The AFC North has all of its teams with winning records heading into Week 12 of the season. The Steelers are trying to bounce back from a shootout loss against the Chargers, and the Bengals come off a big win over the Raiders.

Most times when two division rivals are only a game apart we see NFL spreads of 3 and possibly 3.5. The Bengals have an extra point built into this line, so sportsbooks have the money starting to move away from Pittsburgh.

The numbers aren’t great for the Steelers, yet they sit one game above .500. Ben Roethlisberger should look a little better after playing following a COVID diagnosis earlier in the week. Joe Burrow will get a shot to bounce back from the previous week, where his team won but Burrow struggled.

Joe Mixon and Najee Harris will each have an opportunity to take over the game and set their respective team up for victory. If your NFL betting strategy focuses on player props, then start with the running backs.

Take a look at Bengals vs. Steelers odds, injury report, betting lines and more.

Steelers vs Bengals Key Matchups

Najee Harris vs Bengals Rush D: Harris leads his team in rushing yards and is the true workhorse for the Steelers, meanwhile the Bengals are 5th in the NFL in stopping the run.

Joe Burrow vs Steelers Secondary: The Bengals average just over 270 passing yards each game, good enough for 12th overall in the league. The “Burrow to Ja'Marr Chase” connection is going to be tough for the Steelers to slow down.

Steelers OL vs Bengals DL: Beyond the obvious matchup of Harris running the ball, the Steelers offensive line will have to protect Big Ben from an aggressive pass rush.

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Steelers vs Bengals Key Stats

2: If the Steelers are going to have a shot, then they need to be healthy on defense. They are expected to get two key players back in T.J. Watt and Minkah Fitzpatrick.

4: Ben Roethlisberger has only thrown four interceptions this season, which may surprise some people making NFL picks this week, as the Steelers offense was non-existent earlier in the season.

11: Joe Burrow has thrown 11 interceptions this season, and has been caught a couple of times making bad throws.

685: Najee Harris has 685 yards on the ground which is above and beyond the top production by any Steelers player. Nobody else has 60 total rushing yards.

9: Joe Mixon has 9 scores on the ground this season and has complemented the Bengals passing game as well as any back in the league.

8: Ja'Marr Chase has 8 grabs for scores this season and remains on pace to have one of the most productive rookie seasons in the history of the NFL.

RELATED: NFL Week 12 Odds & Betting Lines For All Games

Steelers vs Bengals Moneyline

It’s an old-fashioned Week 12 AFC North shootout except the roles may have reversed a bit. The Steelers are the more desperate team as they try and keep pace with both the Ravens and Bengals. Cincinnati has the inside track to either winning the division or comfortably placing as a wild card.

The problem with the Bengals ML play is betting sites are also well aware of Cincy’s need to win this game. A line of -189 is a pass, but you can find other ways to work this game, from laying points to some player props like Mixon’s rushing yards and Chase longest reception.

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Steelers vs Bengals Spread

This is where the risk is worth the return, not so much on the juice but the likelihood of it hitting. If the Bengals are playing their best football, then this line comes in even wider, somewhere at 5.5 to 6 points. That’s accounting for the home-field advantage, and the Steelers barely being over .500.

The Steelers' tie with the Lions can’t be forgotten, much like the Bengals losing to the Jets. But Cincinnati can score points even in a losing effort, and that is enough to trust them over the Steelers. If the Bengals win, it will be in convincing fashion, more than 4 points for sure. Take the Bengals -4.5 with FanDuel (-110). ➜

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Steelers vs Bengals Total

People will see the fourth quarter that the Steelers most recently had against the Chargers and think Pittsburgh can score. But the reality is they struggle to score – as little as it may happen.

The team limped their way to 16 points against Detroit and needed a near-historic final frame against the Chargers. The Bengals can get up and easily control the game, relying on Mixon and their run game to slowly bleed out the Steelers defense. Harris is Pittsburgh’s best weapon, and he keeps clocks moving. Take Under 45 (-110) at BetMGM. ➜

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