The wait is over. The tough portion of the Cincinnati Bengals' schedule has arrived. We're about to find out if the Bengals can repeat the strong stretch run they had last season and make the playoffs.
If they're truly contenders, the Bengals have to go into Pittsburgh this weekend and defeat the struggling Steelers. Here are my weekly predictions for the Bengals and Cincinnati Bearcats games:
NFL prediction: Cincinnati Bengals (5-4) at Pittsburgh Steelers (3-6), 4:25 p.m., Sunday, CBS
The Bengals used up their mulligans by sputtering through the lighter portion of the schedule. This is a must-win game for them coming out of the bye. Pittsburgh is one of two teams left on the Bengals' schedule that currently has a losing record.
A positive development for the Bengals: The game got moved out of the primetime slot last week. Kicking off four hours earlier is not insignificant for a team that’s lost an NFL-record 13 straight primetime road games, including two this season.
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The Bengals are a four-point favorite, according to Tipico Sportsbook. But it’s a tough game to predict, mostly because Cincinnati’s offense has been inconsistent all season. The Bengals entered the bye after having their worst offensive performance and their best offensive outing in a span of seven days.
It’s anyone’s guess which version of the offense shows up in Pittsburgh, especially with receiver Ja’Marr Chase still out with a hip injury. Cincinnati’s offense was flat-out awful against the Steelers in the Bengals’ season-opening loss at Paycor Stadium. Joe Burrow threw four interceptions and was sacked seven times.
Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt was a menace to the Bengals that day before he left with an injury. Watt had an interception, a sack and two other tackles for a loss. He returned from injury last week, and he’ll be looking to exploit an offensive line that's tied for third in the NFL in sacks allowed.
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The Steelers thrive as a home underdog under coach Mike Tomlin. Pittsburgh has won seven straight home games as the underdog, according to Action Network. Tomlin is 7-2 all-time against the Bengals as an underdog. Overall, Tomlin’s Steelers are 22-8 all-time against the Bengals.
But the Bengals won in Pittsburgh last season for the first time in six years. The Bengals get a big boost this week with run-stopping defensive tackle D.J. Reader returning from injury. Cincinnati’s defense will be ready like it has for every game except the Halloween night debacle in Cleveland.
For as bad as Cincinnati’s offense was in the season opener, the Bengals only lost by three points in overtime. The Bengals’ offense doesn’t have to be great in this game. It just needs to make fewer mistakes than last time. Look for the Bengals to win their first AFC North division game of the season.
Prediction: Bengals win, 21-17
Last week: Cincinnati was off. Previously, the Bengals defeated Carolina, 42-21. I predicted the Bengals would win, 24-21.
My season record: 7-2
College football prediction: No. 25 Cincinnati Bearcats (8-2, 5-1 AAC) at Temple Owls (3-7, 1-5), 4 p.m., Saturday, ESPNU
The Bearcats' win-ugly identity has made it tough for UC fans to fully embrace that this is a good team. It's hard for many to believe UC controls its own destiny to make its third consecutive New Year's Six bowl game.
Just roll with it, Bearcats fans, because this team isn't going to suddenly start consistently driving the ball up and down the field and scoring lots of points.
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Coach Luke Fickell summed up his team best after last week's two-point win over East Carolina: "It may not be what everybody wants. But the reality is, this is what 'us' looks like."
Fickell's teams finish strong. The Bearcats are ranked in the College Football Playoff for the first time this season. Enough players are still around from last year's playoff team who know how to win when the stakes are high. Look for UC to take care of business in Philadelphia.
Prediction: Bearcats win, 28-14
Last week: UC defeated East Carolina, 27-25. I predicted the Bearcats would win, 28-23.
My season record: 9-0 (the predictions column didn’t start until after UC’s season-opening loss at Arkansas)
Contact sports columnist Jason Williams by email at[email protected] and on Twitter @jwilliamscincy.
