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Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cincinnati Bengals: PFM Team Comparison

PFM rates the Cincinnati Bengals higher than the Pittsburgh Steelers overall, with a clear advantage. The main reasons are the steadier quarterback room and the more dependable offense.

Current PFM Team Scores

PIT

Pittsburgh Steelers

79.9PFM Team Score#14 NFL
Clear edgeCIN

Cincinnati Bengals

83.6PFM Team Score#11 NFL
WEEK 10 MATCHUP Sunday, Nov. 15 8:20 PM ET
View on NFL Schedule
HEAD-TO-HEAD RESULTS

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cincinnati Bengals: Previous Meetings

Pittsburgh Steelers lead the recorded series 1–0 over 1 meetings.

Pittsburgh Steelers1 wins
Cincinnati Bengals0 wins
Recorded meetings1

Recent Meetings

DateMatchupFinalWinner
Sep 27, 2026Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers27–30Pittsburgh Steelers
  1. Sep 27, 20262026 season
    Cincinnati BengalsAway27 – 30Pittsburgh SteelersHome
    Pittsburgh Steelers won

Results shown: 2026. Scores since 1999: nflverse (CC BY 4.0). Earlier meetings that have not been verified are excluded.

Swap Teams Clear Comparison
PFM JUDGMENT

Why PFM Rates the Cincinnati Bengals Higher

Joe Burrow gives the Cincinnati Bengals the steadier quarterback room. That lets the offense stay on schedule without asking the rest of the team to cover constant uncertainty. Pittsburgh's strongest counterargument is Coaching Direction. Mike McCarthy is the coaching difference. Pittsburgh has the more dependable answers when the first answer stops working.

Cincinnati also brings the more dependable offense. PFM still has the Cincinnati Bengals in front.

TEAM DNA COMPARISON

Pittsburgh vs. Cincinnati Across the Core Pillars

The farther a team reaches, the stronger the rating. Each category also calls out which team has the edge and the exact gap. Hover on desktop or tap on mobile to isolate one team.

PITPittsburgh Steelers
CINCincinnati Bengals
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cincinnati Bengals Team DNA comparisonPFM category scores on a 0 to 100 scale. QB Stability: Pittsburgh Steelers 74.4, Cincinnati Bengals 88.0, edge CIN +13.6; Offense: Pittsburgh Steelers 79.3, Cincinnati Bengals 88.0, edge CIN +8.7; Defense: Pittsburgh Steelers 85.2, Cincinnati Bengals 76.9, edge PIT +8.3; Coaching Direction: Pittsburgh Steelers 84.2, Cincinnati Bengals 74.3, edge PIT +9.9; Roster Depth: Pittsburgh Steelers 78.2, Cincinnati Bengals 79.3, edge CIN +1.1. Hover on desktop or tap on mobile to isolate one team at a time.
Hover or tap a team to focus that profile. Use Show Both to bring the overlay back.
THE COUNTERARGUMENT

Pittsburgh Steelers’ Best Argument

The Pittsburgh Steelers have the stronger coaching operation under Mike McCarthy. The advantage shows up in preparation, adjustments and pressure situations. That is why the overall gap is smaller than the score first suggests. Cincinnati still answers with the steadier quarterback room and the more dependable offense, which keeps the overall judgment in place.

COMPLETE COMPARISON

Where Each Team Has the Edge

PFM Team Score

PIT79.9
Pittsburgh Steelers 79.9
CIN83.6
Cincinnati Bengals 83.6
Clear Cincinnati Bengals edge

Overall NFL Rank

PIT#14
Pittsburgh Steelers #14
CIN#11
Cincinnati Bengals #11
Cincinnati Bengals ranks higher

QB Stability

PIT74.4
Pittsburgh Steelers 74.4
CIN88.0
Cincinnati Bengals 88.0
Major Cincinnati Bengals edge

Roster Strength

PIT78.2
Pittsburgh Steelers 78.2
CIN79.3
Cincinnati Bengals 79.3
Slight Cincinnati Bengals edge

Coaching Direction

PIT84.2
Pittsburgh Steelers 84.2
CIN74.3
Cincinnati Bengals 74.3
Clear Pittsburgh Steelers edge

Recent Performance

PIT84.9
Pittsburgh Steelers 84.9
CIN86.0
Cincinnati Bengals 86.0
Slight Cincinnati Bengals edge

Offense

PIT79.3
Pittsburgh Steelers 79.3
CIN88.0
Cincinnati Bengals 88.0
Clear Cincinnati Bengals edge

Defense

PIT85.2
Pittsburgh Steelers 85.2
CIN76.9
Cincinnati Bengals 76.9
Clear Pittsburgh Steelers edge

Franchise Direction

PIT74.9
Pittsburgh Steelers 74.9
CIN75.4
Cincinnati Bengals 75.4
Slight Cincinnati Bengals edge

Explosiveness

PIT76.8
Pittsburgh Steelers 76.8
CIN84.9
Cincinnati Bengals 84.9
Clear Cincinnati Bengals edge

Conference Rank

PIT#8
Pittsburgh Steelers #8
CIN#5
Cincinnati Bengals #5
Cincinnati Bengals ranks higher

Division Rank

PIT#2
Pittsburgh Steelers #2
CIN#1
Cincinnati Bengals #1
Cincinnati Bengals ranks higher

Outlook

PITIn the Playoff MixCINPlayoff Contender
Stronger outlook: Cincinnati Bengals
SCHEDULE CONTEXT

Which Team Has the Tougher Road?

Pittsburgh Steelers

Remaining schedule rank: #23

Toughest stretch: Denver Broncos, Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars

Strongest opponents: Denver Broncos, Jacksonville Jaguars, Cincinnati Bengals

Next five difficulty: 81.3

View Pittsburgh Steelers Road Ahead

Cincinnati Bengals

Remaining schedule rank: #32

Toughest stretch: New Orleans Saints, Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs

Strongest opponents: Kansas City Chiefs, Pittsburgh Steelers, Washington Commanders

Next five difficulty: 79.2

View Cincinnati Bengals Road Ahead

Pittsburgh has the tougher Road Ahead at No. 23. The strongest opponents include Denver Broncos, Jacksonville Jaguars, and the Cincinnati Bengals. Cincinnati also has the more favorable road, which adds to the steadier quarterback room and the more dependable offense.

View the complete all-32 Road Ahead

Ratings and Schedule Freshness

PFM ratings updated November 10, 2026. Schedule data updated November 9, 2026.

How to Read This Comparison

PFM Team Score determines the overall order. The Team DNA comparison puts five core pillars on the same 0–100 scale, while the full rows show every current category.

PFM compares overall team strength rather than predicting one matchup. Road Ahead adds schedule context without changing PFM Team Score.

See the complete PFM NFL Team Rankings and methodology.

PFM ratings updated
How PFM grades NFL teams