The Bengals host the Pittsburgh Steelers in an AFC North clash on Sunday at Paycor Stadium. The game kicks off at 1 p.m. ET on CBS/Paramount+. Here is what to watch for:
Burrow Faces Top 5 Defense
Joe Burrow enters Week 13 ranking near the top of the NFL in every passing category, as he is tied for the league lead in touchdown passes (27), is second in completions (274), second in attempts (408), third in passing yards (3,028) and fourth in passer rating (106.9). Standing in his way on Sunday is a Steelers defense that has allowed just 16.9 points per game, the fourth-best average leaguewide.
Pittsburgh has given up only nine touchdown passes on the year, the second-fewest in the NFL, while forcing a league-high 22 turnovers. That total includes 12 interceptions, tied for the fifth-most among any team.
In his career, Burrow boasts a 7-3 record when facing top-five scoring defenses and has a 20-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio in those games. Two weeks ago, taking on a Chargers defense that allowed a league-low 13.1 points per game, Burrow threw for 356 yards and three touchdowns while committing zero turnovers.
Joe Nears Milestone
Burrow needs one touchdown pass to reach 125 in his career (regular season). Should he do it on Sunday, in what will be his 64th game, he would become the third-fastest quarterback in NFL history to pass for 125 touchdowns. Only Patrick Mahomes (50) and Hall of Famer Dan Marino (54) reached the milestone in fewer than 64 games.
Uno on 5K Watch
Ja’Marr Chase heads into Sunday's contest with 4,773 career receiving yards, 227 shy of 5,000. While that would require his third-highest single-game yardage output, Chase is just three weeks removed from a 264-yard explosion at Baltimore. Even after the bye week, he remains the NFL leader in receiving yards (1,056) and touchdowns (12).
If Chase reaches 5,000 yards in what will be his 57th regular-season game, he would be the fifth-fastest player in NFL history to do so. The only players to hit the mark in fewer games are Lance Alworth (52), Justin Jefferson (52), Odell Beckham Jr. (54) and Julio Jones (56).
Perhaps a more reachable figure for Chase on Sunday is 102 yards, which would put his career total at 4,875. That would surpass A.J. Green (4,874) for the most receiving yards in a player's first four seasons in Bengals history.
Ja'Marr Approaching History
Chase's 73 receptions this season rank fifth in the NFL, and he heads into the final six weeks needing 27 to match his career-high 100 catches recorded in 2023. With seven grabs on Sunday against Pittsburgh, he would become the first player in NFL history to register 80+ receptions, 1,000+ receiving yards and 7+ receiving touchdowns in each of his first four career seasons.
Chase is the first Bengals player to lead the league in receiving yards through the first 12 weeks of a season since Chad Johnson in 2006. He has erupted for 339 yards and five touchdowns over Cincinnati's last two games, becoming just the fifth player since the 1970 NFL/AFL merger to post 325+ receiving yards and 5+ TD
View the best photos from Bengals-Chargers matchups of years past
WR Tee Higgins celebrates a touchdown against the Steelers, Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) looks to unload the ball while in the grasp of Cincinnati Bengals linebacker David Pollack (99) in first quarter NFL action Sunday, Dec. 4, 2005 in Pittsburgh. Roethlisberger threw outbounds incomplete on the play.(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
DE Sam Hubbard attempts to sack the opposing QB during the Bengals vs. Pittsburgh Steelers Week 1 game on Sunday, September 11 2022.
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green (18) comes down the ball with Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Steven Nelson (22) defending during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2020, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
DE Trey Hendrickson celebrates a stop against the Steelers, Sunday, September 11, 2022.
Cincinnati Bengals cornerback DJ Turner II (20) deflects a pass intended for Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson (18) during an NFL football game on Sunday, November 26, 2023 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Aaron Doster/NFL)
QB Joe Burrow runs the ball during the third quarter of the Bengals-Steelers game in Week 11 of the 2022 season.
In this Monday, Dec. 4, 2017 file photo, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton passes in the second half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Cincinnati. Three cornerbacks hurt, a linebacker and a running back in concussion protocol. The Bengals are paying the price for their acerbic, season-dooming loss to the Steelers on Monday night at Paul Brown Stadium. The Bengals play the Chicago Bears on Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017. (AP Photo/Gary Landers, File)
S Vonn Bell rushes the quarterback during the Bengals-Steelers Week 1 Game at Paycor Stadium on Sunday, September 11 2022
Cincinnati Bengals' Giovani Bernard (25) runs past Pittsburgh Steelers' Cameron Heyward (97) for a touchdown reception during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 21, 2020, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
LB Logan Wilson prepares for a snap against the Steelers at Paycor Stadium Sunday, November 26, 2023
OT Orlando Brown Jr blocks a Steelers defender during a game at Paycor Stadium Sunday, November 26, 2023
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) makes a catch during an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, November 26, 2023 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Aaron Doster/NFL)
TE Drew Sample runs through a Steelers defender, Saturday, December 23, 2023.
WR Tee Higgins catches the pass in the air during the second quarter of the Bengals-Steelers game in Week 11 of the 2022 season.
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Andrei Iosivas (80) attempts to catch a pass during an NFL football game, Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Durisko)
Pittsburgh Steelers' Cameron Sutton (20) breaks up a pass intended by Cincinnati Bengals' Tee Higgins (85) during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 21, 2020, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Laveranues Coles (11) makes a catch as Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback William Gay (22) and Troy Polamalu (43) close in to defend during the first quarter of an NFL football game Sunday Nov. 15, 2009 in Pittsburgh.(AP Photo/Don Wright)
Cincinnati Bengals receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh (84) falls forward after catching a pass against Pittsburgh Steelers defender Tyrone Carter (23) in the first half of their NFL playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 8, 2006, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Al Behrman)
Cincinnati Bengals' Vonn Bell (24) and Jordan Evans (50) look to recover a fumble by Pittsburgh Steelers' JuJu Smith-Schuster (19) during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 21, 2020, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)
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