The Pittsburgh Steelers have a chance to further their command of the AFC North when they visit a cratering Cincinnati Bengals team on Thursday Night Football.

Pittsburgh improved to 4-1 last Sunday as they held off the Cleveland Browns 23-9 in their first divisional game of the campaign.

While the Steelers have been unspectacular to this point, their victory over the Browns gave them a substantial lead in the North, as it came on the same day the Bengals suffered a fourth straight loss.

Joe Flacco’s debut for Cincinnati following his trade from the Browns ended in predictable fashion, with the Bengals still struggling to move the ball without starting quarterback Joe Burrow (turf toe) as they were beaten 27-18 at Lambeau Field by the Green Bay Packers.

The Bengals are now 2-4, three games back in the loss column on the Steelers, though still their closest challengers.

With both the Browns and Baltimore Ravens 1-5, the latter collapsing with two-time MVP Lamar Jackson out of the line-up, it is already extremely difficult to envision anyone other than Steelers claiming the division crown.

Pittsburgh can cement their grip on the North with victory in Cincinnati and key to that will be the Steelers continuing to play mistake-free football.

"I think we're playing pretty smart football," said quarterback Aaron Rodgers. 

"When we take care of the football and don't turn it over, we're going to have a chance in any game. Then if we can control the line of scrimmage, we're really going to be playing downhill.”

The Steelers have given the ball away just three times this season, while the Bengals are tied for the league lead with 11 giveaways.

If those trends continue, then it figures to be a long and painful night for Cincinnati, whose star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase used some colourful language to sum up the confidence the Steelers may be feeling heading into the game.

"The next game is always the most important game because it's a divisional game, but also because of the standings and where we are right now," Chase told reporters postgame.

"The Steelers are going to try and come in and rawdog us and kill us. But we'll be ready for that challenge, and we'll be waiting for it."

Prediction for Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cincinnati Bengals

The trade for Flacco did little to turn around the Bengals’ fortunes in Green Bay, and it’s difficult to see him winning this duel of quarterbacks in their fifth decade.

Flacco is unlikely to be able to avoid the Steelers’ pass rush, which should give Rodgers and the Pittsburgh offense enough short fields to put the points they need on the board.

Pittsburgh Steelers 24-13 Cincinnati Bengals

How to watch Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cincinnati Bengals

The Pittsburgh Steelers-Cincinnati Bengals matchup kicks off 8:15pm ET (1:15am BST) at Paycor Stadium. The game is available on Amazon Prime Video. It can also be streamed via NFL +. Fans tuning in from outside the United States can catch every moment through NFL Game Pass on DAZN.