November football, as is well known, is where the contenders separate themselves from the pretenders. The weight of every game gets heightened.
That will be the case for the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday with a road trip to take on the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 12.
Just a few days after firing offensive coordinator Matt Canada, the Steelers stare down another pivotal matchup, not only within the division but for AFC playoff purposes as well.
Currently, Pittsburgh is the seventh seed in the AFC, holding down the final Wild Card spot. But, depending on the result Sunday at Paycor Stadium, the playoff odds could change dramatically one way or another.