Pittsburgh Steelers Week 10 Preview: A Scary Night Ahead

As the Pittsburgh Steelers return to the field a week after receiving their 2026 bye week, this is the first game as the Steelers head coach for Mike McCarthy to see how his new team performs a week after getting the break and resting his team.

For the record, as head coach in Dallas and Green Bay before that, McCarthy’s teams have a good record after the bye at 12-5. Their opponent Sunday night is a bit scary as Pittsburgh travels to Cincinnati to take on the Bengals who like the Steelers currently have a 6-2 record. Therefore, the game is for sole possession of first place in the AFC North. Cincinnati is coming off a big victory over the Atlanta Falcons in Europe and for the record on that fact, since 2016, 17 games have been played by teams that immediately went into another game a week later. Those teams have won 11 of those 17 games and 16 of those teams returned to their own field to resume play.

In the first meeting of the season between these two teams, playing at home the Steelers prevailed in a close game 30-27. It was a big day for the Bengals’ offense to no one’s surprise as Joe Burrow finished the game without throwing an interception and putting up 282 yards in the air. He also threw three touchdown passes. Burrow’s two primary weapons Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins combined for 188 yards receiving and each with a touchdown.

Chase Brown also picked up 61 yards rushing in that game. Aaron Rodgers matched Burrow, however, toe-to-toe throwing for 292 yards and three scores, but he did get picked once. Jaylen Warren had a huge day with 127 yards rushing including a 35-yard romp. Cincinnati’s offense is one of most dangerous in the league with the ability to strike at any moment to those two amazing receivers. This game is for first place as mentioned and the remaining games on each team’s schedule favors Cincinnati. 

After Sunday night, the Bengals have a game in Washington, home for the Saints, on the road to Cleveland, the Chiefs come to town, then it’s on to Carolina and a visit with the Colts before finishing the season at home with the Ravens and Browns. For the Steelers they play intrastate rivals the struggling Eagles in Philly before hosting the Denver Broncos. Then it’s a playoff rematch with Houston and a very difficult game in Jacksonville. Carolina comes to Pittsburgh following by a road trip to Tennessee before closing the season with the Ravens at home. 

he Bengals are on a roll right now but so is Pittsburgh. Both teams have won four in a row so one team’s streak is about to end. Cincinnati is third in the NFL in total offense. But the Steelers are second against the run and 12th in passing yards allowed. Pittsburgh is sixth in sacks with 26 just three behind the front running Texas. Pittsburgh has also forced 10 fumbles just three behind the Jets who have the most.

WHEN THE STEELERS HAVE THE BALL

Given how well Jaylen Warren has been running the ball and Rico Dowdle now backing him up and wasn’t there for the first meeting, this should be the Steelers MO going into this game. Challenge Cincinnati to stop the run. Once the running game gets going behind the offensive line that has improved dramatically, Aaron Rodgers will challenge the Bengals’ secondary with some throws to DK Metcalf to find out if the big receiver has figured out his dropsy problems and if he can make a big play. 

Then there is Darnell Washington and Pat Friermuth who will be called upon. I don’t believe the Steelers will have a problem moving the ball downfield. This game will boil down to which defense can prevent the other team’s offense from making big plays and putting themselves into scoring position.

WHEN THE BENGALS HAVE THE BALL

Everyone knows what the game plan for Cincinnati is. Joe Burrow throwing the ball probably more than 30 times in this game. We also know the targets. JaMarr Chase and Tee Higgins with an occasional toss to Mike Gesicki. Chase and Higgins caught 15 passes in the victory over Atlanta for 188 yards and three scores. Pittsburgh’s secondary is faced with yet again the difficult task of stopping what is probably the best 1-2 punch in receivers in the NFL. The Steelers have never completely shut down these two so they will get their receptions. 

The question is how many of those catches will be for big yardage and scores? The first meeting this season was a Steelers 30-27 victory. Expect that kind of scoring again. This might come down to which offense scores last. 

INTANGIBLES

The Steelers proved in two of their last three games they can win away from Acrisure Stadium. Now they need to prove they can win a first place game for the second time in a row. But this is not the Cleveland Browns. That and no player from the Bengals is talking any smack like Jared Verse did from Cleveland. Both teams know the impact this game will have. The winner gets more control of the AFC North. The Bengals fans are not as noisy and disruptive as some other fan bases are in their stadium so I don’t believe that becomes a factor. 

What is a factor is which team turns the ball over and avoids penalties and mistakes. Both teams are highly confident about their chances so this might come down to a battle of attrition and who has the ball last. If the Steelers win the coin toss I believe it would be smart to defer and take the second half kickoff. That and have the Pittsburgh defense make a strong stand right at the get go. 

PREDICTION