Bengals and Steelers collide for first place in AFC North on Sunday night

The 10th Sunday of the 2026 NFL regular season closes with a primetime clash for first place in the AFC North, as the Cincinnati Bengals host the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. Kickoff is set for 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC, with streaming available on fubo and live coverage through the CBS Sports App. The Bengals are 3.5-point favorites with an over/under of 47.5, according to DraftKings.

Both clubs enter at 6-2, though Pittsburgh holds the inside track on the division lead thanks to its Week 5 victory over Cincinnati. The Steelers have won seven of the last nine meetings between the rivals dating back to the start of the 2022 season, but one of those two losses came on their most recent trip to Cincinnati, a 33-31 shootout last October. Pittsburgh answered by winning the rematch a month later at home.

The Week 5 meeting ended 30-27 after Derrick Harmon strip-sacked Joe Burrow on the Bengals' final series, with Cincinnati already in field goal range. Jaylen Warren drove the Steelers' offense that night, rushing for 127 yards on 17 carries and adding three catches for 49 yards, which helped open the field for Aaron Rodgers to throw for 292 yards and three touchdowns against one interception. Burrow finished with 282 passing yards and three scores of his own.

Momentum is not in short supply on either side, as Pittsburgh and Cincinnati both bring four-game winning streaks into the contest. The Steelers went into their Week 9 bye on the strength of a 27-6 win over the Browns, while the Bengals are coming off a 34-27 victory over the Falcons in Madrid, Spain. How each team handled the previous week could shape Sunday night: Cincinnati may still be working through the effects of overseas travel, while a rested Pittsburgh squad could welcome back injured contributors, Harmon among them after he missed time with a foot injury.

Pittsburgh's surge has been built on Warren's running, with Rico Dowdle contributing in a complementary role since returning from his injury in Week 6, plus a defense that has gone seven quarters without allowing a touchdown. T.J. Watt is again producing at an elite level and has already surpassed his 2025 sack total.

Cincinnati's streak has been fueled largely by Burrow, who leads the NFL in completion percentage and touchdown passes, and his success throwing to Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. The Bengals have also received sturdy play from a defense getting major contributions from offseason acquisitions Dexter Lawrence and Boye Mafe.

The outcome figures to hinge on two factors: whether Pittsburgh can throw the ball effectively enough to open up its running game, and whether Cincinnati can keep Burrow upright, something that has at times been an issue against the Steelers. The Bengals would happily turn the night into a shootout, while Pittsburgh would rather play keep-away and leave Burrow and company watching from the sideline. That plan could work in theory, but the Steelers' lack of depth at wide receiver might prove costly.

In a matchup this tight, special teams could decide it, and there the Bengals hold an edge with Evan McPherson, who has not missed a field goal or an extra point all season. Steelers kicker Chris Boswell, by contrast, has already missed field goals this season. The pick: Bengals 23, Steelers 20.