Pittsburgh Steelers vs Cincinnati Bengals - Week 7 NFL Betting Picks and Predictions

The Pittsburgh Steelers (4–1) look like a team that’s finally figured out who they are — tough, disciplined, and downright mean on defense. They just bullied the Browns in a game that wasn’t as close as the score suggested, and now they’ve got a quick turnaround for a Thursday night trip to Cincinnati. It’s never easy heading into Paycor Stadium, but right now, Pittsburgh has every reason to feel good about itself.

That defense... T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith were living in Cleveland’s backfield last week, and you get the sense they’re licking their chops at the thought of facing another shaky offensive line. The Steelers aren’t flashy, but they make you play their kind of game — ugly, physical, and frustrating.

The Bengals, on the other hand, are in scramble mode. Joe Burrow’s injury has thrown everything off, and the team has turned to Joe Flacco to steady things. Credit where it’s due — Flacco wasn’t bad against Green Bay. He threw for 219 yards and a couple of touchdowns, and that late connection with Ja’Marr Chase showed he’s still got the arm. But at 40, on a short week, against a defense that smells blood? That’s a tall order.

And the injuries keep piling up. Mike Gesicki and Trey Hendrickson both left last week’s game banged up, and their status is still murky. Losing Hendrickson would be brutal — he’s the heartbeat of that pass rush. Without him, Kenny Pickett might actually have time to breathe in the pocket for once.

This feels like your classic AFC North slugfest. Two teams that know each other a little too well, playing in chilly weather, with more bruises than highlights. Don’t expect fireworks — expect punts, field goals, and at least one drive that dies inside the red zone because someone fumbled.

Vegas has the Steelers at -260 to sit around, and that’s fair. They’re the healthier, more confident team heading into this week, and they don’t have to reinvent the wheel to win this type of game. Just keep the ball off the ground, be patient, and let that defense do the talking.

If you’re wagering it, go with Pittsburgh minus the points. They are sitting at -5 1/2 right now and something in the range of 20–13 seems about right — ugly, but sufficient to get the job done. The Bengals are fighting to save their season, but it’s nudgy to win with the other team’s defense already treating you like sharks in the ocean.