The Cincinnati Bengals (6-2) and Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2) are getting set for a primetime bout for the AFC North lead on Sunday night.

These teams met over a month ago in Pittsburgh. The Steelers secured a three-point victory, and are holding on to a tiebreaker lead in the AFC North because of that win.

Can the Bengals even the score and surpass the Steelers in the division, or will the Steel Curtain notch a sweep over the Queen City? Our AFC North beat writers all see this game going in one direction.

Bengals 33, Steelers 27

Neither the Bengals nor the Steelers made a trade deadline move despite being at the top of the division, and that was a surprise to me. The Steelers have the benefit of coming off a bye here, while the Bengals are fresh off an overseas win. The Steelers took the first matchup 30-27, but I don’t see the Bengals dropping two games to these guys during the regular season. Cincinnati has much more firepower, but it’s going to be all about what the defense can do at home in Week 10.

Pittsburgh found real success both through the air and on the ground back in Week 3. Specifically, Jaylen Warren had himself a day that the Bengals can’t allow to happen again. I think Cincinnati gets the home win here, but it’ll be close, just like we all expect. Pittsburgh not adding wide receiver help doesn’t look great when you consider what Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins can do on the other side. Joe Burrow goes for a big game, and the MVP talks get louder coming out of this one.

– Brandon Little, A to Z Cleveland

Bengals 27, Steelers 24

The second meeting between the Steelers and Bengals this year will be one of the biggest in recent memory. Whoever wins this game will be in the driver’s seat for an AFC North Championship. The first match was tight, and a couple of special teams blunders allowed the Steelers to capitalize late and get the victory. If Pittsburgh wants any chance of replicating that success, it cannot allow Burrow to start 14/14 passing again and finish with a 75 percent completion percentage. Patrick Graham must change the picture this go-round. 

Teams are 0-5 when coming off an international game and facing a team coming off a bye. The Steelers are rested and could be getting multiple starters, including star Derrick Harmon back from injury. But this Bengals team is humming. The offense under Burrow and with the weapons on the perimeter is among the best we have seen. They are going to hit the pressure points on the Steelers’ defense (corners) and get the job done in a close-fought home victory. 

– Rob Gregson, A to Z Pittsburgh

Bengals 31, Steelers 29

It’s probably stupid to predict nearly the same score but reversed, but this is the outcome that makes the most sense to me. Cincinnati can do no wrong passing the football right now, and it doesn’t look like something scheme can contain. Not when Burrow is telepathically connecting with Chase and Higgins week in and week out. They posted 27 points in the last meeting, and that’s when they missed out on two possessions due to special teams mistakes. I think they break 30 this time.

Cincinnati’s defense isn’t a ms trustworthy and that’s how the Steelers can easily win. Warren and tight end Darnell Washington are the two biggest X-factors. If they each dominate a Bengals defense that struggles against elusive tailbacks in space, and has PTSD facing Washington (and good TEs in general), this has all the makings of a high-scoring rivalry game.

Pittsburgh does have the rest advantage, but Cincy is the home team hosting an AFC North primetime game. The latter is typically the safer bet, so I’m going with it.

– John Sheeran, A to Z Cincinnati

Final Prediction for Bengals at Steelers

The beat writers are all in agreement over the Bengals getting revenge and control of the division. The winner of the game will have the inside track to hosting a playoff game. Expect the best from both sides.