It's too bad we can't relegate the Jets, Titans, Jaguars and Raiders, all of whom have double-digit losses, to the Arena Football League or something. Because the other 12 teams in the AFC all have records of .500 or better entering Week 14. That's crazy. And 10 of those teams face off against one another in Week 14. The only outliers are Texans-Jaguars and Chiefs-Cardinals (pretty good matchup in its own right).

The Cincinnati Bengals have never won back-to-back AFC North titles, and their last consecutive division crowns were way back in 1981-82 when it was the Central. However, I believe that Cincinnati will repeat in the North if it beats Pittsburgh on Sunday. The Bengals (8-3-1) lead the Steelers, Ravens and Browns (all 7-5) by two games in the loss column. I frankly don't think Cleveland will be a factor going forward, so forget the Browns.

Cincinnati already has swept Baltimore, so any tie for the division would go to the Bengals. Plus, I'm not sure the Ravens win in Miami on Sunday. So that leaves the Steelers, the only division team yet to face Cincinnati. Win this one, and it's certainly conceivable that Pittsburgh wins out as its remaining schedule is at Atlanta (short week for Falcons), vs. Kansas City and vs. Cincinnati. The Steelers are currently fifth among the six AFC playoff teams with a 7-5 record and the No. 10 team overall based on tiebreakers. If the Bengals hold serve at home, this division is over. They finish at Cleveland, vs. Denver and at Pittsburgh. If not, all three of those are losable.

At Sportsbook.ag , Cincinnati is -170 for the division with Baltimore at +450 and Pittsburgh +500.

Steelers at Bengals Betting Story Lines

If you know which Pittsburgh team will show up here, you are smarter than I am. The one that trashed Carolina in Charlotte in Week 3? The one that destroyed visiting Indianapolis and Baltimore in Weeks 9-10? Or the one that was blown out Week 2 in Baltimore? Gagged at the end Week 4 at home against terrible Tampa Bay? Lost Week 10 at the Jets?

The bad Steelers showed up last week in a game I expected them to win at home against a Saints team entering on a three-game skid. However, Drew Brees torched Pittsburgh for five touchdown passes and no interceptions in a 35-32 upset. The Steelers are only 1-2 against the terrible NFC South, which does not have a team with a winning record. The rest of the teams in the AFC North are a combined 10-0-1 against the NFC South.

The Saints' final score was misleading as Pittsburgh scored two garbage-time TDs and 2-point conversions in the final two-plus minutes. Ben Roethlisberger threw for 435 yards and two scores, but not much when it counted. He was picked off twice. Running back Le'Veon Bell had a huge game with 21 carries for 95 yards and a TD while catching eight passes for 159 yards.

This week, Roethlisberger expressed some concern that the team was using Bell too much. Bell, the only NFL player with at least 1,000 rushing yards and 600 receiving yards this season, played all but two of the Steelers' 90 offensive snaps vs. New Orleans. He is on pace for around 300 carries and 90 catches. Now that LeGarrette Blount is gone, the Steelers never take Bell off the field.

Injury-wise, Pittsburgh played again last week without first-round linebackers Ryan Shazier and Jarvis Jones. Both should play Sunday. Jones (2013) dislocated his wrist in Pittsburgh's third game and could come off IR/designated to reserve. Shazier (2014) was a game-time decision last week. He has missed three straight games with an ankle sprain. Starting right tackle Marcus Gilbert sat vs. New Orleans but also is expected back.

The Bengals avoided disaster last week in a 14-13 win at Tampa Bay that was aided by what was essentially an illegal late coaches' challenge by Cincy's Marvin Jones. Hey, he's a member of the competition committee and played the loophole perfectly. Kudos. The bad Andy Dalton showed up for Cincinnati as he was 19 for 27 for 173 yards, one TD and three picks. It was his fourth multi-interception game of the year. To be fair, Dalton was very ill before the game. Still, Cincinnati won its third straight game, and the defense hasn't allowed more than 13 points in that stretch. That unit has been great against the run, allowing just 71.0 yards per game and 3.0 yards per carry in the three.

How desperate is Cincinnati at offensive tackle after losing starter Andre Smith two weeks ago for the season? The team signed veteran Eric Winston this week. Winston also is the acting president of the NFLPA. He started every game last year for Arizona but hasn't played a snap in 2014 after getting cut in training camp.

Last season the Bengals and Steelers split, each winning by 10 at home. Pittsburgh had won the previous three matchups at Paul Brown Stadium this decade, all by a touchdown or less.

Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals Betting Odds and Trends

At 5Dimes , the Bengals are 3-point favorites (-115) with alternate lines of 3.5 (+110) and 2.5 (-140). Cincinnati is -165 on the moneyline with Pittsburgh at +145. The total is 47 points. The Steelers are 5-7 against the spread (2-4 on road) and 8-4 "over/under" (2-4 on road). The Bengals are 6-5-1 ATS (3-2-1 at home) and 4-8 O/U (3-3 at home).

The Steelers are 5-0 ATS in their past five vs. teams with a winning record. They are 0-5 ATS in their past five after allowing more than 350 total yards in their previous game. The Bengals are 7-1 ATS in their past eight December games. They have covered just one of their past five after a win. The over is 6-1 in Pittsburgh's past six after a loss. The under is 7-2 in Cincinnati's past seven after a loss. The under is 4-1 in the past five meetings. The favorite has covered six of the past eight.

Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals Expert Picks and Betting Predictions

No shock that turnovers likely will decide this one. The Steelers are minus-9 in turnover differential in their five losses. They are 4-0 when having more takeaways than giveaways. If there's one worry for Cincy it's that Dalton has been quite a bit worse at home than on the road this year. He has a rating of 73.9 with five TDs and nine picks at home and a rating of 89.0 with eight TDs and four picks on the road. However, Roethlisberger has been far, far worse away from home.

Cincinnati is a very good 10-4 in December since drafting Dalton and A.J. Green in 2011. The Bengals are 8-0 in the month when they run it at least 30 times. So that could mean plenty of Gio Bernard and Jeremy Hill in this one. Give the 2.5-point alternate line, and go under.

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