I think the Bengals have the defense to match up with the Steelers offense. When in their base 4-3, Hall will be on Wallace and Clements will be on Brown. Their D-line is athletic enough to keep contain Ben and has enough size that he doesn't tower over them, which is kind of rare to find a line like that. The key to defrensive success for the Bengals is fresh lineman. They play 8 and are constantly rotating players in and out. If the Steelers go to a no huddle, the line could get worn out quickly.

Offensively, the Bengals need to figure out where the blitz is coming from. Wherever the blitzer leaves will have a window for a quick pass, a staple of the West Coast Offense the Bengals run. Keep the Steelers honest by Stretching the field with Green and Simpson (both are deep threats) and pound the ball with Benson to set up the playaction pass.

I think it will be a very close game.

I'm rooting for a tie, but since Bengals fans don't show up to games and get blacked out in playoff years it will probably feel like a home game for steeler fans. Thus I begrudgingly think the Steelers will prevail in this one.

I catch myself worrying about what the Steelers can do to the Bengals defense, but I think I am remiss by not stating what the Bengals can do to the Steeler offense. With line issues persisting for Pittsburgh, their front will be tested a great deal. Michael Johnson and Carlos Dunlap are playing very well, and Domata Peko and Geno Atkins are doing an outstanding job at the point of attack. I would imagine Mendenhall will have to make a defender miss at the line to get consistent yardage. Pittsburgh didn't run the ball that much against Baltimore, mostly because they were behind much of the game.

The best thing the bengals having going for it in this game is their defensive strength is the line and pitts offensive weakness is their oline. The bengals will need to make sure they wrap up big Ben when they get to him. The bengals offense needs to put together two solid halves so Dalton doesn't have to throw every time.

Commander of Awesome;963024 wrote:I'm rooting for a tie, but since Bengals fans don't show up to games and get blacked out in playoff years it will probably feel like a home game for steeler fans. Thus I begrudgingly think the Steelers will prevail in this one.

The Bengals blackout streak is over at 7. Bengal fans can thank all the Steelers fans that are flooding Paul Brown Stadium for the sellout.

Bengals.

I'll hopefully be going to this game since my friend that is coming in for the WVU game is a Steelers fan and the Jets play the night game.

justincredible;963863 wrote:Bengals.

I'll hopefully be going to this game since my friend that is coming in for the WVU game is a Steelers fan and the Jets play the night game.

Thank you. We don't give a shit.

THE4RINGZ;963904 wrote:Thank you. We don't give a shit.

Ok. I don't give a shit that you don't give a shit.

Steelers win I think. Andy Dalton hasn't played vs. a d# like ours....

IchsCreekPRIDE;963963 wrote:Steelers win I think. Andy Dalton hasn't played vs. a d# like ours....

you mean a defense that let Flacco go 92 yards in less than 2 mins?....lol j/k

wes_mantooth;963967 wrote:you mean a defense that let Flacco go 92 yards in less than 2 mins?....lol j/k

You can't be kidding when it's a fact. That being said....Flacco may have come of age this season. While Dalton has looked good early....not sure a rookie QB is going to beat a defense coached by Dick LeBeau.

Only one rookie QB ever has....Troy Smith....and that was against 2nd stringers in a meaningless game.

killer_ewok;964081 wrote:You can't be kidding when it's a fact. That being said....Flacco may have come of age this season. While Dalton has looked good early....not sure a rookie QB is going to beat a defense coached by Dick LeBeau.

Only one rookie QB ever has....Troy Smith....and that was against 2nd stringers in a meaningless game.

truth. Dalton is going to be tested for sure.

This is such a huge game for both teams. I am still not buying the bengals because of their schedule so far, but a victory here and EVERYONE will be talking about them. As for the Steelers, I think if they lose this game, they are done in the division...and maybe for the wildcard.

wes_mantooth;964091 wrote:truth. Dalton is going to be tested for sure.

This is such a huge game for both teams. I am still not buying the bengals because of their schedule so far, but a victory here and EVERYONE will be talking about them. As for the Steelers, I think if they lose this game, they are done in the division...and maybe for the wildcard.

Yeah, it's a huge game. The Steelers 2nd half of the season schedule isn't as easy as it looked at first with Cincy (twice), Kansas City and San Francisco playing better than expected.

Na. Kansas City ain't as good as you say. They gave the Phins their 1st win!

I'm playing with house money. If Cincy wins, I will be ecstatic. I did not see the team getting it turned around this quickly. They have already exceeded my expectations for this season. Every win from here on out is gravy

Bengals will win if the offense can match the defenses intensity and feed off Peko and Clemens and Dunlap making big plays. If that happens and Ced runs enough to keep the Steelers honest then the Bengals win. Plus Dalton doesnt stare down receivers like Palmer did late in his career. I mean Cochart caught a td who was the next reed Andre Smith?

IchsCreekPRIDE;964248 wrote:Na. Kansas City ain't as good as you say. They gave the Phins their 1st win!

Kansas City doesn't appear to be as much of cakewalk as they were early in the season. They were getting drilled then. Yeah, they lost to the 'Phins but they're not the dumpster fire they were the first month of the season.

Bengals +4 at home. Interesting. Even with Pittsburgh coming off a home loss. The Bengals are 7-1 against the spread this year with their only loss being a non-cover of +3 points at home against San Francisco. A line, that if made today, was probably disrespecting San Francisco who is now 7-1. Of course, the Bengals have been undervalued in Vegas all year, and it still looks like there are some non-believers. I guess we'll see in the next few weeks.

[LEFT]@Bengals Keith Rivers has been cleared to begin practicing today.[/LEFT]

Ryan Clark fined 40k for that hit in the Ravens game Sunday night. Wonder how much they'll fine Ray Lewis for his helmet-to-helmet hit?

killer_ewok;964982 wrote:Ryan Clark fined 40k for that hit in the Ravens game Sunday night. Wonder how much they'll fine Ray Lewis for his helmet-to-helmet hit?

$0

He will be fined. It may not be 40 large but he will be fined.

Ray Lewis fined a undisclosed amount for his hit

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/11/09/ray-lewis-fined-for-hit-on-hines-ward/

osu45804;965032 wrote:Ray Lewis fined a undisclosed amount for his hit

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/11/09/ray-lewis-fined-for-hit-on-hines-ward/

Schefter just tweeted it was 20K.

slcoach;965039 wrote:Schefter just tweeted it was 20K.

lol...absolutely ridiculous.