The 1-1 Steelers take on the 2-0 Bengals this week as both teams open AFC North play.
Cincinnati, coming off a 20-6 win over the Texans last week, is on a different trajectory from the Steelers, who left Week 2 with a 20-6 loss to the Patriots. As a result, FanDuel Sportsbook has the Bengals as 3.5-point favorites heading into the weekend.
Division games have a way of being unpredictable, especially this early in the season. That said, here are three predictions for Sunday’s matchup:
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Pat Freiermuth has a big game
The Bengals defense has struggled to contain tight ends to open the season, with Houston’s Dalton Schultz and Foster Moreau combining for 14 catches and 174 yards last week against Cincinnati.
That’s a promising matchup for Steelers’ tight end Pat Freiermuth, who has averaged over 70 receiving yards in his last four games against the Bengals. And this year, Freiermuth has been a much bigger part of the Pittsburgh offense than in 2025; though two weeks this season, he’s already logged a team-best nine receptions.
All signs point to another productive outing for Freiermuth on Sunday.
The Steelers defense takes a step back
While the Steelers’ defense hasn’t been without hiccups to start the season, it’s largely been one of the NFL’s best units, ranking top 10 in both yards and points allowed per game through two weeks.
However, they haven’t faced an offense as strong as Cincinnati’s yet. In Week 1, the Steelers drew a favorable matchup against the Falcons with Cooper Rush at quarterback. And in Week 2, Pittsburgh performed solidly limiting Drake Maye and the Patriots, but New England was without its top receiver in A.J. Brown.
This week, the Steelers won’t be facing a short-handed opponent. The Bengals feature quarterback Joe Burrow along with one of the league’s best wide receiver rooms in Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Pittsburgh had some flaws in coverage and tackling last week, especially at the safety position, which will only be more tested against Cincinnati.
Pittsburgh could really use Joey Porter Jr. this week, but even if he does play, it’ll be a difficult first assignment after being limited or a non-participant in practice since the summer.
The Steelers have the league’s No. 3 passing defense through two weeks. Don’t expect the numbers to remain that elite against the Bengals.
Jaylen Warren has more receiving than rushing yards
With Rico Dowdle out against the Bengals, expect a heavy dose of Jaylen Warren at running back on Sunday. Warren himself is questionable, but seems likely to play.
That said, don’t expect a productive rushing game from Warren. The Steelers’ offensive line has struggled through two weeks and might shuffle its lineup ahead of Week 3. And the Bengals have the league’s third-strongest rushing defense through two weeks of the season, largely due to elite nose tackle Dexter Lawrence.
As a result, the Steelers might lean into Warren’s yards after catch ability as a dump-off option in the passing game, especially with quarterback Aaron Rodgers getting rid of the ball quickly against an improved Bengals pass rush this year.
Warren hasn’t had the most productive start to the season, with just 89 total rushing yards and 61 as a receiver through two games. Still, he’s the team’s third-leading pass catcher thus far, and is due for more involvement on offense this week.
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