Pittsburgh picked up a 23-9 home win over Cleveland Sunday in their previous contest, covering the line as a six-point favorite. Cincinnati was dropped 27-18 on the road by Green Bay Sunday, covering the line as a 15-point underdog. In the all-time regular season series between the teams, the Steelers own a 69-40 advantage, though the Bengals earned a 19-17 road win in the most recent matchup on January 4, 2025. Read more about this Steelers vs. Bengals prediction! Don’t get sacked this football season! Try our NFL Picks!
Steelers Seeking Fourth Straight Win
Pittsburgh won their third straight game as they shut down Cleveland at home Sunday afternoon. The Steelers enter this game 4-1 on the year and hold a 2.5-game lead over the Bengals for the top spot in the AFC North. Against Cleveland, Pittsburgh never trailed in the game as they kicked a field goal to cap the opening drive. The Steelers led 9-3 at the half and never let the Browns get closer than that the rest of the way. Pittsburgh owned a 335-248 advantage in total offense and owned a 31:52 to 28:08 edge in time of possession to make up for a 20-19 disadvantage in first downs. Neither team committed a turnover in the game. The Browns were zero for three in the red zone, while the Steelers converted their lone attempt in the red zone into seven points.
The Steelers enter this game 25th in the league in passing offense as they average 193.8 yards per game through the air. The team is 29th in the league in rushing offense as they put up an average of 84 yards per contest. Pittsburgh is 14th in the league in scoring offense with 23.8 points per contest and 16th in scoring defense as they allow 21.4 points per game. Aaron Rodgers has completed 95 of 138 passes for 1,021 yards with 10 touchdowns against three interceptions while adding 12 yards on the ground this season. He has been sacked nine times this year. Mason Rudolph is two of two passing for 12 yards. Jaylen Warren leads the team in rushing as he has 54 carries for 184 yards on the year. Kenneth Gainwell (41 carries, 176 yards, three TD) and rookie Kaleb Johnson (14 carries, 36 yards) are next in line. In the passing game, DK Metcalf leads the team with 19 receptions for 356 yards plus four scores this season. Jonnu Smith (17 catches, 89 yards, TD), Calvin Austin III (10 grabs, 139 yards, two TD), Warren (13 receptions, 153 yards, TD) and Gainwell (19 catches, 79 yards) are other valuable targets in the passing game. Chris Boswell has hit all 12 extra point attempts and nine of 11 field goal attempts with a long of 60 on the year.
Pittsburgh had several players who didn’t practice on Monday, though most were on veteran rest days. Austin III (shoulder) and safety Myles Kinnebrew (knee) were the two players who missed practice with injury issues. Rodgers, Metcalf, linebacker T.J. Watt, defensive tackle Cameron Heyward, plus corners Jalen Ramsey and Darius Slay didn’t practice due to rest purposes. Watch for updates closer to kickoff.
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Cincinnati Trying to Snap Losing Skid
Cincinnati suffered a fourth straight loss as they fell short on the road against Green Bay on Sunday in their previous contest. The Bengals dropped to 2-4 on the season and stood second in the AFC North, 2.5 games behind the Steelers for the top spot. Against Green Bay, Cincinnati struggled to get its offense going as it trailed 10-0 at halftime. The Bengals drew no closer than three in the second half as the Packers did enough on both sides of the ball to emerge victorious in the contest. Cincinnati was outgained 409-268 in total offense, gave up 24 first downs while picking up 20 and lost time of possession by a 32:44 to 27:16 margin in the contest. The Bengals did force the game’s only turnover.
For the year, the Bengals are 30th in the league in passing offense with 178.5 yards per contest, while they are 32nd in rushing with 56.7 yards per game. Cincinnati is tied for 29th in the league in scoring offense with 17.2 points per game, while they stand 30th in scoring defense by allowing an average of 30.5 points per game. Joe Burrow, out indefinitely, has completed 21 of 36 passes for 189 yards with two touchdowns while adding three yards on the ground. Jake Browning (80 of 124, 757 yards, six TD, eight INT, 39 rush yards, TD) and Joe Flacco (122 of 205, 1034 yards, four TD, six INT, 13 rush yards) with Cleveland and Cincinnati have also seen action. Chase Brown leads the team with 74 carries for 202 yards and a score on the ground. Samaje Perine (15 carries, 68 yards, TD) is the second back in the system. In the passing game, Tee Higgins is third on the team with 18 catches for 220 yards plus a score. Ja’Marr Chase (team-high 42 catches, team-high 468 yards, four TD), Brown (20 grabs, 102 yards), Andrei Iosivas (eight catches, 121 yards) and tight end Noah Fant (16 catches, 107 yards, TD) are solid secondary options. Evan McPherson has hit 11 of 11 extra point attempts and six of eight field goal tries with a long of 50 this season.
We know that Burrow (toe) is out after surgery. Tight ends Tanner Hudson (concussion) and Mike Gesicki (pectoral), along with wide receiver Charlie Jones (ribs), defensive end Trey Hendrickson (hip) and defensive tackle B.J. Hill (not injury related – rest) did not practice Monday. Gesicki is expected to miss some time, according to head coach Zac Taylor. Watch for updates as we get closer to kickoff.
Steelers vs. Bengals Pick
Spread Pick for Steelers vs. Bengals
- Steelers -5.5 (4 units)
Divisional games are always a dicey proposition as teams that have familiarity playing twice a year. With that said, the Bengals have dropped four straight games and are down to a third starting quarterback with Burrow out after surgery last month. Flacco can still spin it, but he's going to have a rough time trying to escape the Steelers' pass rush that produced six sacks against the Browns. Cincinnati’s defense is third-worst in the league in scoring defense this season and they are bad against the run and the pass. The Bengals have struggled with turnovers, coughing the ball up 11 times to post a -4 margin in the takeaway/giveaway department this season. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh is a +7 in that category and their opportunistic defense should take advantage of the Bengals to set up at least one short field. Look for the Steelers to come up with the win here as a result.
Over/Under Pick for Steelers vs. Bengals
- Over 42.5 (4 units)
Pittsburgh has seen the over post a 3-2 mark in their five games on the season. The Steelers have managed to put up at least 21 points in four of their five games on the year. They have split their two road games in relation to the total, going over the number against the Jets in the opener and staying under the number in a win over New England. Cincinnati has seen the over post a 3-2-1 mark in their six games. The Bengals enter this game having allowed at least 27 points in five consecutive contests. Their defense is a tonic for those offenses that have struggled. Cincinnati has gone over the number in both home games this season, totaling 58 points in a win over Jacksonville in week 2 and 61 points in a loss to Detroit in week 5. Given the Bengals' inability to stop anyone, look for this game to wind up over the number in this contest.
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