If the Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2) saved their season last week, this is the Sunday to prove it. They welcome the Cincinnati Bengals (2-3) to Heinz Field for an AFC North match up.
The game will be broadcast by your local CBS station at 4:25 p.m. EST. I’ll be live blogging this one here at GetMoreSports.com and ride with you the whole way.
The Game: Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers (-5.5)
O/U: 40.5
The History
The Bengals and Steelers have faced off 95 times since 1970, with Pittsburgh holding an overwhelming advantage all time, 60-35.
In spite of both teams’ historic success, they’ve met in the playoffs just twice. The first time was on January 8, 2006 with the Steelers winning 31-17. The second was two seasons ago, January 9, 2016. Pittsburgh won that one 18-16.
Last year the Steelers swept Cincinnati in their two match ups. The first win came on September 18 with a 24-16 Pittsburgh victory at Heinz Field. The second was a 24-20 Steelers win at Paul Brown Stadium.
Pittsburgh is currently riding a four game win streak over the Bengals, including that 18-16 playoff win. The longest Cincinnati win streak in the series was six games from September, 1988 to December, 1990.
CINCINNATI BENGALS (2-3)
Since Bill Lazor took over for the shitcanned Ken Zampeze, the Bengals are 2-0 and with a 31-7 win over the Cleveland Browns and a 20-16 victory over the Buffalo Bills that actually counts. The Bills came into the game two weeks ago as one of the league’s better stories, but left with a lot of questions as Andy Dalton completed 22 fo 36 for 328 yards, one touchdown and two picks. The two picks are a problem and one that Dalton can’t replicate against Pittsburgh.
As much as Cincinnati seems to want to hand the running back job to rookie Joe Mixon, they aren’t having much success on the ground. Mixon carried the ball 15 times for 51 yards and a touchdown against the Bills, but his main job was to keep the defense honest in the passing game. Wide receiver A.J. Green caught seven passes for 189 yards and a touchdown.
The Bengals defense held Tyrod Taylor to 166 yards, one touchdown and one interception. LeSean McCoy managed just 63 yards on 19 carries and no touchdowns. They sacked Taylor six times, got 10 stops in the backfield and forced two turnovers.
Cincinnati will be without wideout Tyler Boyd and H-back Ryan Hewitt. Cornerback Adam Jones is listed as doubtful and hasn’t practiced all week.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS (4-2)
Facing what looked like an early end to the season, the Steelers came back to life like the bad guy in a horror movie inside Arrowhead last week. Pittsburgh handed the Kansas City Chiefs their first loss of the season and Le’Veon Bell was nearly unstoppable, carrying the ball 32 times for 179 yards and a touchdown.
Antonio Brown wasn’t left out. He caught eight passes for 155 yards and a touchdown. Ben Roethlisberger, seven days after openly contemplating his own retirement, went 17 of 25 for 252 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
The Steelers defense sacked Alex Smith three times and got five stops in the backfield. They still gave up more than 100 total yards to Kareem Hunt, but as good as Mixon might turn out to be, he’s not in Hunt’s league right now. They held one of the best offenses in the league to just 13 points, limiting All-Universe tight end Travis Kelce to just four catches for 37 yards.
Defensive end Stephon Tuitt will miss the game for Pittsburgh with a back injury. Offensive tackle Marcus Gilbert will probably miss too with a hamstring. He’s officially listed as doubtful.
The Pick
The Bengals have come back from the dead over the last few weeks, but this is a Steelers team that just stepped back from the cliff. Pittsburgh should be able to do pretty much what they want on offense. How well they handle Cincy’s offense will determine how close this game gets. Steelers 31, Bengals 27
This week
Straight up: 0-1
Against the spread: 0-1
Last week
Straight up: 5-9
Against the spread: 5-9
Season
Straight up: 48-43
Against the spread: 43-48
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