After falling to the Ravens, the Steelers now face the upstart Bengals, who own the top playoff seed in the AFC at this juncture with its 6-2 slate.
While that may come as a surprise considering all the upheaval the Bengals have seen, an even more interesting is the fact Cincinnati has only beaten one team with a winning record (Buffalo).
Steeler coach Mike Tomlin wants to hear none of it. In his mind, the Bengals are formidable foe.
"We have an opponent waiting for us that has made winning a habit,"Tomlin said. "Particularly over the last five weeks. So we are sensitive to that, we respect that, and by no means are we looking to find comfort in our situation."
The Bengals boast one of the top defenses in the NFL, but have had trouble stopping the pass this year.
Meaning Ben Roethlisberger could have an explosive game. He's had 300 yards passing in his last three games, and is on pace to break his Steelers single season passing record.
"Roethlisberger is playing as well as he's played," Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said. "When things break down, he's making plays that aren't scripted. If he's got the ball in his hand, and there's time on the clock, he's dangerous."
While there was some worry about the wide receiving corps entering the game, Hines Ward will return and so will Jerrico Cotchery,
But watch Heath Miller. One of the NFL's most underated players, when the ball coems near him, according to defensive tackle Brett Keisel, he is 'money". Should the Bengals cover the speedy Steeler wideouts like the Ravens and Patriots did, it could be Miller time.
Miller though isn't talking stats, like Tomlin he also knows the type of contest it will be against the NFL's fifth ranked defense.
"We're going to have to fight to get yards," Miller said. "It's going to be a tough atmosphere on the road, we are going to have to start fast and make sure we don't hand the ball over to those guys."
SERIES HISTORY
Series History: Series began in 1970
Overall: Pittsburgh leads 48-32
At Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh leads 27-14
At Cincinnati: Pittsburgh leads 21-18
Neutral Sites: n/a
Last Regular-Season Meeting: Dec. 12, 2010 (in Pittsburgh) Pittsburgh 23, Cincinnati 7
Postseason Series: Pittsburgh leads 1-0
(postseason record not included in overall series record)
Pittsburgh leads the all-time regular-season series 48-32 and swept the season series last year for the sixth time since 2000 and for the third time under Head Coach Mike Tomlin...Since Tomlin was named head coach in 2007 the Steelers are 6-2 against the Bengals...Pittsburgh is 9-2 at against Cincinnati at Paul Brown Stadium, including a 27-21 victory last season...QB Ben Roethlisberger is 6-1 at Paul Brown Stadium and 10-4 overall against the Bengals, the second most wins by any Steelers quarterback against Cincinnati (Terry Bradshaw, 13-9)...Pittsburgh had won the previous five games in the series...the Steelers had won eight straight games versus the Bengals in Cincinnati prior to their Week 3 loss in 2009...Pittsburgh owns a 25-11 mark against the Bengals since the beginning of the Free Agency Era in 1993.
Series History: Series began in 1970
Overall: Pittsburgh leads 48-32
At Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh leads 27-14
At Cincinnati: Pittsburgh leads 21-18
Neutral Sites: n/a
Last Regular-Season Meeting: Dec. 12, 2010 (in Pittsburgh) Pittsburgh 23, Cincinnati 7
Postseason Series: Pittsburgh leads 1-0
(postseason record not included in overall series record)
Pittsburgh leads the all-time regular-season series 48-32 and swept the season series last year for the sixth time since 2000 and for the third time under Head Coach Mike Tomlin...Since Tomlin was named head coach in 2007 the Steelers are 6-2 against the Bengals...Pittsburgh is 9-2 at against Cincinnati at Paul Brown Stadium, including a 27-21 victory last season...QB Ben Roethlisberger is 6-1 at Paul Brown Stadium and 10-4 overall against the Bengals, the second most wins by any Steelers quarterback against Cincinnati (Terry Bradshaw, 13-9)...Pittsburgh had won the previous five games in the series...the Steelers had won eight straight games versus the Bengals in Cincinnati prior to their Week 3 loss in 2009...Pittsburgh owns a 25-11 mark against the Bengals since the beginning of the Free Agency Era in 1993.
Comments