NBC Sports analyst Cris Collinsworth will call Sunday night’s AFC North showdown as the Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2) visit the Cincinnati Bengals (6-2). Pittsburgh won the teams’ first meeting 30-27 more than a month ago in a game decided in the closing moments. This rematch will determine sole possession of the division lead.
The game also marks the first time Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow will play a primetime home game against a divisional opponent. His previous primetime matchups against division rivals have all been on the road.
Collinsworth Praises Joe Burrow
Speaking on Thursday, Collinsworth praised Burrow’s work ethic and described how much the quarterback has carried Cincinnati’s offense.
“He works very hard at his craft and you can tell that. But he’s basically taken this entire team on his shoulders,” Collinsworth said. “And I think everybody down there would tell you that. And from just analyzing football, like in my mind, it’s always been you’ve got to have a little bit of everything. You’ve gotta play defense, you’ve gotta be able to run it, you’ve gotta be able to throw it. But maybe it’s like maybe they just do have to throw it…. why would you not give it to Joe Burrow and throw it every time cause they’re just so good at it.”
Burrow’s 2026 Season
In his seventh season with Cincinnati, Burrow is on pace for the best year of his career and has put himself firmly in the MVP conversation. Entering Sunday night, he has completed 74.0% of his passes, the highest rate in the NFL, for 2,386 yards and a league-leading 23 touchdown passes.
Burrow has emphasized the significance of the matchup with Pittsburgh, calling it one of the biggest games the Bengals have played in quite some time.
“This is as big of a game as we’ve had here for awhile,” Burrow said earlier this week. “Lost to them earlier in the season… for first place outright. Huge game.”
