Fans who make the trip typically travel by car. The team takes a chartered flight. By boat — right down the Ohio River — is an option, too.

Whatever the method, the annual 300-mile journey southwest usually has been a happy one for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Until the past 12 months, that is. The Cincinnati Bengals have won the past two against the Steelers and can go for their first season series sweep of their AFC North rivals in more than a decade Sunday afternoon at Paul Brown Stadium.

Looking for our third straight win against Pittsburgh. pic.twitter.com/LiP8HOorkL

— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) November 26, 2021

The Bengals beat the Steelers at Heinz Field, 24-10, on Sept. 26. They have won both regular-season meetings between the teams just once (in 2009) since 1998. Cincinnati has just two series sweeps over the past 30 years.

Counting a 27-17 upset against the Steelers last December, the Bengals are seeking their first three-game winning streak against the Steelers since the coaches were the late Sam Wyche and Chuck Noll. The Bengals won six consecutive between the teams from 1988-90.

Since then, though, the Steelers had won 48 of 62 meetings (including two in the playoffs) before these past two Cincinnati victories. Mike Tomlin is 23-7 (including one playoff win) as Steelers coach against the Bengals.

“They’re familiar with us. We’re familiar with them,” Tomlin said this week. “That’s one of the things that makes divisional play awesome.”

The Bengals’ Zac Taylor is 17 games under .500 as an NFL coach (12-29-1), but he can even his record against the Steelers with a Cincinnati victory Sunday.

“I’ve got a ton of respect for this team and that coach,” the 38-year-old Taylor told reporters Friday of the Steelers and Tomlin. “We’re certainly going to get their best on Sunday. We know that.”

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