Cincinnati Bengals
Dec 28, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Cincinnati Bengals quarterback AJ McCarron (5) throws the ball under pressure from Denver Broncos outside linebacker Shaquil Barrett (48) during the second half at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Broncos won 20-17 in overtime. Reuters/Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

The Cincinnati Bengals will enter the AFC Wild Card round with hopes of ending one of the longest postseason droughts in NFL history. The Bengals meet the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paul Brown Stadium in Ohio on Jan. 9 (Jan. 10 AEDT).

The Bengals will try to grab their first playoff win since 1991 when they host the Steelers in the NFL’s Wild Card round, but odds have Cincinnati as the underdog even at their own home turf.

Despite finishing first in the AFC North with a 12-4 record, the Bengals narrowly missed out a chance for a first round bye, which could have given starting quarterback Andy Dalton more time to return from a broken thumb.

Backup QB AJ McCarron is set for a fourth straight start this weekend, but according to Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis, Dalton could play against the Steelers after he had the cast removed from his broken right thumb.

"Andy continues to progress well; he's doing just what he's supposed to do," Lewis said, reports UPI. "We're preparing for AJ McCarron to be the starting quarterback. Whether Andy is the backup or where he is, we'll know down the line."

According to Frank Schwab of Yahoo Sports, McCarron would be the key player the Bengals have, with his slow and steady-type of offense. Schwab noted that McCarron, who has a 97.1 QB rating, has not been bad for the Bengals, although the team does not entirely rely on him to carry the offense.

Meanwhile, the Steelers, who finished second in the AFC North with a 10-6 record, have concern in the team’s growing list of injured key players. The Steelers could be forced to take on a one-dimensional game with running back DeAngelo Williams still sidelined due to an ankle injury in Week 17 of the NFL regular season, according to Josh Alper of NBC Sports.

Alper also noted that Pittsburgh would force to turn to the running tandem of Fitzgerald Toussaint and Jordan Todman to advance from the NFL Wild Card round weekend.

“Playing without Williams would force the Steelers to turn to the lightly used duo of Fitzgerald Toussaint and Jordan Todman in the backfield for Wild Card weekend,” Alper wrote. “While the Pittsburgh passing attack is a potent one, they’ll need their backs to provide some balance even if Williams isn’t able to go if they’re going to keep a strong Bengals defense from loading up to stop them through the air.”

Betting Odds ( Odds Shark) - Against the Spread

Pittsburgh Steelers: +1
Cincinnati Bengals: -1

Live Streaming Info

Watch NFL Wild Card round between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals live at the NFL’s official website.