After dropping the last three games, even the most ardent Pittsburgh Steelers fans are weary of their team's imminent future. A nightmare scenario awaits the Black and Gold if their downward trajectory continues.

The Cincinnati Bengals (8-8) and Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6) meet Saturday in an AFC North battle with major playoff implications. Kickoff from Acrisure Stadium is set for 8 p.m. ET (ESPN). Below, we look at Bengals vs.

The Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6) and Cincinnati Bengals (8-8) are coming into their Week 18 showdown from very different directions. The Bengals are playing their best football of the season, have won four games in a row and are still fighting to make the playoffs.

The Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals will play in a primetime clash on Saturday at 8:00 p.m. That game will come after the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns suit up at 4:30 p.m., so the Steelers will know if they are playing for the AFC North title or just seeding.

But the Steelers game against the Bengals is a must-win regardless of how the Ravens do against the Browns. This is because of the way the playoff scenarios work, if the Steelers win and the Ravens win, Pittsburgh would finish as the No. 5 seed and travel to Houston to take on the Texans.

The Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals will be squaring off in primetime on Saturday night for the Week 18 matchup between the two teams. The Steelers have already clinched a playoff spot but still have a chance to win the AFC North division while the Bengals continue to fight for a chance to make the postseason.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are getting a boost ahead of their critical Week 18 showdown against the Cincinnati Bengals. Backup quarterback Justin Fields has recovered from the abdominal injury