A playoff berth can be clinched at Heinz Field on Sunday night and, sadly for the Pittsburgh faithful, it is the division opponent in position for that accomplishment. The visiting Cincinnati Bengals (9-4) can clinch at least a Wild Card spot and possibly even win the AFC North title (with a Ravens loss or tie on Monday night) if they are victorious over the Steelers (5-8) in a primetime matchup. Cincinnati defeated Pittsburgh in a Week 2 Monday Night Football matchup on their home turf, by a 20-10 score. The Bengals are an impressive 6-0 at home this season, but just 3-4 at home. The Steelers, 3-3 at home, are coming off a disappointing and chilly loss at home to Miami last week. Weather will likely play a big factor in this evening matchup, as frigid temperatures and more snowfall are in the forecast.
Cincinnati has won three straight, seven of nine, and has a two-game lead in the division over Baltimore (7-6). They can earn a postseason berth for the third straight year under head coach Marvin Lewis. The Bengals are led by QB Andy Dalton, who despite his inconsistency at times, has been hot recently. A strong running game, headed by the tandem of veteran BenJarvus Green-Ellis and rookie Giovanni Bernard, is more than complimented by one of the league’s rising stars, WR A.J. Green. Green-Ellis and Bernard both have more rushing yards than Pittsburgh’s leading rusher Le’Veon Bell, combining for over 1,200 yards and ten touchdowns. Green has eight touchdowns on 78 receptions, and went over 1,000 yards for the third time in his three seasons. Second-year receiver Marvin Jones is also making a strong impact as one of Dalton’s primary weapons, matching Green with eight touchdowns.
The Steelers defense had been showing a lot of improvement over the middle portion of the season, but took a big step backwards in the loss to Miami last week. Ryan Tannehill, Charles Clay, and the Dolphins played efficiently and scored at will late in the game, coming back from a Troy Polamalu interception return and a late deficit to win 34-28 and extend their playoff hopes. Pittsburgh has now lost two straight, dating back to a Thanksgiving night loss at Baltimore. Prior to that, they were 5-6 and very much in the AFC playoff discussion. Baltimore and Miami have since won twice, and the Steelers have lost twice, all but mathematically eliminating them from contention. The Steelers would have to win out Sunday, and in the next two weeks at Green Bay and vs. Cleveland, while hoping for losses each week by Baltimore, Miami, and likely San Diego, upset winners on Thursday night at Denver.
With the playoffs almost certainly out of reach, Mike Tomlin and his team simply need to work on improving a promising, but often disappointing and disorganized offense. They need to play more consistently on defense, get healthy at nearly every position, develop youth, determine what to do with veteran players, get past the controversy of Tomlin’s misstep at Baltimore two weeks ago, and find a way to keep the quarterback and franchise player happy. Not all of these items will be accomplished in the remaining three weeks, but a victory over the Bengals would be a quality step in the right direction. Cincinnati has a prime opportunity to win three straight against the Steelers, something they did in 2009-2010 as well.
Among few bright spots for the Steelers this year has been WR Antonio Brown, who is among the league leaders in receptions and yardage. Brown nearly completed what would have been one of the most incredible endings to any NFL games, when he appeared to score on a last-second desperation play complete with laterals and a mad dash for the end zone. Alas, Brown stepped out of bounds at the 13-yard line. It may have not mattered anyways, because one of the laterals had appeared to be forward. Still, Brown is electric with the football, especially on the open field. Roethlisberger will continue to look his way early and often, as Brown has proven to be an excellent number one option in the passing game.
With both teams solid in the air attack, the difference this season has been in both the rushing offense and rushing defense. Cincinnati averages 39 more yards per game on the ground than do the Steelers and, defensively, the Bengals allow 22 less rushing yards per game than Pittsburgh. In this late-season, cold weather matchup, the Steelers will likely hinge on whether or not they can stop the duo of Green-Ellis and Bernard. Offensively, Bell (or any Steeler running back) have yet run for 100 yards in a game. That must change, but will be a tall task against the fifth-ranked Bengals rush defense.
Pittsburgh will be without DE and defensive leader Brett Keisel again, who is dealing with a foot injury. Cincinnati had several important players on the injury list this week, including Green-Ellis, Jones, LB James Harrison, and LB Vontaze Burfict, but all are expected to suit up on Sunday night. Harrison will play his first game back in Pittsburgh since departing in the offseason.
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