NFL Picks: Predicting the winner of Steelers vs. Bengals, Week 6

The Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals renew their ugly rivalry on Sunday in Week 6 when Pittsburgh makes the short trek to Cincinnati, OH and Paul Brown Stadium. Everyone knows about the history of these two AFC North teams, but who will win this contest on Sunday?

To think this game will be a shoot out is certainly short-sighted, in my opinion. Despite the two trajectories of the 2018 versions of the Bengals and Steelers, these games usually come down to the wire and are rarely the shoot out variety.

With a 4-1 record, the Bengals sit atop the division, with the 2-2-1 Steelers staring up at every other team in the AFC North.

The Bengals’ offense has been moving the ball with ease with Andy Dalton, AJ Green, Joe Mixon and Tyler Boyd doing the work, but the Steelers’ offense might very well have gotten on track after a Week 5 win over the Atlanta Falcons. Will Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown, James Conner and JuJu Smith-Schuster be able to continue their 28.6 points per game pace?

It may just be the two defenses who determine the outcome of this game. The Bengals’ defense is surrendering 26 points per game, while Pittsburgh is giving up 26.6. Both teams strive for the same goal — a division crown — and they know the road to this goal goes through the other.

There is something about this game, coming off a win over the Falcons and prior to the bye week, where I see the Steelers making enough plays to leave the game victorious and one step closer to getting the ‘September Stench’ off them as Mike Tomlin said it.

I like the Steelers to win their first AFC game, first division game and first back-to-back games in 2018.

Steelers - 24
Bengals - 20