Week 3
Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers
September 27, 2026
Acrisure Stadium
AFC North Rivalry
Bengals–Steelers
AFC North's hardest-hitting feud
The Bengals and Steelers are AFC North rivals whose twice-yearly meetings are defined by physical, often violent football. The series is also marked by Pittsburgh's long-running edge and a pair of bitter playoff losses for Cincinnati.
The Rivalry
Cincinnati and Pittsburgh were grouped together after the 1970 AFL–NFL merger and have played twice a season ever since, first in the AFC Central and now the AFC North. Pittsburgh seized control early, dominating the mid-to-late 1970s while winning multiple Super Bowls, and the Steelers have held a commanding lead in the all-time series for most of its history. Cincinnati's brightest run came when it won six straight meetings from 1988 through 1990, briefly grabbing the series lead. The rivalry's modern identity is built on hard hits and short tempers, with several games producing injuries, ejections and suspensions. Postseason heartbreak deepened the bad blood: the Bengals lost wild-card games to Pittsburgh after both the 2005 and 2015 seasons, the latter ending in a chaotic late-game collapse. Few AFC rivalries feel as personal or as punishing.
What's at Stake
Sharing the AFC North, the Bengals and Steelers meet twice annually with division placement and playoff seeding regularly at stake. The rivalry connects two cities a few hours apart, and the fan bases carry a genuine dislike sharpened by years of physical games and postseason pain. With Cincinnati having reached a Super Bowl in recent seasons and Pittsburgh a perennial contender, each meeting can tilt the division.
Famous Moments
- 1970 — Pittsburgh won the first meeting between the franchises, 21-10.
- 1988 — Cincinnati delivered the series' largest margin of victory, a 42-7 win.
- 2005 — In an AFC Wild Card game, Pittsburgh erased a 17-7 deficit to win 31-17 on the way to a Super Bowl title.
- 2015 — Chris Boswell's late field goal lifted Pittsburgh to an 18-16 wild-card win after back-to-back Bengals penalties.
- 2017 — Pittsburgh rallied from a 17-0 hole in a game marred by serious injuries and ejections.
The Bengals–Steelers Games in 2026
The Two Teams
AFC North
Cincinnati Bengals
Paycor Stadium · Cincinnati
Founded in 1968 by Paul Brown, the Bengals have reached three Super Bowls in search of a first title.
AFC North
Pittsburgh Steelers
Acrisure Stadium · Pittsburgh
Tied for the most Super Bowl titles with six, the Steelers are defined by the 1970s "Steel Curtain" and the Terrible Towel.
Plan the Trip
A Bengals-Steelers trip pairs two distinct river cities. Cincinnati's Paycor Stadium sits on the Ohio River downtown, while Pittsburgh's Acrisure Stadium stands where the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers meet. The cities are roughly a four-and-a-half-hour drive apart, and Pittsburgh's "Terrible Towel" crowd makes a road game there an experience in itself. For fans who want a genuinely hostile, hard-nosed AFC North atmosphere, this matchup earns a bucket-list spot.
Frequently Asked Questions: Bengals–Steelers
The two teams first met in 1970. The Bengals and Steelers are AFC North rivals whose twice-yearly meetings are defined by physical, often violent football. The series is also marked by Pittsburgh's long-running edge and a pair of bitter playoff losses for Cincinnati.
Sharing the AFC North, the Bengals and Steelers meet twice annually with division placement and playoff seeding regularly at stake. The rivalry connects two cities a few hours apart, and the fan bases carry a genuine dislike sharpened by years of physical games and postseason pain. With Cincinnati having reached a Super Bowl in recent seasons and Pittsburgh a perennial contender, each meeting can tilt the division.
Yes — they meet 2 times in the 2026 NFL season. The game pages, each with a fan-travel guide, are linked on this page.
Cincinnati Bengals host at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati; Pittsburgh Steelers play at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh.
