The AFC North grabs the national spotlight tonight as the Pittsburgh Steelers visit the Cincinnati Bengals in the “Icy Hot Bowl”, as deemed by Cameron Heyward during Aaron Rodgers’ post game presser. Both teams are led by new but highly known faces this season, with 41-year old Rodgers starting his squad off with a strong 4-1 record, whereas 40-year-old Joe Flacco just had his first start and loss for the Bengals. Kickoff is at 7:15 CST, available on Amazon Prime Video.
Recap: How They Got Here
Pittsburgh enters at 4–1, fueled by Rodgers’ signature veteran patience and a defense that refuses to let anything come easy. Rodgers has been sharp, posting a 105.4 passer rating with 10 touchdowns and only three picks. He’s not launching 70-yard bombs anymore, but his precision has turned the Steelers into one of the AFC’s steadiest units.
Cincinnati, meanwhile, sits at 2–4 after a 27–18 loss to Green Bay in Flacco’s first start. The veteran QB threw for 219 yards and two touchdowns, proving the arm still works, but his offensive line apparently didn’t get the memo. The Bengals have been unable to sustain any kind of rhythm on the ground, and the defense has given up more big plays than they’d like to admit. Flacco will try to get Cincinnati its first win since Joe Burrow’s injury, but facing a relentless Steelers front on a short week is hardly the ideal setup.
Keys of the Game
- Rodgers’ Control of the Offense
At 41, Rodgers is proving that accuracy and timing can still beat age and athleticism. He’s completing 69% of his passes and has been automatic on third downs, converting nearly half of Pittsburgh’s attempts. - Flacco’s Pocket Awareness
Flacco was pressured on more than 35% of his dropbacks last week. That can’t happen again. The Steelers rank top ten in sacks and quarterback hits, and if Flacco starts taking hits early, this game could get ugly fast. Flacco needs to get the ball out quickly to be effective, as well as scheme short looks for Jamarr Chase and Tee Higgins to get them going. - Red-Zone Execution
Both teams have been tough inside the 20-yard line, but the Steelers have the advantage. They rank fifth in opponent red-zone scoring percentage, while the Bengals sit all the way down at 20th. This one could come down to which team settles for field goals and which one finishes drives, especially in the red zone.
Outlook and Prediction
This game feels like a classic AFC North matchup: physical, slow-burning, and just enough messiness to keep you watching. Two quarterbacks with Hall of Fame résumés, both trying to prove they’ve still got a little left in the tank.
The Bengals should hang around early with home field advantage, but Pittsburgh’s defense has been too consistent and Rodgers too calculated to pick against. Unless the Bengals can magically get the run game to work again against a strong front, expect a close first half before the Steelers pull away late behind a big defensive stand or a vintage Rodgers performance.
Prediction: Steelers 26, Bengals 17
