Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers Week 17 NFL Picks & Predictions 12/30/2018

Sunday, December 30, 2018

Heinz Field

Get todays NFL Odds & Lines on this game

The Cincinnati Bengals head to Heinz Field to play the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, December 30, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Pittsburgh as 16.5 point favorites. The total has been set at 48.

The Bengals are 8-7-0 against the spread and their over/under record is 8-5-2. The Steelers are 8-6-1 against the spread and their over/under mark is 8-7-0.

Valuable Cincinnati Bengals Betting Trends

The Cincinnati Bengals are 8-5-2 against the over/under

The Cincinnati Bengals are 8-7-0 against the spread

Important Pittsburgh Steelers Betting Trends

The Pittsburgh Steelers are 8-7-0 against the over/under

The Pittsburgh Steelers are 8-6-1 against the spread

Key Cincinnati Bengals Injuries

12/23/18 CB Dre Kirkpatrick Shoulder injured last game, is questionable Sunday vs Pittsburgh
12/23/18 LB Jordan Evans Ankle is questionable Sunday vs Pittsburgh
12/23/18 LB Malik Jefferson Hamstring is questionable Sunday vs Pittsburgh
12/23/18 CB Tony McRae Hamstring is questionable Sunday vs Pittsburgh
12/23/18 WR Tyler Boyd Knee is questionable Sunday vs Pittsburgh
12/23/18 LB Vontaze Burfict Concussion injured last game, is questionable Sunday vs Pittsburgh
12/12/18 WR A.J. Green Toe IR
11/29/18 T Jake Fisher Back IR
11/26/18 QB Andy Dalton Thumb IR
11/25/18 LB Preston Brown Knee IR
11/23/18 DT Josh Tupou Pectoral IR
11/04/18 DE Carl Lawson ACL IR
10/24/18 TE Mason Schreck Knee IR
10/07/18 TE Tyler Eifert Ankle IR
09/04/18 TE Cethan Carter Shoulder IR
09/04/18 CB Davontae Harris Knee IR
09/04/18 S Trayvon Henderson Knee IR
07/28/18 OL Rod Taylor ACL IR

Key Pittsburgh Steelers Injuries

12/25/18 LB Vince Williams Foot injured last game, is questionable Sunday vs Cincinnati
12/23/18 RB James Conner Foot is questionable Sunday vs Cincinnati
12/20/18 T Marcus Gilbert Knee IR
12/04/18 WR Justin Hunter Shoulder IR
09/16/18 RB Le'Veon Bell Holdout is out for season
09/09/18 WR Eli Rogers ACL PUP
09/04/18 TE Jake McGee Achilles IR
09/04/18 LB Olasunkanmi Adeniyi Hamstring IR
09/04/18 TE Ryan Malleck Undisclosed IR
09/04/18 DB Trey Johnson Shoulder IR
08/03/18 T Jerald Hawkins Quad IR
08/03/18 LB Ryan Shazier Back IR

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Cincinnati Bengals are 26th in the National Football League in points scored with 355. They have run 893 plays this year for 4,776 yards, which ranks them 32nd in the NFL in total offense. The Bengals average 5.3 yards per play, which is 28th in the league. As a team they have accumulated a total of 295 1st downs this season, ranking them 30th overall as an offensive unit. On the ground Cincinnati has run for 1,557 yards as a unit, which ranks 31st in the league. They've run 341 times, averaging 4.6 yards per rush as a unit. The Bengals have been penalized on offense 105 times for 872 yards so far this year, which has them 12th in the NFL in penalties. Jeff Driskel has passed for 908 yards this year. He's completed 93 throws while attempting 153 passes for a completion percentage of 60.8%. His quarterback rating this season is 85.1. He averages 9.8 yards per completion and 5.9 yards per pass attempt.

Defensive Statistics

Cincinnati is 16th in the NFL in points surrendered on defense with 439. They have given up a total of 6,275 yards on D, which is 18th in the league. The Bengals are 7th in yards per play allowed with 6.2. Their pass defense has allowed 7.2 net yards per pass attempt, ranking them 4th in the National Football League. Opponent offenses have completed 358 throws on 539 attempts against the Cincinnati Bengals defense this season, ranking them 15th and 23rd in the league. The Cincinnati pass defense has also surrendered a total of 4,136 yards in the air, which is 8th overall in total pass defense. Their rushing defense has given up 446 attempts for 2,139 yards this season, putting them in 30th place in the NFL against the run. The Bengals have had 104 penalties for 875 yards on defense this year. That places them 15th in the league. They've allowed a score on 47% of possessions on defense, which is 24th in the NFL.

Special Teams Stats

Cincinnati is 1st in the NFL in punt returns with 21. They've totaled 235 punt return yards and are averaging 11.2 yards per return, which is 14th in the league. Their longest punt return this season is 38 yards. They have returned 39 kicks for 984 yards on special teams, placing them 16th in kick return yardage. The Bengals average 25.2 yards per kick return and have a long of 77 yards this season. They are 31st in the National Football League in all-purpose yards with 6,250. The Cincinnati Bengals have tried 21 field goals this season and made 17, which is 27th in the league. Their kickers have a FG percentage of 81.0%. Cincinnati Bengals kickers have made 95% of their extra points, going 38 for 40 this season. Their punters have accumulated 2,841 yards on 66 punts, averaging 43 yards per punt. That ranks them 11th in the NFL in punting average.

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Pittsburgh Steelers have run for 1,380 yards as a team, which ranks 20th in the NFL. They've run 325 times, averaging 4.2 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Steelers have been penalized on offense 102 times for 956 yards so far this season, which has them 21st in the league in penalties. They are 8th in the NFL in points scored with 412. They have run 992 plays this season for 6,110 yards, which ranks them 3rd in the league in total offense. The Steelers average 6.2 yards per play, which is 6th in the National Football League. As a team they have accumulated a total of 360 1st downs this year, placing them 3rd overall as an offensive unit. Ben Roethlisberger averages 7.7 yards per pass attempt and 11.5 yards per completion. He has completed 421 passes on 630 attempts for a completion percentage of 66.8%. His quarterback rating is 97.3. He has thrown for 4,842 yards this season.

Defensive Statistics

The Steelers rush defense has allowed 351 attempts for 1,413 yards this year, putting them in 10th place in the league against the run. Pittsburgh has committed 117 penalties for 1085 yards on the defensive side of the ball this season. That ranks them 28th in the NFL. They've given up a score on 34.3% of possessions on defense, which is 7th in the league. They are 7th in the league in points allowed on defense with 347. They have surrendered a total of 5,039 yards on D, which is 5th in the NFL. The Pittsburgh Steelers are ranked 14th in yards per play allowed with 5.4. Their pass defense has given up 6.1 net yards per pass attempt, placing them 9th in the league as a unit. Opposing offenses have completed 350 passes on 542 attempts against the Pittsburgh defense this season, placing them 3rd and 2nd in the National Football League. The Steelers pass defense has also given up a total of 3,626 yards through the air, which is 5th overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

The Pittsburgh Steelers have attempted 20 field goals this season and made 13, which is 5th in the National Football League. Their kickers have a field goal percentage of 65.0%. Pittsburgh kickers have made 90% of their extra points, going 43 for 48 this year. Their punters have totaled 2,597 yards on 59 punts, averaging 44 yards per punt. That places them 30th in the NFL in punting average. Pittsburgh is ranked 22nd in the league in punt returns with 28. They've accumulated 232 punt return yards and average 8.3 yards per return, which is 23rd in the NFL. Their longest punt return so far this year is 23 yards. They have returned 29 kicks for 551 yards on special teams, ranking 18th in kick return yardage. The Steelers average 19 yards per kick return and have a long of 35 yards this year. They are 6th in the league in all-purpose yards with 7,050.

Who will win tonight's Bengals/Steelers NFL game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take the Steelers -16.5

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