Tonight's game
Cincinnati (1-8-1) at Pittsburgh (7-3)
Time: 5:15 p.m.
Line: Steelers by 10.5
Facts: Only five teams have gone longer without a defeat than the Bengals, who last loss was Oct. 26. Last week they tied Philadelphia 13-13 despite having a plus-3 turnover edge. ... In their previous meeting, Pittsburgh won 38-10 in Week 7. On the Bengals' first five drives, they totaled 3 yards of forward progress. ... Since Cincinnati opened its Week 9 victory over Jacksonville with 84- and 88-yard TD drives, it hasn't reached 50 yards on any of its ensuing 27 possessions. ... Cincinnati is 1-10 at home against the Steelers the past 10 years, but 3-2 at Pittsburgh the previous five. ... Double-digit underdogs are 14-1 against the line this season. ... The Eagles had eight sacks of the Bengals' Ryan Fitzpatrick last week, tied for second most by any team in a game this year. The most occurred when the Eagles had nine against Pittsburgh in Week 3.
Analysis: For the second time in league history, a team that just played a full five quarters of football will be coming back on three-days' rest. You try it. In 1989, the weary Browns (7-3-1) traveled to Detroit on Thanksgiving and lost to the Lions (2-9) as a 6.5-point favorite. Since the Bengals were no match for Pittsburgh five weeks ago with normal rest, a convincing Steelers victory seems to be in order. And, yes, RB Willie Parker and QB Ben Roethlisberger appear ready to go.
Forecast: Steelers 31, Bengals 13  |