3 bold predictions for Bengals pivotal SNF matchup vs. Steelers

After a predictably uneventful trade deadline for the Bengals (and no, the whole comp pick blunder doesn't count as "eventful"), Cincinnati looks ahead to what is no doubt their biggest matchup of the season on Sunday Night Football vs. the Steelers. In all-white, just like they were last year in their primetime matchup against Pittsburgh.

Aside from narratives about the Bengals' strength of victory and who they have (or haven't) beaten, this game is an all-important AFC North showdown. Not only do the Steelers also sit at 6-2 and are also riding a four-game win streak, but they, of course, got the best of Cincinnati in their Week 3 showdown, so they hold the head-to-head tiebreaker. A win would put the Bengals in control of the division while a loss would essentially set them back two games.

This isn't just another divisional game; the winner will be on top of the AFC North at the midway point of the season, while the loser will be playing catch-up. So, ahead of what may determine the rest of their seasons, let's explore some bold predictions for this Sunday Night matchup.

All stats courtesy of Pro Football Reference.

A big game for Chase Brown (100+ rushing yards and a touchdown)

Chase Brown is no stranger to slow starts, and it has understandably led to his job security as the lead back being in question. In the first six weeks of 2025, his first season starting as the RB1, Brown had 202 yards on 2.7 yards per attempt and a single touchdown. In the first six weeks of this season, Brown was slightly better but still not good, with 285 yards on 3.5 yards per attempt and, again, a single touchdown.

Last year, though, the Illinois alum turned his season around in their Week 7 Thursday Night Football bout against Pittsburgh, where he had what was the best rushing performance of his career. 11 carries, 108 yards, nearly ten yards every time he was handed the ball. Hyper-efficient and it helped lead the Bengals to their lone win with Flacco as a starter in 2025.

This year, Chase Brown is in a similar situation. He has yet to break triple digits rushing in a game this season and has struggled with consistency in the running game. Will he have his get-right game against the Pittsburgh on a nationally-televised matchup once more? I believe so.

While the Steelers do have a strong rush defense, they sit in the top 10 and nearly the top five in almost every category, Chase Brown is coming off an efficient day in Madrid (nine carries, 57 yards) and, as we've seen in the past, is a player that only gets better as the season goes on. Also, against this same Steelers' defense in Week 3, he had a solid game, going for 61 yards on 13 carries.

With this focus on stopping the three-headed monster of Burrow, Chase, and Higgins, things are setting up for this to be a Chase Brown breakout game.

Bengals defense forces three turnovers

While the Pittsburgh defense has excelled against the run, the Steelers' offense has done a good job protecting the ball. Right now, they sit 10th in turnovers with just eight through eight games-- and six of those came in the first four weeks. That said, the Bengals' defense have good motivation to flip the script, outside of this being a critical divisional game.

For starters, you could argue that Al Golden's unit had their worst performance as a collective in Pittsburgh earlier this season (either that or their overtime heartstopper vs. Cam Ward and the Titans). Aaron Rodgers turned back the clock and looked like he was back in a Packers jersey, and Jaylen Warren gashed through the defense every time he touched the ball. This defense is going to be looking for revenge in front of their home crowd.

Also, there's a good chance that they heard all of the talk surrounding the trade deadline. How this unit isn't good enough to win in January, and how better teams in the conference are going to pick them apart in the postseason. Whether true or not, the fact is that this is the team they have and are going to have moving forward, and veterans in the locker room like Jonathan Allen have probably taken note of these talking points and passed it on to the younger players for motivation.

Just listen to how he talked in the Texans' pre-game:

So, with a lot to prove, the Bengals defense will create turnovers and give their offense a few extra possessions.

Dohnte Meyers gets his first career TD

Dohnte Meyers, very quickly, went from a fun training camp story to a genuine weapon in this offense. Everyone knows how he's gotten here by now. Doordashed to pay for a tryout in the CFL, had a breakout season in 2025 en route to Canadian football's Super Bowl equivalent, and drove overnight from Atlanta to Cincinnati to train with Joe Burrow. Awesome story, but would it translate to him actually making an impact in the regular season?

Yes, yes, it has. There were a few hiccups early on in the season, such as tripping over his own feet or having a bad drop or making a mental error on a kickoff return. As the season's gone on, however, he's gotten more confident and, not only limited mistakes, but he's made some big-time plays these last few weeks.

Against the Titans, Meyers had one of the biggest catches of the game, late in the 4th quarter on a drive that they would eventually tie the game and send it to overtime, laying out on a Joe Burrow scramble-drill throw to keep the drive moving.

Then, last week in Madrid, Meyers had a couple of big plays vs. the Falcons. On their first drive of the day, Burrow handed it to him on an end-around that he took for 16 yards. Later, near the end of the first half, Burrow then hit Meyers on a deep pass that went for 42 yards, on a drive that they would eventually kick a field goal on to extend the lead to 14 heading into halftime.

Meyers is becoming a bigger part of this offense and improving week-by-week, so the next logical step is that he finally finds the end zone this Sunday night vs. Pittsburgh for his first career touchdown.

What bold predictions do you have for this game?

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