Closing spread
PIT -4
Total
40.5
Model margin
+0.6est.
CIN perspective
Push chance
2.4%est.
the line sits on a key number
Win probability
- Bengals
- Steelers
How each play moved the game.
Matchup
Where the edges are
Season-long league percentiles for both sides, mirrored. The saturated side of a lopsided row holds the edge.
- +0.044EPA / play-0.059
- 44.9%Success rate43.2%
- +0.136EPA / dropback-0.020
- -0.028EPA / rush-0.114
- 10.4%Explosive rate8.8%
- 44.9%Third-down rate40.8%
- 56.0%Red-zone TD rate53.2%
- 1.83Points / drive1.40
- 2.1%Turnover rate3.1%
- -0.133EPA / play allowed-0.048
Bar length is league percentile, already oriented so longer is better. The saturated side of a lopsided row holds the edge; rows within ~12 points are washed as even.
The rivalry
PIT lead 41–16 since 1999
PIT have won 2 straight. Meetings average 42.4 points. CIN are 18-38-1 ATS in the series.
Possession by possession
How it unfolded
Every drive: who had the ball, how far it went, how it ended, and the score as it settled.
| Ball | Start | Plays | Yards | Result | PIT–CIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CIN | Q1 15:00 | 4 | 16 | Punt | 0–0 |
| PIT | Q1 13:30 | 9 | 31 | Punt | 0–0 |
| CIN | Q1 7:07 | 3 | 2 | Punt | 0–0 |
| PIT | Q1 5:30 | 3 | 13 | Field goal | 3–0 |
| CIN | Q1 3:56 | 6 | 67 | Touchdown | 3–7 |
| PIT | Q1 1:05 | 14 | 50 | Punt | 3–7 |
| CIN | Q2 8:35 | 3 | 4 | Opp touchdown | 10–7 |
| CIN | Q2 7:03 | 6 | 73 | Touchdown | 10–14 |
| PIT | Q2 3:56 | 9 | 27 | Turnover | 10–14 |
| CIN | Q2 0:36 | 1 | 5 | End of half | 10–14 |
| PIT | Q3 15:00 | 5 | 14 | Punt | 10–14 |
| CIN | Q3 12:42 | 3 | 6 | Punt | 10–14 |
| PIT | Q3 11:07 | 6 | 6 | Punt | 10–14 |
| CIN | Q3 7:30 | 3 | -8 | Punt | 10–14 |
| PIT | Q3 6:12 | 6 | 53 | Touchdown | 17–14 |
| CIN | Q3 2:46 | 8 | 30 | Punt | 17–14 |
| PIT | Q4 14:38 | 6 | 13 | Punt | 17–14 |
| CIN | Q4 10:25 | 4 | 10 | Punt | 17–14 |
| PIT | Q4 8:12 | 3 | 3 | Punt | 17–14 |
| CIN | Q4 6:47 | 3 | 5 | Punt | 17–14 |
| PIT | Q4 5:47 | 5 | 17 | Punt | 17–14 |
| CIN | Q4 3:15 | 2 | -1 | Safety | 19–14 |
| PIT | Q4 2:38 | 3 | 11 | End of half | 19–14 |
Box score
Individual performances
Steelers
Passing
| Player | C/Att | Yds | TD | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ben Roethlisberger | 15/21 | 138 | 1 | 0 |
Rushing
| Player | Car | Yds | Avg | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jerome Bettis | 29 | 129 | 4.4 | 0 |
| Ben Roethlisberger | 9 | 16 | 1.8 | 0 |
Bengals
Passing
| Player | C/Att | Yds | TD | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carson Palmer | 13/25 | 165 | 2 | 1 |
Rushing
| Player | Car | Yds | Avg | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rudi Johnson | 16 | 62 | 3.9 | 0 |
Where this game is likely to land
- Model
- Smooth (normal)
- Betting line
Probability of each final margin. Football scoring clusters — the spikes at 3 and 7 are real, and a smooth model misses them.
Positive margins favour Bengals; negative favour Steelers.
Half-point at risk
2.42%
outcomes that flip if the line moves 0.5
Model home win
50.7%
Expected total
42.6est.
Model
Where the number comes from
Each component is additive, in points of expected margin.
- Team ratings (opponent-adjusted EPA)-1.96
- Home-field advantage+2.56
- Quarterback adjustment0.00
- Rest differential0.00
- Expected margin+0.60