Bengals could clinch the AFC North with win, but Steelers wont play dead yet

Article and Photo by Gordon Dedman

Pittsburgh Steelers (7-5) at Cincinnati Bengals (10-2) Sky Sports TV 1800 Sunday

Forty years have elapsed since the Bengals were last 10-2. The following week, they travelled to Pittsburgh where they lost 14-35. Cincinnati has never gone 11-2, so they have everything to aim at although the team will be smart enough to say it’s getting to the playoffs that count, not making history.

If an incentive is needed, knocking their rivals out of the playoffs hunt will be suffice. With so much at stake for both teams, Sunday’s featured game on Sky should be a good advertisement for aggressive football at its best.

Big Ben in the pocket against the Bengals

 

Ben Roethlisberger vs Andy Dalton
A J Green vs Antonio Brown
Tyler Eifert vs Martavis Bryant

If you are not excited by the thought of those matchups, then you can’t be a football fan. The teams are so evenly matched that it may end up being mistakes that influence the outcome.

Turnovers definitely cost the Steelers the close game between these rivals in Pittsburgh when Ben Roethlisberger threw three interceptions. After a four week layoff through injury, Roethlisberger struggled and while the Steelers defense managed to contain Andy Dalton, Cincinnati took ten points from Roethlisberger’s turnovers to eke out a 16-10 win.

A J Green is Dalton’s main weapon and with seven touchdowns on the season could be the game breaker for the Bengals if Pittsburgh’s secondary doesn’t hold up.

Green has averaged 9.8 receptions and 129.3 receiving yards in his last four games against Pittsburgh, including 11-for-118 in this year’s first meeting. He was 11-for-224 in last year’s game at Paul Brown Stadium, and has also had games of eight-for-82 and nine-for-93.

Dalton also has the option to use tight end Eifert, who leads the NFL in touchdowns with 12.

Roethlisberger has Brown, Bryant and Markus Wheaton to aim at with the latter now on kick return duties to enhance their special teams performance.

The Steelers are second in the NFL for total offense and the Bengals are not far behind. Both teams have a powerful offense and they should provide an exhibition worth watching for the neutrals. Both teams come off comprehensive victories the previous weekend, so football fans, sit down Sunday evening, relax and enjoy.

Seattle Seahawks (7-5) at Baltimore Ravens (4-8)

The Seahawks have risen from their slump and put three straight wins together including a 39-30 shootout with Pittsburgh. In both his starts for the Ravens, Matt Schaub has thrown an interception returned for a touchdown in each game. Against Seattle, that will be fatal.

Seattle is the strongest team and, with the most to gain with a triumph, should continue their winning streak.

Baltimore lost tight end Nick Boyle to suspension forcing the team to promote Konrad Reuland from the practice squad to the 53-man roster and sign free agent Richard Gordon.

San Francisco 49ers (4-8) at Cleveland Browns (2-10)

Following his reinstatement as their starting quarterback, Johnny Manziel told reporters, "I was forced to learn a hard lesson." With four weeks of the season left to show the Cleveland organisation they haven’t wasted their investment in him, he should go all out to produce the goods and this will be an opportunity that he shouldn’t hide from.

Against a poor 49ers team, he will have the chance to shine and return some of the love the Dawg Pound has always shown him even if he’s been in Mike Pettine’s dog house.