What to Watch for in Bengals-Steelers

The Cincinnati Bengals will host the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday Night Football with first place in the AFC North on the line. Both teams enter the 8:20 p.m. kickoff at Paycor Stadium at 6-2, and Pittsburgh won the Week 3 meeting 30-27 on a late strip-sack of Joe Burrow.

Can Joe Burrow continue his MVP-caliber season?

Burrow enters Sunday playing the best football of his career. He leads the NFL with 23 touchdown passes, a 114.8 passer rating and 298.3 passing yards per game, and he is completing 74.0% of his throws with only six interceptions. That puts him on pace for more than 5,000 yards and 49 touchdowns, both of which would be career highs.

He was sharp against Pittsburgh in Week 3, throwing for 282 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. However, a strong night against a defense that has allowed only seven passing touchdowns would only strengthen his MVP case.

Can the Bengals stop Jaylen Warren?

Jaylen Warren gashed the Bengals in Week 3, running for 127 yards on 17 carries and adding three catches for 49 yards. One of his explosive runs set up the game-winning field goal, and Pittsburgh outrushed Cincinnati 138-83. Warren now has 704 rushing yards and 5.9 yards per carry, and he has topped 100 yards in three of his last four games.

The Bengals are allowing a league-worst 5.0 yards per carry, and safety Kyle Dugger is out. Cincinnati must win on early downs to keep Aaron Rodgers in obvious passing situations.

What does the Steelers' wide receiver room look like?

The Steelers' receiving corps is thinner than it was in Week 3. Michael Pittman Jr. and Roman Wilson are on injured reserve, and Wilson caught one of Rodgers' three touchdown passes in the first meeting.

That leaves DK Metcalf as the clear top target, and he leads the team with 33 catches for 378 yards. Ben Skowronek, who also scored in Week 3, is healthy after a calf injury. However, Cincinnati ranks 21st in passing yards allowed, so DJ Turner II, Dax Hill and Jordan Battle, who leads the team with three interceptions, still face a real test.

Can Joe Burrow get his first regular-season primetime home win over a division rival?

Burrow has started a primetime home game against a division rival before, winning a Wild Card game against the Baltimore Ravens in January 2023. However, he has never started one in the regular season.

He missed a Monday Night game against Pittsburgh in 2020 with a knee injury and a Thursday Night game against the Steelers in 2025 with a toe injury, and the Bengals won both without him. If Burrow continues his current form, Sunday should finally end that drought. Now, he has an opportunity to earn that first win with sole possession of first place on the line.