Steelers vs Bengals Props – MNF Best Team and Player Prop Bets for Week 15

By Chris Amberley in NFL Football
Updated: December 27, 2020 at 5:04 pm ESTPublished:

- The Pittsburgh Steelers clash with the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday Night Football (Dec. 21st, 8:15 pm EST)
- Our MNF prop bets were 2-2 in Week 14 (2020 season: -3.6 units)
- Read below for analysis and our favorite Monday Night Football prop bets
As a fan of variety, it’s incredibly frustrating to see the Pittsburgh Steelers in primetime nearly every week. For what feels like the umpteenth week in a row, Pittsburgh will be in the national spotlight, this time facing the lowly Cincinnati Bengals.
With Brandon Allen out with a knee injury, Cincy will turn to its third quarterback of the season in Ryan Finley. You couldn’t ask for a worst matchup to throw him out there against, and as expected online sportsbooks are not very high on his prospects for success.
Steelers vs Bengals Player Props
Quarterback | Completions | Passing Yards | Passing TD |
---|---|---|---|
Ben Roethlisberger (PIT) | 26.5 (Ov -115 | Un -108) | 277.5 (Ov -112 | Un -112) | 2.5 (Ov +125 | Un -157) |
Ryan Finley (CIN) | 16.5 (Ov -124 | Un +100) | 189.5 (Ov -112 | Un -112) | 0.5 (Ov -230 | Un +180) |
Running Backs | Attempts | Rush Yards | Rush + Receiving Yards |
Giovani Bernard (CIN) | 8.5 (Ov -112 | Un -112) | 29.5 (Ov -112 | Un -112) | 42.5 (Ov -112 | Un -112) |
Wide Receivers + Tight Ends | Receptions | Receiving Yards | Longest Reception |
Chase Claypool (PIT) | 3.5 (Ov -112 | Un -112) | 39.5 (Ov -112 | Un -112) | 17.5 (Ov -112 | Un -112) |
Diontae Johnson (PIT) | 5.5 (Ov -152 | Un +122) | 62.5 (Ov -112 | Un -112) | 21.5 (Ov -112 | Un -112) |
James Washington (PIT) | 2.5 (Ov +135 | Un -175) | 23.5 (Ov -112 | Un -112) | 14.5 (Ov -112 | Un -112) |
Juju Smith-Schuster (PIT) | 5.5 (Ov +100 | Un -124) | 53.5 (Ov -112 | Un -112) | 19.5 (Ov -112 | Un -112) |
Tee Higgins (CIN) | 3.5 (Ov +115 | Un -143) | 40.5 (Ov -112 | Un -112) | 19.5 (Ov -112 | Un -112) |
Tyler Boyd (CIN) | 3.5 (Ov -152 | Un +122) | 47.5 (Ov -112 | Un -112) | 19.5 (Ov -112 | Un -112) |
A.J. Green (CIN) | 2.5 (Ov -112 | Un -112) | 31.5 (Ov -112 | Un -112) | 17.5 (Ov -112 | Un -112) |
Eric Ebron (PIT) | 3.5 (Ov -112 | Un -112) | 36.5 (Ov -112 | Un -112) | 16.5 (Ov -112 | Un -112) |
Drew Sample (CIN) | 2.5 (Ov +135 | Un -175) | 21.5 (Ov -112 | Un -112) | 12.5 (Ov -112 | Un -112) |
All Odds taken Dec. 20th at DraftKings.
The Finley-led Bengals have a team total of just 12.5 for this contest and are massive 14-point underdogs. They’ve lost five straight, failing to exceed 10 points in four of those five outings.
Prop #1: Ryan Finley Under 0.5 Touchdown Passes
In six career appearances, Finley has thrown twice as many interceptions (4) as touchdowns. All together, he’s committed eight turnovers and absorbed 18 sacks, and not once in his three career starts, did his team exceed 13 points.
I bet Steeler coaches are losing a lot of sleep next few nights – they have to face the dynamic duo of Zac Taylor and Ryan Finley
— Matt Wahlert, PhD (@mattforohio) December 20, 2020
This is the same guy that was demoted in favor of Allen, a practice squad QB, when Joe Burrow went down. Now he has to face the league’s best defense with the entire football world watching? Who would be surprised if he melted under the pressure.
Pittsburgh entered Week 15 first in sacks, and tied for first in takeaways, while Cincinnati has given up the second most sacks and QB hits in the NFL. Expect Finley struggle mightily.
Pick: Ryan Finley Under 0.5 Touchdown Passes (+180), 0.75 units
Prop #2: Juju Smith-Schuster Over 5.5 Receptions, Over 53.5 Rec. Yards
Juju Smith-Schuster has seen 27 targets over his past three games, hauling in at least 6 receptions in each outing. Last time out versus Buffalo, he went for 6/55/1 and now gets to face a Bengals team he worked when they met earlier this season.
JuJu Smith-Schuster catches the TD off the “natural pick.”
The Steelers are making a game of it! They trail 23-15 in the fourth quarter. pic.twitter.com/h4SN8YLt5H
— Sporting News Fantasy (@sn_fantasy) December 14, 2020
Back in Week 10, he caught 9 passes for 77 yards and a score versus Cincy, and has the lowest drop percentage of any receiver on the team. With drops being a big concern amongst the group, and one that earned Diontae Johnson a spot on the bench last week, we can safely assume Ben Roethlisberger may look Juju’s way a little more often in this matchup.
Picks: Juju Smith-Schuster Over 5.5 Receptions (+100), 1 unit, Over 53.5 Receiving Yards (-112), 1 unit
Steelers vs Bengals Scoring Props
Player | Odds to Score 1st TD | Odds to Score Any TD |
---|---|---|
Benny Snell Jr (PIT) | +750 | +120 |
Chase Claypool (PIT) | +750 | +135 |
James Conner (PIT) | +750 | +120 |
Juju Smith-Schuster (PIT) | +800 | +145 |
Diontae Johnson (PIT) | +900 | +165 |
Giovani Bernard (CIN) | +1200 | +240 |
Eric Ebron (PIT) | +1200 | +225 |
Tyler Boyd (CIN) | +1600 | +375 |
Jaylen Samuels (PIT) | +1600 | +325 |
Tee Higgins (CIN) | +1800 | +375 |
A.J. Green (CIN) | +2000 | +425 |
James Washington (PIT) | +2000 | +425 |
Drew Sample (CIN) | +2500 | +550 |
Samaje Perine (CIN) | +2500 | +550 |
Anthony McFarland (PIT) | +2500 | +500 |
Ben Roethlisberger (PIT) | +4500 | +1000 |
Ryan Finley (CIN) | +6000 | +1300 |
Prop #3: Ebron Strikes First
With so much uncertainty surrounding the health of Pittsburgh’s running backs, and the Steelers’ propensity to throw the ball, it only makes sense to target one of their pass catchers as first touchdown scorer.
There’s no bad option out of the bunch, but I like the value that tight end Eric Ebron offers at +1200. Ebron has seen 27 targets over the last three games, and has been a phenomenal red zone producer over his career.
TOUCHDOWN @Ebron85!! pic.twitter.com/JTpZAxh7ZN
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) November 9, 2020
Entering Week 15, only the New York Jets had given up more production to tight ends than Cincinnati, and I like Ebron’s chances for a big game in this matchup.
Pick: Eric Ebron to Score First TD (+1200), 0.25 units

Sports Writer
As SBD's resident Swiss Army Knife, Chris covers virtually every sport including NFL, PGA, NBA, MLB, NCAAB, NCAAF and the Olympics. A true grinder, he'd rather pick off small edges in the player props market than swing for the fences with a 5-leg parlay.