Steelers Today - A Pittsburgh Steelers blog

You may also want to check out our Top 10 Reasons Pittsburgh Is Better Than Cincinnati, and our Steelers vs. Bengals Key Match-ups.

This Thursday at 8:15 PM, the Cincinnati Bengals come to Heinz Field to face the Steelers. The game will be aired on NFL Network.

It would be easy for the Steelers (7-3) to become complacent going into a game against the Bengals (1-8-1). Afterall, the two teams sit at opposite ends of the AFC North standings. The Steelers are in first place, and the Bengals are in last place (sound familiar?).

The Bengals’ offense is ranked #32 in the NFL (that’s last, for those of you who aren’t aware). They average a mere 158.9 yards per game passing, and an even more meager 83.7 rushing yards per game.

The Bengals’ rushing attack (if you can call it that) is led by Cedrick Benson (yes, Cedrick Benson. Stop laughing!), the NFL’s 50th ranked running back. Benson is averaging 47.2 yards/game (Bwahahaha!!!!!). Benson will be going up against the Steelers’ #1 ranked defense. They’re #1 against the pass, and #1 against the run (I like the way that sounds). Given the difficulty that REAL running backs like Clinton Portis, LaDainian Tomlinson, Fred Taylor, Maurice Jones-Drew, Brian Westbrook, and Brandon Jacobs had trying to run against the Steelers, Cedrick Benson is probably in for a long and painful night on Thursday. Benson should be scrambling to get a doctor’s excuse or a note from his mom before Thursday.

The Bengals’ passing game is led by quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. His 71.3 passer rating ranks #30 in the NFL, right behind JaMarcus Russell and Tyler Thigpen, and just ahead of Dan Orlovsky. That is not the type of company that any quarterback wants to be in. Fitzpatrick has connected with loud-mouthed wide receiver Chad Johnson 41 times this season for a total of 383 yards. That’s 10 yards less than Steelers’ #3 receiver Nate Washington has accumulated. The self-proclaimed “future hall of famer” has an unimpressive 4 touchdowns this season. Johnson has never had much success against Steelers’ cornerback Ike Taylor. That shouldn’t change this week.

The Bengals’ defense is just slightly more intimidating than their offense. They give up an average of 24.9 points per game. That puts a lot of pressure on their offense.

The Bengals have difficulty putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks. That should be welcome news to Steelers’ quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. The Bengals’ defense has a total of only 11 sacks this season. That’s one fewer than Steelers’ linebacker James Harrison has accumulated. In fact, the Bengals sack leader, DE Robert Geathers, has 1.5 fewer sacks than Steelers backup linebacker Lawrence Timmons.

But before Steelers fans get too excited, we should note that Cincinnati played the Philadelphia Eagles to a 13-13 tie last week (yes Donovan, there are ties in the NFL). That’s the same Eagles team that beat the Steelers like a drum earlier this year. Moreover, the Bengals have beaten the Steelers at Heinz Field as recently as 2006. So the Steelers have to be diligent not to allow this to become a “trap” game. As they say, “on any given Sunday”.

Yeah right. Who am I kidding? The Bengals don’t have a chance in this game. I predict the Steelers will win big. Final score: Steelers 32, Bengals 10.

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I know that with the last few posts, Steelers Today is starting to look like a memorial to Troy Polamalu. That is why I am reluctant to post this particular item. However, the commercial for this Thursday’s game between the Steelers and Bengals was so cool that I had to post it. It’s called “Polamalu Island”. Take a look, if you haven’t seen it already.

I don’t have a “man-crush” on Troy, and I promise this will be the last Troy Polamalu video for a while (unless he makes another great interception).

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Steelers 38, Bengals 10.  Seven sacks on Bengals QB Ryan Fitzpatrick.  Bengals don’t record their first 1st down until there are only 4:57 left in the first half.  120 yards rushing and 3 touchdowns for Mewelde Moore.  Two touchdown passes and a 108.6 passer rating for Ben Roethlisberger.  Any questions?

In light of the beating that the Steelers handed the Bengals, I’m not going to waste anyone’s time rehashing what was essentially a total thrashing. Instead, I’m going to see if you fans have REALLY been paying attention.  Below is a pop quiz on Sunday’s game, and the Steelers’ season thus far.  Consider this to be your Pittsburgh Steelers Wonderlic test.  Good luck.

1.  Which Steelers’ running back is averaging the most yards per carry this season?

A.  Carey Davis

B.  Willie Parker

C.  Mewelde Moore

D.  Gary Russell

2.  Which of these names does not belong with the others?

A.  James Harrison

B.  DeMarcus Ware

C. Mario Williams

D. LaMarr Woodley

E.  Joey Porter

3.  How many times have the Cincinnati Bengals started their season with an 0-7 record since 1978?

A.  11

B.  3

C.  8

D.  6

4.  Which of these names does not belong in this group?

A.  Ed Reed

B.  Bob Sanders

C.  Keith Rivers

D.  Bart Scott

5.  Which Steelers receiver led the team in receiving yards on Sunday?

A.  Nate Washington

B.  Hines Ward

C.  Heath Miller

D.  Santonio Holmes

6.  Bengals receiver Chad Johnson has how many TD receptions so far this season?

A.  11

B.  7

C.  5

D.  2

7.  Rank the following Steelers’ 2008 salaries from highest to lowest.

A.  Troy Polamalu

B.  Casey Hampton

C.  Willie Parker

D.  Max Starks

E.  Hines Ward

8.  Rank the following Steelers defenders in order of number of tackles on Sunday against the Bengals (rank from highest to lowest).

A.  LaMarr Woodley

B.  Aaron Smith

C.  James Harrison

D.  Ike Taylor

E.  Lawrence Timmons

9.  What was the Bengals’ 4th down conversion percentage on Sunday?

A.  25%

B.  50%

C.  75%

D.  100%

10.  Who returned kickoffs for the Steelers on Sunday?

A.  Santonio Holmes

B.  Mewelde Moore

C.  Najeh Davenport

D.  Gary Russell

Answers:

1.  “C”.  Mewelde Moore

2.  “C”.  Mario Williams.  The other 4 are among the top 5 sack leaders in the NFL this season.

3.  “D”.  The Bengals have started 0-7 six times since 1978.

4.  “B”.  Bob Sanders had never been “jacked up” by a vicious block from Hines Ward.

5.  “D”.  Santonio Holmes led the team with 89 receiving yards.

6.  “D”.  Ocho Cinco only has 2 touchdowns this year.  Sounds like “Ocho Stinko” to me.

7.  1) Max Starks, $6.9 million.  2) Troy Polamalu, $6.8 million  3) Hines Ward, $6.7 million  4) Casey Hampton, $6.4 million  5) Willie Parker, $4.1 million.

8.  1) Lawrence Timmons (11).  2) James Harrison (5).  3)  LaMarr Woodley (4).  4) Ike Taylor (3).  5) Aaron Smith (1).

9.  “D”, 100%.

10.  “C”.  Najeh Davenport

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Before reading this week’s key match-ups, please read my Steelers-Bengals Preview

On Sunday, the Steelers travel to Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati to take on the Bengals.  Despite the Bengals 0-6 record, the Steelers have to be careful not to allow the Bengals’ record to lull them into a false sense of security.  Any game against a division rival is important, and can’t be taken lightly.

These are the match-ups that I believe will have the highest likelihood of impacting the outcome of the game.

Ryan Fitzpatrick vs. James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley

Ryan Fitzpatrick is going to need every ounce of his Harvard education to figure out how to avoid the twin freight trains, James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley.  Fitzpatrick has been sacked 8 times in 2 starts this year.  Don’t be surprised if Fitzpatrick adds 8 more to his total on Sunday.  Hint to Fitzpatrick: Duck!   Advantage: Steelers.

Dick LeBeau vs. Bengals Offensive Coordinator Bob Bratkowski

The man most responsible for keeping Ryan Fitzpatrick alive upright on Sunday will not be a Bengals offensive lineman.  Nope, that responsibility falls on offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski.  Bratkowski is going to have to develop a game plan that will prepare the inexperienced Fitzpatrick for the most complex defensive scheme that he has ever faced, manned by the most relentless and unstoppable rushers that he has ever faced.  Yeah, good luck with that.  Advantage: Steelers.

Mewelde Moore vs. Bengals’ Defensive Line

Mewelde Moore had an impressive outing in his first game as a Steelers starter.  His mouth should be watering in anticipation of facing a Bengals defense that allows 4.6 yards per carry.  Might we see Moore’s first 100 yard rushing performance as a Steeler?  Advantage: Steelers.

Ike Taylor and Bryant McFadden vs. T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Chad Ocho Cinco.

Despite the difficulties that the Bengals have had establishing their passing game this year, these are two of the most dangerous receivers in the NFL.  Few tandems are as talented.  Ike Taylor has enjoyed a tremendous amount of success against Ocho Cinco during his career, and Bryant McFadden has played so well as a replacement for DeShea Townsend, that Townsend may have a hard time getting back on the field when he is completely healthy.  This may be the best match-up of the game.  Advantage: Neither.

NT Chris Hoke vs. C Eric Ghiaciuc

Bengals center Eric Ghiaciuc struggles against large nose tackles.  Casey Hampton would eat him alive.  Ghiaciuc is more of an athletic center, and Chris Hoke is a much better match-up for him (at least on paper).  Despite Hoke’s smaller size, the Steelers lose very little when he plays in place of Hampton.  Advantage: Steelers.

Bengals’ Punt Team vs. Steelers’ Punt Team

Okay, we’re starting to feel like homers, so we have to find some area in which the Bengals have an advantage.  We predict that the Bengals’ punt team will dominate the Steelers punt team in total number of punts.  In fact, the Bengals may punt 8-10 times more often than the Steelers.  I wouldn’t even be surprised if they pitched a shutout, and the Bengals kept the Steelers from having to make a single punt during the entire game.  If that’s not total domination, we don’t know what is.  Advantage: Bengals (sort of). 

Steeler Nation vs. Bengal Nation Medium Sized Assembly

There is no doubt that Steeler Nation is going to be in the house on Sunday.  Terrible Towels will be waving in Paul Brown Stadium.  The question is, which fan group will have the larger presence.  Ordinarily, the home team’s fans would always have the advantage.  However, these are Bengals fans (is there really such a thing?) we’re talking about.  They started giving up on their team in week 2.  It will be tough, but I think Steeler Nation might be able to win this one.  Advantage:  We’ll see on Sunday.

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This week Steelers Today is featuring an article by guest blogger Adam Kiefaber. Adam is the writer for Bengal Stripes, a Cincinnati Bengals blog. Enjoy Adam’s perspective on the Steelers-Bengals game, and please stop by his site at bengalstripes.com to let him know what you think of his article. Also, please stop by his site to read the article that I wrote for his blog.

Here is the article by Adam Kiefaber. Enjoy.

-Steelers Today

There isn’t a team that disgusts Bengals fans more than the Pittsburgh Steelers.

We hate you. Sure there might be some jealously, but mainly it’s because of the fact that you bastards are everywhere.

Just the other day I was in an argument with a Steelers fan
who also happens to be a LA Dodgers fan and a San Antonio Spurs fan.
What the hell?

To us, that just doesn’t make sense. If you are a Bengals fan, then
you are also a Reds fan. So that being said, we are miserable all the
time, and oozing with jealously of teams that always seem to be in the playoffs.

I lived in Atlanta for two years, I worked with three Steelers fans.
That was in an office that employed approximately 20 people. One fan
claimed to live for the Steelers in the fall, Duke basketball in the
winter and then like, a normal person, cheered for the Braves in the
summer. I guess it helps to have a home team (talking about the Braves
here) that wins the division every single season.

Many claim to have fallen in love with Steelers in the ’70s, or that
their father was a big Steelers fan - for some reason, in my opinion,
it rarely added up.

My first question to anyone that claims to be a Pittsburgh fan is,
where are you from?

If you answer “Pittsburgh”, then I don’t mind you as much. I will
probably still not like you, but I won’t hate you.

Here in Cincinnati, we are hometown fans, but we complain all the
time. We complain about everything about our city, and the Bengals are
near the top of that bitter list.

And honestly, Pittsburgh is a very similar city. There are many
hardcore Steelers fans that will support their team no matter what their
record is. Sure you might see a lot of Steelers fans at the game this
Sunday, but can you blame us? Our team is 0-6 and this is the only game
someone will buy our tickets from us at, or near, face value.

So, to all you Steelers fans, Who Dey! The Bengals will win its first
game in 2008 this Sunday.

Do I actually believe it? No, not really. But I do believe that the
majority of Steelers fans at Paul Brown Stadium this Sunday will not be wearing
Pirates apparel in the summer.

To all the hometown fans that will be wearing the “P” this summer,
cheers! Enjoy the Queen city and get home safely. For the rest of you
posers, pick a team that makes sense, and not just a convenient winner.

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