Bengals vs Steelers odds, predictions, and NFL picks for Week 16

The experts really believe in Jake Browning to turn things around from his last game against the Bengals.

• By
  
  PatrickJudis
  
• on December 21, 2023 7:39 pm

The Cincinnati Bengals will be visiting the Pittsburgh Steelers with both teams needing this win to stay in the AFC Wildcard race.

The Steelers won the last game, which was quarterback Jake Browning’s first start after Joe Burrow was declared out for the season. Since that start Browning has settled in much better. Cincinnati has won three straight games, and the offense has looked very good for most of that stretch.

Meanwhile, Pittsburgh’s offense has seen sort of an implosion as Kenny Pickett struggled after that game before getting injured. Then Mason Rudolph struggled as his replacement. Now they will be trotting out Mason Rudolph to start this game.

How do the odds makers and experts view this one?

Odds

The Bengals are currently two-point road favorites against the Steelers, according to DraftKings Sportsbook. The point total is set at 38, which is the fourth-lowest point total in Week 16.

These are two teams on two different trajectories at this point in the season. The Steelers have suffered recent losses to the Arizona Cardinals and New England Patriots, as well as a stomping from the Indianapolis Colts. Two of those teams will be picking very early in the draft.

Betting trends

Bengals

• Cincinnati is 3-3 on the road
• They are 6-6-2 against the spread
• They have hit the over eight out of 14 times
• The average point total in Bengals games is 44.1

Steelers

• Pittsburgh is 4-4 at home
• They are 7-7 against the spread
• They have hit the over four of 14 games
• The average total score in Steeler games is 35.9

Expert selections

• CBS Sports has five of eight pickers going with Who Dey.
• Seven of ESPN’s eight experts are taking the Bengals
• NFL Pick Watch, which takes into account picks from across the web, currently has 77% of picks going with Cincinnati

It is pretty clear that experts have a clear view of this game. The Pittsburgh defense has a chance to slow down this offense due to their pass rush ability. However, their secondary is looking suspect with their starting safeties being out (Minkah Fitzpatrick’s injury and Damontae Kazee’s suspension).

It could come down to whether Browning can look better than he did the first time around. He won’t have Ja’Marr Chase this time, and last time he struggled, he didn’t have Tee Higgins. Will he be able to keep the offense humming without its best skill player?

Right now it seems most people believe that he can.

Now, here is how our staff picked every Week 16 game.

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