Steelers named a WR deadline buyer as Bengals pull level in AFC North race
ESPN lists the Steelers among contenders needing receiver help as the 6-2 Bengals pull even in the AFC North ahead of their Nov. 15 meeting.
The Pittsburgh Steelers didn't play in Week 9, but they still lost ground. Cincinnati beat Atlanta 34-17 in Madrid to reach 6-2, which pulls the Bengals level with Pittsburgh at the top of the AFC North. With the trade deadline a couple of days away, ESPN is also naming the Steelers as one of the contenders that need help at wide receiver.
In his weekly overreactions column, ESPN's Dan Graziano ruled that it is "not an overreaction" to expect an aggressive receiver market. He puts Pittsburgh on a list of receiver-needy contenders with Kansas City, New England, San Francisco, Seattle and the Los Angeles Rams. He also called the case for Cincinnati making another big move a fair one. Joe Burrow went 24-for-29 for 271 yards and three touchdowns against the Falcons and added a rushing score, and Ja'Marr Chase had 142 receiving yards before halftime. Graziano thinks the Bengals could still add a running back, an offensive lineman or a safety.
The same column notes that Pittsburgh has already made one big trade this season, sending cornerback Joey Porter Jr. to Dallas. Any receiver deal would come from a team that has been winning without much from the passing game. Pittsburgh's last game, a 27-6 home win over Cleveland on Nov. 1, ran through Jaylen Warren, who tied his career high with 143 rushing yards, ESPN's game recap reported. That win took the Steelers into first place in the division and stretched their home streak against the Browns to 23 straight.
For now Pittsburgh still holds the edge in the division, because it beat Cincinnati 30-27 at home earlier this season. That edge goes on the line right away.
What it means for Cincinnati on Nov. 15
The Steelers travel to Cincinnati on Sunday, Nov. 15, for a game on NBC. Whoever wins takes sole possession of first place, and a Pittsburgh win would also sweep the season series. The Steelers have won four straight: 34-22 over Indianapolis, 26-19 at Tampa Bay, 16-10 over New Orleans and the rout of Cleveland. The defense has given up 19 points or fewer in three of those games. Their two losses both came on the road, 20-3 at New England and 27-24 at Cleveland. Graziano also points out that after this game, the Bengals' only remaining opponents with winning records are Kansas City and Cleveland twice. That makes this matchup the biggest obstacle left on Cincinnati's path to the division title.
The market makes Cincinnati the favorite even though Pittsburgh won the first meeting. Across the 10 venues on this site's board, the Bengals are favored by 3.5 points. On Novig, Cincinnati's moneyline is -174 and Pittsburgh's is +167. The best Steelers moneyline anywhere is +168 at FanDuel, so the venues are only a point apart on Pittsburgh's side. The sportsbook hold on the moneyline runs from 3.1% to 5.1%. On the spread, Novig lists Pittsburgh +3.5 at -108, while theScore Bet offers +4 at -115. The best price on Cincinnati -3.5 is -103 at Pinnacle. The total sits at 47.5 on Novig, with the over at -108 and the under at even money. FanDuel has the over at -105, and DraftKings has moved its under up to 48.5.
A 47.5 total is well above what Pittsburgh's recent games suggest. Three of its last four have finished under 47 combined points, with the 34-22 win over Indianapolis the exception. Whether the Steelers add a receiver before the deadline could determine how well they can keep up if Burrow plays at his current level.