SCOUTING THE BENGALS

Last meeting

Bengals beat Steelers, 33-31, on Oct. 16, in Cincinnati

Key matchup

Steelers secondary vs. Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase

It was only four weeks ago that Ja’Marr Chase was targeted a ridiculous 23 times and had 16 receptions for 161 yards and a touchdown. According to Pro Football Focus, Chase that day had at least one catch against seven different defenders closest in coverage to him. The Steelers dramatically reshaped their secondary over the past four weeks, but will they have an answer to limiting Chase?

Key injuries

Steelers outside linebacker Alex Highsmith (pectoral) and cornerback Darius Slay (concussion) were officially ruled out for Sunday’s game against Cincinnati. Left guard Isaac Seumalo (pectoral) is questionable. While star QB Joe Burrow did return to practice this week, he has been ruled out with a toe injury. Star defensive end Trey Hendrickson (hip/pelvis) also is out, along with running back Samaje Perine (ankle) and DE Shemar Stewart (knee).

Series record

Steelers lead 71-41

Series notes

The Bengals have won three of the past four games at what is now called Acrisure Stadium. … Cincinnati has won six of the past 10 overall in the series, including each of the past two. … This is the sixth November meeting between the teams over the past seven seasons. … Over the past eight meetings between the teams, seven times a team has scored at least 30 points in a game, and in two of the past four Steelers-Bengals games, both teams eclipsed 30. … The Steelers are 36-19 all-time in home games against the Bengals and 16-8 at Acrisure. … The overall series record includes Steelers postseason wins at the end of the 2005 and 2015 seasons. The Steelers have won 69 of the 110 regular-season games against Cincinnati. … The Steelers’ .627 regular-season winning percentage against the Bengals is the highest of any opponent they have faced at least 40 times in franchise history.

Notable

The Steelers are coming off a 25-10 loss at the Los Angeles Chargers. They have lost their two most recent outings that follow a defeat of 15 or more points, including Week 18 of last season to the Bengals. Before those two losses in such instances, though, the Steelers had won seven consecutive after a 15-plus point loss. … Cincinnati was idle last week, and this is the 11th occasion since bye weeks were added to the NFL schedule in 1990 that the Bengals will play the Steelers immediately following one. The teams have split the first 10 such meetings, including a split of the six such matchups in Pittsburgh. … The Steelers are 18-14-1 overall when facing a team coming off a bye, good for a .561 winning percentage that is the seventh best in the NFL. … Mike Tomlin is 6-2-1 at home against teams coming off a bye, the highest winning percentage of any coach since Tomlin was hired in 2007. … Four of the Steelers’ final eight games are against AFC North foes. Last season, six of the final eight Steelers games were intra-division.

Fantasy tip

Bengals QB Joe Flacco is the per-week highest-scoring quarterback in fantasy football over the span that begins with the Oct. 16 win against the Steelers. Using standard scoring, only Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor has produced more fantasy points per game over the past four weeks.

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