Predicting the winner of Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cincinnati Bengals, Week 4

Mike Tomlin used to have a saying in the 2009 season, one where the Pittsburgh Steelers won the Super Bowl — It is a five-star matchup because we are in it!

I’m not so sure the NFL is saying the same thing as the 0-3 Steelers are preparing to play the 0-3 Cincinnati Bengals on prime time.

These two AFC North clubs have gotten off to the absolute worst starts imaginable, and both rookie head coach Zac Taylor and Mike Tomlin are searching for their first wins of the season. One team has to win, right?!

Three games in the NFL is a small sample size, but most would agree this is considered a must-win game for both teams as they are wrapping up the first quarter of the 2019 regular season.

This week I was fortunate enough to ask Cincy Jungle’s writer Patrick Judis some questions, and of course I asked him what his prediction for the game was, and you can check out his response below:

Obviously both of these teams are a little better than their record, and both teams will probably dial up their intensity a little bit given that an 0-4 start is essentially a season ender. I feel like this game goes one of two ways. The first being the Bengals get absolutely blown out like the 49ers loss. The second outcome being it is a close game that the Bengals pullout. It is all a matter of what Bengals team we see show up.

I’m going to have to go with Cincinnati getting Zac Taylor’s first win against the Steelers in prime time.

Bengals 23 Steelers 20

I also hope that considering this is in many ways a new era of these teams playing (No Vontaze Burfict, Bell, Brown) that both of these teams can have a game of football without some extra drama ruining it.

It shouldn’t be a surprise the Bengals fan picks the Bengals, and it shouldn’t be a surprise by anyone who reads my work regularly that I think the Steelers will claim their first win.

I feel this game will be slow to start, lower scoring than many are thinking, but the Steelers pull out the win in the end. With the Steelers (-4) the last I checked, and the OVER/UNDER at 44, I have an interesting score prediction for this game.

Mason Rudolph plays well, but James Conner steals the show. I like the Steelers to win this game 24-20, with Andy Dalton getting the ball and a chance to win it all as time expires. The win has this game being a push across the board, but it doesn’t matter as long as the Steelers claim their first win of the season to move within one game of the AFC North lead with the Baltimore Ravens coming to town in Week 5.

What is your prediction for the game? Let us know in the comment section below, and be sure to stay tuned to BTSC for the latest news and notes surrounding the black-and-gold leading up to kickoff.