Bengals Pose Bigger AFC Threat Than Steelers
Rich Eisen argues Cincinnati's chunk-play passing offense makes it a stronger challenger to Buffalo than Pittsburgh, as the two AFC North rivals meet next Sunday.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Football
Rich Eisen said the Cincinnati Bengals are a bigger AFC challenger to the Buffalo Bills than the Pittsburgh Steelers. Both teams are 6-2, and the divisional matchup next Sunday will give the winner sole possession of first place in the AFC North.
Why it matters
The Steelers and Bengals are tied atop the division, so the result will decide the AFC North lead. Eisen's comparison centers on explosive passing plays, a measure that shapes how teams contend with the AFC's top records.
Passing-play totals show the Bengals with 27 plays of 20-plus yards, tied for 10th in the league, compared with 24 for the Steelers. The Steelers have six plays of 40-plus yards, tied for sixth-most, while the Bengals have five; the stub does not address how these totals will shape next Sunday's result.
The players
Rich Eisen
A longtime NFL media personality and host of The Rich Eisen Show, whose analysis of the Bengals and Steelers framed this comparison.
Cincinnati Bengals
An AFC North franchise based in Cincinnati, Ohio, that is 6-2 this season and is set to face the Steelers for the division lead.
Pittsburgh Steelers
An AFC North franchise based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, that is 6-2 this season and reached its bye week before the matchup at Cincinnati.
The details
Eisen said the Bengals can chunk opponents to death in a way the Steelers do not, pointing to Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins as the leading targets for Joe Burrow. The Steelers have leaned on WR DK Metcalf, who leads the team with 64 targets and averages 11.5 yards per catch. The Steelers beat the Bengals earlier this season and reached their bye week at 6-2.
Timeline
Week 10: Steelers play at Cincinnati, coming off their bye.
Next Sunday: Steelers and Bengals meet for sole possession of the AFC North lead.
Monday: Overreaction Monday analysis with Rich Eisen.
Season Trajectory
The Steelers and Bengals are both 6-2 and tied in the AFC North, so their meeting decides the division lead. The comparison sets Cincinnati's league-high-tier passing-play totals against Pittsburgh's, which shapes how each team measures up against the 6-1 Buffalo Bills.
Fantasy managers weighing Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, or DK Metcalf will want to track next Sunday's matchup, since the winner's passing game drives the division race. The result also affects which AFC teams hold the top seeds in the playoff picture.
The takeaway
Explosive passing plays can separate close contenders, and the Steelers-Bengals result will show whether Cincinnati's chunk-play edge holds against a division rival. Readers following the AFC race should watch how both teams perform on big plays in the coming weeks.
What happens next
The Steelers and Bengals meet next Sunday, with the winner taking sole possession of first place in the AFC North.
Further reading
For more on how the AFC race is shaping up, see Football coverage across the league.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Steelers Depot.
