PIT
Pittsburgh Steelers
78.9PFM Team Score#18 NFL
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cincinnati Bengals: PFM Team Comparison
PFM rates the Cincinnati Bengals higher than the Pittsburgh Steelers overall, with a slight advantage. The main reasons are the steadier quarterback room and the more dependable offense.
Current PFM Team Scores
Slight edgeCIN
Cincinnati Bengals
79.9PFM Team Score#16 NFL
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
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
PIT78.9
Pittsburgh Steelers 78.9CIN79.9
Cincinnati Bengals 79.9Overall NFL Rank
PIT#18
Pittsburgh Steelers #18CIN#16
Cincinnati Bengals #16QB Stability
PIT75.5
Pittsburgh Steelers 75.5CIN88.0
Cincinnati Bengals 88.0Roster Strength
PIT79.2
Pittsburgh Steelers 79.2CIN80.3
Cincinnati Bengals 80.3Coaching Direction
PIT83.2
Pittsburgh Steelers 83.2CIN73.8
Cincinnati Bengals 73.8Recent Performance
PIT80.1
Pittsburgh Steelers 80.1CIN73.3
Cincinnati Bengals 73.3Offense
PIT75.8
Pittsburgh Steelers 75.8CIN85.1
Cincinnati Bengals 85.1Defense
PIT83.9
Pittsburgh Steelers 83.9CIN74.9
Cincinnati Bengals 74.9Franchise Direction
PIT74.9
Pittsburgh Steelers 74.9CIN74.7
Cincinnati Bengals 74.7Explosiveness
PIT71.5
Pittsburgh Steelers 71.5CIN82.3
Cincinnati Bengals 82.3Conference Rank
PIT#10
Pittsburgh Steelers #10CIN#9
Cincinnati Bengals #9Division Rank
PIT#3
Pittsburgh Steelers #3CIN#2
Cincinnati Bengals #2Outlook
PITIn the Playoff MixCINIn the Playoff Mix
Same outlookSCHEDULE CONTEXT
Which Team Has the Tougher Road?
Pittsburgh Steelers
Remaining schedule rank: #25
Toughest stretch: Philadelphia Eagles, Denver Broncos, Houston Texans
Strongest opponents: Philadelphia Eagles, New England Patriots, Jacksonville Jaguars
Next five difficulty: 77.8
View Pittsburgh Steelers Road AheadCincinnati Bengals
Remaining schedule rank: #30
Toughest stretch: Houston Texans, Pittsburgh Steelers, Jacksonville Jaguars
Strongest opponents: Kansas City Chiefs, Jacksonville Jaguars, Houston Texans
Next five difficulty: 80.3
View Cincinnati Bengals Road AheadPittsburgh has the tougher Road Ahead at No. 25. The strongest opponents include Philadelphia Eagles, New England Patriots, and Jacksonville Jaguars. Cincinnati also has the more favorable road, which adds to the steadier quarterback room and the more dependable offense.
Explore Both Team Dashboards
Ratings and Schedule Freshness
PFM ratings updated September 15, 2026. Schedule data updated September 17, 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.
PFM ratings updated
How PFM grades NFL teams