Bengals vs. Steelers Predictions, Picks & Odds: NFL Week 18, Saturday 1/4
The second matchup of the NFL Saturday doubleheader takes place in Pittsburgh with the Steelers hosting the Cincinnati Bengals in what is a day of back-to-back AFC North rivalries. This is an absolutely pivotal matchup for both teams, so of course, we’ve got our best Bengals vs. Steelers predictions for you.
That also means a best bet from our Bengals vs. Steelers picks, which we’ll pair with a $150 DraftKings Sportsbook sign up bonus that is perfect for fans in these respective states!
Bengals vs. Steelers Predictions For NFL Week 18, Saturday 1/4
Until the Week 17 slate wrapped up, we weren’t sure when each Week 18 game was going to take place, as NFL schedule-makers want to ensure that the meaningful games take place at specific times. Well, with the Baltimore Ravens playing ahead of this game, Pittsburgh’s fate may already be sealed.
If the Ravens beat the Browns (they’re 17.5-point favorites), Baltimore snatches the division from the Steelers. If they lose, the Steelers can snag it back. As for the Bengals, a win keeps their playoff hopes alive, but they’ll still need help come Sunday afternoon. With all that in mind, it’s no shock that the Bengals vs. Steelers odds have this as nearly a pick ‘em.
So, we’ll be focused elsewhere for the top pick from our Bengals vs. Steelers predictions, but first let’s continue breaking things down.
Cincinnati Bengals: Silencing Doubters
Starting with the Bengals, slow starts have been the calling card of Cincinnati for a few seasons now, including this year. After an abysmal 1-4 start and never truly finding their way until just recently, most fans and analysts alike had them written off.
Well, with a win on Saturday and losses by the Miami Dolphins and Denver Broncos on Sunday, QB Joe Burrow and the boys can silence all their critics. As we’ve seen throughout the season, Burrow has been carrying this team - namely their terrible defense - so it will all but certainly be on his back once again.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Skidding Down The Stretch
One the complete other end of the spectrum of the Bengals’ playoff push is the Steelers’ skid these past few weeks. Playing on a short week on Christmas and against the Ravens recently did them no favors, but they’ve now lost each of their last three games.
This is something that we warned fans and bettors about, as their last eight games of their schedule were all six division games plus games against the Philadelphia Eagles (13-3) and Kansas City Chiefs (15-1). That’s an absolute gauntlet, and even if they can’t get the AFC North back, they will still want to build momentum into their guaranteed playoff spot.
Bengals vs. Steelers Odds, Spreads, Total & Betting Lines
As mentioned, this matchup is set to be as close as ever, and you can see that with the Bengals vs. Steelers odds at DraftKings Sportsbook below:
- Point Spread: Cincinnati Bengals -1 (-108) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers +1 (-112)
- Money Line: Cincinnati Bengals (-120) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (+100)
- Game Total (Over/Under): Over 48 (-110) vs. Under 48 (-110)
Bengals vs. Steelers Best Bet: Over 48 Points (-110 at DraftKings Sportsbook)
It’s not often that we focus on high-scoring games when it comes to AFC North rivalries, but that’s going to be what we’re eyeing for the best bet from our Bengals vs. Steelers predictions. When it comes to the Cincinnati side of the matchup, little to no convincing needs to be done.
Burrow has been having an absolute MVP-caliber season, but has only now been getting recognized for it given the team’s lack of success. He’s doing things that have only been done by QBs on teams with records of just a few losses, and even things that have never been done before.
For example, Burrow has now thrown for 250+ yards and three touchdowns in EIGHT straight games! As incredible as WR Ja'Marr Chase has been, it was WR Tee Higgins that caught all three touchdown passes in last week’s overtime win to keep their playoff chances alive.
With the success of Burrow and the Bengals’ offense this year, the fact that they’re still scratching and clawing for a playoff berth means one thing - a poor defense. Admittedly, it has been somewhat improving as of late, but that’s not saying much. Even still, they’ve allowed 24+ points in every game this year but five.
Four of those were the New England Patriots (3-13), New York Giants (3-13) and Cleveland Browns (3-13) twice. That’s all without mentioning the fact that when these teams met just a month ago, it was a 44-38 finish! With that type of track record and recent matchup, we’re locking in over 48 points (-110 at DraftKings Sportsbook) as the best bet from our Bengals vs. Steelers predictions.
Bengals vs. Steelers Injury Report & Latest News
The most positive injury news for these teams this season was the return of WRs - Tee Higgins for the Bengals earlier in the year and George Pickens for the Steelers just last week.
For this clash, we need to prioritize monitoring Pittsburgh’s Joey Porter and Cincinnati’s Orlando Brown. You can do just that and check all injury updates with the Fantasy Alarm NFL injury report!
How To Bet On Bengals vs. Steelers at DraftKings Sportsbook & Claim Your $150 Bonus
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Player News
Kirk Cousins was not in attendance during the first day of Falcons OTAs.
Falcons head coach Raheem Morris hardly seemed surprise by Cousins’ no-show, as the team tries to find a way to sever ties with Cousins, 36, following his disastrous 2024 season. The team has repeatedly committed to Michael Penix as the Week 1 starter, even suggesting they could keep Cousins — scheduled to make $40 million in 2025 — as Penix’s backup. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowlers reported last week that Cousins is “on the Steelers’ radar” if Pittsburgh can’t come to terms with Aaron Rodgers as their 2025 starter. That could be the only remaining path for Cousins if he’s intent on getting out of Atlanta this summer.
James Cook did not attend Bills voluntary OTAs.
It’s hardly a surprise as Cook angles for a new contract entering the final year of his rookie contract with Buffalo. Bills officials, including general manager Brandon Beane, have dismissed Cook’s unhappiness with his current contract as a distraction. The team seems intent on hanging on to Cook for 2025 following his stellar 2024 campaign, which included nearly 1,300 total yards and 18 touchdowns as the Bills’ No. 1 back. It wouldn’t be a shock if Cook were to hold out during training camp if a deal has not been done. He said in March that he wants $15 million per year. Cook is set to make $5.7 million in 2024.
Bills head coach Sean McDermott said EDGE Joey Bosa suffered a calf injury.
The oft-injured Bosa is done for the team’s spring workouts but has a chance to return for training camp, McDermott said. The Bills in March signed Bosa, 29, to a one-year deal worth $12.6 million after the Chargers let him walk in free agency. Bosa in 2024 had 34 quarterback pressures and six sacks. He could be an important piece for Buffalo’s defense if he can stay healthy in 2025. That’s always a big if for Bosa, who has averaged around six missed games per season during his NFL career.
49ers K Jake Moody changed his kicking style this offseason.
Set to face a training camp competition with journeyman Greg Joseph for the Niners’ starting job, Moody recently told The Athletic that he had shifted from a three-step approach to a two-step approach in a bid to exchange distance for more accuracy in 2025. Moody, taken in the third round of the 2023 draft, was a total disaster in 2024. Struggling with a lingering ankle injury he suffered in Week 5 against the Cardinals, Moody missed ten of his 34 field goal tries. That included a three-miss game against the Bucs in Week 10. He made just five of 11 kicks between 40-49 yards last season. “It’s unacceptable to be kicking the way I was the second half of the year,” Moody said. “I don’t know if I lost any confidence, but stuff always creeps into your head, especially after missing a bunch of kicks.” Moody still has a chance to start for the 49ers in 2025 if he can get back to form in July and August.
The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman reports the Packers have offered CB Jaire Alexander a restructured deal.
Alexander’s return to Green Bay for the 2025 season is still by no means a done deal. Schneidman said the team has “proposed a restructured contract to Alexander, which tangibly demonstrates their interest in retaining the two-time All-Pro cornerback during an offseason in which they have been open to trading him.” Alexander, who reportedly wants to remain in Green Bay, has two years remaining on this current deal. He did not attend the Packers’ voluntary workouts in early May and appears unlikely to participate in any offseason activity until a new deal gets done or the Packers find a trade partner for the mercurial cornerback, who has played in just 16 games since the start of the 2023 season. Alexander, 28, was graded last year by PFF as the NFL’s eighth best cover corner in 2024.
Cleveland.com’s Lance Reisling believes the Browns offense “desperately needs” Harold Fannin’s yards after the catch ability.
The Browns last year had the sixth-fewest yards after the catch, and only the Panthers had a worse YAC per reception. Fannin, a Bowling Green product, turned heads during Cleveland’s rookie mini camp after the team took him with the 67th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Fannin earned something of a national profile in 2024 with an astounding 117 receptions, 1,555 yards, and ten touchdowns as the nation’s most productive tight end. “Physically, Fannin presents a match-up nightmare,” Reisling wrote. “He’s a big-bodied receiver with the size to shield defenders and the strength to break tackles, yet he moves with the suddenness and fluidity of a much smaller player. His ability to win at the line of scrimmage and at the catch point makes him really tough to cover for safeties and linebackers.” Reisling said Fannin “has exceptional short-area quickness and acceleration, allowing him to explode out of breaks and turn routine catches into chunk plays.” Fannin led all tight ends in yards per route run — a rare feat for a high-volume pass catcher. He also led the position with 750 yards after the catch, 159 more than the next closest tight end in 2024.