Can the Cincinnati Bengals complete a season sweep of arguably their biggest AFC North division rival?That’s the question Joe Flacco, Ja’Marr Chase and the Bengals will look to answer Sunday afternoon after beating the Pittsburgh Steelers last month in primetime at Paycor Stadium.That win on Oct. 16 brought the Bengals to 3-4 and reignited hope within a fanbase that was losing faith in the wake of Joe Burrow’s injury.The last two weeks have taken a turn for the worse in Cincinnati, however, with the Bengals losing two games at home to the Jets and Bears, with defensive miscues spoiling strong performances from Flacco and the offense.Now, the Bengals head to Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh at 3-6, needing a win to keep realistic hopes of a division title alive – all with the potential of a Burrow comeback later this month hanging over the team.Here’s what to watch for in Sunday’s game between two bitter rivals. Can Flacco outduel Rodgers… Again?When Flacco and Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers faced off in Week 7, it marked just the second different matchup in NFL history in which both quarterbacks were 40 or older.Flacco and the Bengals’ offense were ultimately stronger than Pittsburgh’s offensive unit, with Flacco completing 31 of 47 passes for 342 yards and three touchdowns in a 33-31 win.Much of that success was due to Bengals superstar wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, who caught 16 passes (on a whopping 23 targets) for 161 yards and a touchdown.The Steelers will surely not want Chase to have that many opportunities on Sunday, meaning Tee Higgins could see more looks from Flacco, depending on the defensive formation.Who Flacco is throwing to may not matter much if he keeps his scorching play from the last two games going into Sunday.Since that game against the Steelers, Flacco has thrown for 693 yards, six touchdowns and only two interceptions. Flacco’s 470 passing yards in the loss to the Bears were a career-high for the 18-year NFL veteran. Rodgers had his moments in the Steelers’ loss to the Bengals, throwing for 249 yards and four touchdowns, though he also threw two interceptions.If Flacco can replicate his performance that helped vault the Bengals to a much-needed victory in the last meeting against Pittsburgh, that would go a long way toward taking some pressure off a beleaguered Cincinnati defense. Speaking of that unit…Can the Defense Get Back on Track?It’s not an understatement to say that the Bengals’ defense over the last three weeks has been among the worst in recent NFL history.In their last three games – all played at Paycor Stadium – the Bengals have surrendered 119 points and 1,472 yards, with two of those three games resulting in losses.Simply put, if the Bengals expect to have any hope to climb back into playoff contention, Al Golden’s defensive unit will need to be much better.Unfortunately for the Bengals, they are likely to be without two defensive ends Sunday, including Pro Bowler Trey Hendrickson, who is still battling a hip injury that forced him to miss the last game against the Steelers.Without Hendrickson in that Oct. 16 game against Pittsburgh, the Bengals didn’t have a sack and hit Rodgers just twice.The good news is that the Bengals have already shown they can defeat the Steelers, despite those numbers, but they would be living dangerously by repeating that feat.Look for Joseph Ossai, Myles Murphy and Cedric Johnson to take on the bulk of the snaps at edge rusher, with Hendrickson and rookie Shemar Stewart doubtful to play.Cincinnati’s secondary was able to make life difficult at times for Rodgers in the last meeting, with DJ Turner II and Jordan Battle coming up with interceptions.The Steelers leaned on their tight ends a lot in Week 7, with Pat Freiermuth and Jonnu Smith scoring three of their four touchdowns.Are rookie linebackers Demetrius Knight Jr. and Barrett Carter ready to take on the assignment of stopping those veteran tight ends?If so, that could go a long way toward a bounce back week for the Bengals’ defense.Ja’Marr’s EncoreChase’s last performance against the Steelers could be described as nothing short of magnificent.In Cincinnati’s 33-31 win over their division rivals, Chase broke his own franchise record by hauling in 16 catches for 161 yards and a touchdown.Chase also eclipsed 6,000 career receiving yards in the process, becoming the fifth-fastest player in NFL history to reach that mark.After being held scoreless for the last two games against New York and Chicago, Chase will be looking to feast on a Pittsburgh defense that he had great success against.Three’s a StreakSince the turn of the century, the Bengals have had trouble finding consistent success against the Steelers, who have been led by Mike Tomlin for much of that stretch.From 2016-19, the Bengals didn’t earn a single win against the Steelers, in a stretch that included 10 losses in a row to Pittsburgh.Since the arrival of Zac Taylor in Cincinnati, the Bengals have had more success against the Steelers and on Sunday, they have a chance to do something rarely seen from the franchise in recent memory.A win on Sunday would mark the Bengals’ third straight win over the Steelers – a feat last accomplished across the 2020-21 seasons.Prior to that, the last time the Bengals beat the Steelers three consecutive times came way back in 1988-90, when the Bengals won six straight games between the two franchises.

CINCINNATI —

Can the Cincinnati Bengals complete a season sweep of arguably their biggest AFC North division rival?

That’s the question Joe Flacco, Ja’Marr Chase and the Bengals will look to answer Sunday afternoon after beating the Pittsburgh Steelers last month in primetime at Paycor Stadium.

That win on Oct. 16 brought the Bengals to 3-4 and reignited hope within a fanbase that was losing faith in the wake of Joe Burrow’s injury.

The last two weeks have taken a turn for the worse in Cincinnati, however, with the Bengals losing two games at home to the Jets and Bears, with defensive miscues spoiling strong performances from Flacco and the offense.

Now, the Bengals head to Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh at 3-6, needing a win to keep realistic hopes of a division title alive – all with the potential of a Burrow comeback later this month hanging over the team.

Here’s what to watch for in Sunday’s game between two bitter rivals.

Can Flacco outduel Rodgers… Again?

When Flacco and Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers faced off in Week 7, it marked just the second different matchup in NFL history in which both quarterbacks were 40 or older.

Flacco and the Bengals’ offense were ultimately stronger than Pittsburgh’s offensive unit, with Flacco completing 31 of 47 passes for 342 yards and three touchdowns in a 33-31 win.

Much of that success was due to Bengals superstar wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, who caught 16 passes (on a whopping 23 targets) for 161 yards and a touchdown.

The Steelers will surely not want Chase to have that many opportunities on Sunday, meaning Tee Higgins could see more looks from Flacco, depending on the defensive formation.

Who Flacco is throwing to may not matter much if he keeps his scorching play from the last two games going into Sunday.

Since that game against the Steelers, Flacco has thrown for 693 yards, six touchdowns and only two interceptions. Flacco’s 470 passing yards in the loss to the Bears were a career-high for the 18-year NFL veteran.

Rodgers had his moments in the Steelers’ loss to the Bengals, throwing for 249 yards and four touchdowns, though he also threw two interceptions.

If Flacco can replicate his performance that helped vault the Bengals to a much-needed victory in the last meeting against Pittsburgh, that would go a long way toward taking some pressure off a beleaguered Cincinnati defense. Speaking of that unit…

Can the Defense Get Back on Track?

It’s not an understatement to say that the Bengals’ defense over the last three weeks has been among the worst in recent NFL history.

In their last three games – all played at Paycor Stadium – the Bengals have surrendered 119 points and 1,472 yards, with two of those three games resulting in losses.

Simply put, if the Bengals expect to have any hope to climb back into playoff contention, Al Golden’s defensive unit will need to be much better.

Unfortunately for the Bengals, they are likely to be without two defensive ends Sunday, including Pro Bowler Trey Hendrickson, who is still battling a hip injury that forced him to miss the last game against the Steelers.

Without Hendrickson in that Oct. 16 game against Pittsburgh, the Bengals didn’t have a sack and hit Rodgers just twice.

The good news is that the Bengals have already shown they can defeat the Steelers, despite those numbers, but they would be living dangerously by repeating that feat.

Look for Joseph Ossai, Myles Murphy and Cedric Johnson to take on the bulk of the snaps at edge rusher, with Hendrickson and rookie Shemar Stewart doubtful to play.

Cincinnati’s secondary was able to make life difficult at times for Rodgers in the last meeting, with DJ Turner II and Jordan Battle coming up with interceptions.

The Steelers leaned on their tight ends a lot in Week 7, with Pat Freiermuth and Jonnu Smith scoring three of their four touchdowns.

Are rookie linebackers Demetrius Knight Jr. and Barrett Carter ready to take on the assignment of stopping those veteran tight ends?

If so, that could go a long way toward a bounce back week for the Bengals’ defense.

Ja’Marr’s Encore

Chase’s last performance against the Steelers could be described as nothing short of magnificent.

In Cincinnati’s 33-31 win over their division rivals, Chase broke his own franchise record by hauling in 16 catches for 161 yards and a touchdown.

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Chase also eclipsed 6,000 career receiving yards in the process, becoming the fifth-fastest player in NFL history to reach that mark.

After being held scoreless for the last two games against New York and Chicago, Chase will be looking to feast on a Pittsburgh defense that he had great success against.

Three’s a Streak

Since the turn of the century, the Bengals have had trouble finding consistent success against the Steelers, who have been led by Mike Tomlin for much of that stretch.

From 2016-19, the Bengals didn’t earn a single win against the Steelers, in a stretch that included 10 losses in a row to Pittsburgh.

Since the arrival of Zac Taylor in Cincinnati, the Bengals have had more success against the Steelers and on Sunday, they have a chance to do something rarely seen from the franchise in recent memory.

A win on Sunday would mark the Bengals’ third straight win over the Steelers – a feat last accomplished across the 2020-21 seasons.

Prior to that, the last time the Bengals beat the Steelers three consecutive times came way back in 1988-90, when the Bengals won six straight games between the two franchises.