The Cincinnati Bengals have a great opportunity to start 3-0 for the first time in the Joe Burrow era in Sunday's AFC North opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers. As down as the Steelers look right now, their defense is playing at a high level, and games in the division can never be taken lightly.
Having said that, this feels different. First of all, Mike Tomlin ain't walking through that door in the Steel City. Aaron Rodgers is another year older, and he's playing behind a suspect offensive line against a Bengals team that has an actual defense this year, thanks in large part to Dexter Lawrence.
Hard to remember the last time I felt this confident about Cincinnati heading into a road matchup against the Yinzers.
How to watch Bengals vs. Steelers Week 3 matchup
- Time: 1.p.m. ET
- TV Network: CBS
- Streaming: NFL+ (NFL app or via browser) / NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube TV
- International: DAZN Game Pass
Bengals vs. Steelers injury updates in Week 3
The major news here is that Rico Dowdle is out and Jaylen Warren is questionable, which could leave the Steelers' backfield dangerously thin. Pittsburgh would ideally like to limit Warren's pitch count due to a shoulder injury, especially with Dowdle sidelined.
Rodgers may be without his best wide receiver, Michael Pittman Jr., for at least his typical workload. Pittman was a limited practice participant all week due to a foot issue. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that Pittman and Warren are expected to play.
Pittsburgh cornerbacks Joey Porter Jr. (conditioning, lol) and Jamel Dean (ankle) are both questionable. In other words, this could be an absolute bloodbath for the home team on Sunday.
As for the Bengals' injury situation, well, wide receiver Andrei Iosivas is on injured reserve due to thumb surgery, and veteran defensive tackle B.J. Hill is doubtful/expected to miss his second straight game. Good thing Cincinnati has plenty of depth at both those spots.
Storylines to watch for Bengals in Week 2
- Avoiding the letdown of yesteryear
- Ja'Marr Chase vs. beat-up Steelers secondary
- Can the offensive line hold up better for Burrow?
- How for-real is the Cincinnati defense?
Feels like a bizarre, distant memory now, but the Bengals did start 2-0 last season before going 6-11. Big difference being that Joe Burrow is still actually healthy, although live audio from the field in Week 2 revealed that Will Anderson Jr.'s hit on him popped Burrow's rib back into place.
I don't love that. Orlando Brown Jr. got worked often in Houston by Anderson and Danielle Hunter, leaving Burrow exposed to severe punishment. It won't get easier for Brown this Sunday as he faces some combination of T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, and Nick Herbig. The Bengals' interior o-line also has to deal with Cam Heyward, an ageless wonder in the defensive trenches.
But that potential edge up front for the Steelers should be neutralized to some degree by how banged up their defensive backs are. I'd expect a big day from Ja'Marr Chase after his two-touchdown performance last week, including what will go down as one of the catches of the year.
There will still be a healthy skepticism about the Bengals' defense until they prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that they're for real.
I believe this unit is indeed the real article. Dexter Lawrence has single-handedly reversed this team's fortunes.
Dexter Lawrence has been a big part of the Bengals' success against the run, despite their propensity for light boxes.
— SūmerSports (@SumerSports) September 23, 2026
Through two weeks, Lawrence leads all interior defensive linemen in impact plays and is tied for the league lead among all defensive players. https://t.co/LZPRAGWj3n pic.twitter.com/tDZetgo6RR
Final score prediction
- Bengals 34, Steelers 6
it's gonna get ugly. Aaron Rodgers is washed. Joe Burrow is shaking off his typical early-season rust. The Bengals have a real defense. This has blowout written all over it.
And I'm not one to be overly confident. But like...I'm telling y'all. This season hits different.
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