Gameday: Steelers vs. Bengals, 1 p.m.

The 2022 season is ready to begin for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and they’ll face a difficult challenge to open things off as the Steelers start with 2021 AFC North and Super Bowl runners up, the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Steelers and Bengals have been divisional rivals since the AFL-NFL merger, but it’s been mostly a one-sided affair. The Steelers are 67-38 all-time against the Bengals and Pittsburgh recently rattled off a string of 11 straight victories from 2015-20.

But last year, it was all Cincy, as the Bengals took advantage of Steelers miscues in Pittsburgh for a 24-10 win last September and then wiped the floor with the Steelers in Cincinnati in November, 41-10.

Will this season be the year that things get back to their regular order, or are the talent level of Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and company too much for the rebuilding Steelers to overcome?

STEELERS GAMEDAY INFO

Week 1, Pittsburgh Steelers (9-8 last year) vs Cincinnati Bengals (10-7 last year)
Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022, 1 p.m.
Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati (65,515, turf)

Broadcast
TV: CBS regional coverage (Ian Eagle, Charles Davis, Evan Washburn)
Radio: Steelers Radio Network, 102.5 WDVE-FM (Bill Hillgrove, Craig Wolfley, Missi Mathews, Max Starks)

SN Coverage: Alan Saunders, Nick Farabaugh
Forecast: Cloudy, scattered thunderstorms, 74 degrees, wind S 6 mph
Line: Steelers +6.5, over/under 44.5 FanDuel Promo

AT STAKE

It’s Week 1, but AFC North games are always meaningful. The Steelers could very well need a tiebreaker to get into an AFC Wild Card spot, and the divisional record is their top tiebreaker should they split with the Baltimore Ravens and end with the same record. Stealing a game from Cincy could mean being inside the playoff picture come January.

TRANSACTIONS

The Steelers re-signed ILB Marcus Allen and OT Trent Scott last Tuesday. OLB Jamir Jones was claimed off waivers from the Jacksonville Jaguars, while OLB Derrek Tuszka was lost on waivers to the Tennessee Titans.

INJURY REPORT

FS Damontae Kazee (left forearm) and WR Calvin Austin III (foot sprain) are both on the short-term injured reserve list. Sunday will be the first of at least four games that they must miss.

RT Chukwuma Okorafor (back) and WR Diontae Johnson (left shoulder) both expect to play despite being limited in practice this week.

FROM THE OTHER SIDE

The Bengals are ready to step into their home stadium for the first time since going to the Super Bowl. RT La’el Collins tweaked his ankle in training camp and suffered a scare on Friday, but it seems like he will be good to go. The Bengals will look to kick off the season on the right foot.