Cincinnati has been a disaster defensively, giving up 36.7 points per game over its last seven contests — and that’s not a typo. Tight ends are averaging over 80 receiving yards and 1.3 touchdowns per game against this unit. Jonnu Smith led all Steelers tight ends in routes last week with a 71% route share. He only saw two targets, but the entire offense struggled to move the ball. Among the three Pittsburgh tight ends, Smith is priced in the middle for an anytime touchdown, but he’s the best bet to score in what should be a high-total game and one of the softest matchups on the slate.
The Pittsburgh offense looked lost in Week 10, with Aaron Rodgers passing for just 161 yards and two interceptions against the Bolts. After a steady start through the first six weeks, this Steelers offense has tumbled down the advanced metrics the past four outings. This passing attack is far from explosive. Pittsburgh has posted only 21 completions of 20-plus yards with Rodgers averaging a league-low 3.7 air yards per completion for qualified QBs. If the Steelers are going to stop the bleeding, it will need the defense to step up at home. Pittsburgh’s performance on Sunday night wasn’t horrible, checking the Chargers to 4.6 yards per play, 18 first downs and sacking Justin Herbert four times. The extended forecast for Acrisure Stadium sees rains on Sunday with wind gusts as high as 21 mph. That could keep scoring down and make a mess of the questionable grass surface in the Steel City as well.