Bengals vs. Steelers

[CrashDavisSports]

The Steelers are a very good team still, and always seems to have our number, but we need this game very badly.

1. It is a divisional win.
2. Keeps us from dropping under .500 (less tragic for Pittsburgh because folks think they have a better overall team and can overcome a 1-2 record)
3. The back half of our schedule is brutal so we need to stack wins early and create a few upsets in the back half of our schedule.

Should be a tough fought game though. Pittsburgh's defense is always scary good and they have a handful of playmakers on the offensive side. I guess it depends on Ben and how healthy he is, but he always plays through pain, almost as if it gives him an adrenaline rush and allows him to focus. Najee looks legit and they seem to always have good WR's in the last decade or so.

Likelihood of us winning in Pittsburgh seems slim, but I will hold out hope since we were able to beat them last year with a less stingy defense and Ryan Finley at the helm.

 

[Cincyfan78]

Both offenses are offensive.

I fully expect a 13-10 game.

Burrow is sacked 7 times, but Ben throws 2 lame-duck INT's.

Someone's kicker will win it at the end.

 

[CrashDavisSports]

Both offenses are offensive.

I fully expect a 13-10 game.

Burrow is sacked 7 times, but Ben throws 2 lame-duck INT's.

Someone's kicker will win it at the end.

Yeah. Both offensive lines create some issues for the playmakers on both teams. However, if we can get out of our own way and be an aggressive offense without being loony (like the 4th down call on the 30), maybe we can keep the Steelers on their heels. That Steelers D will get their shots on Burrow, even with a good offensive line, Watt is damn near impossible to stop. They are going to have to double that dude or roll away from him in order to minimize opportunities.

We need to take advantage of the opportunities afforded us. Defense needs to create a couple extra opportunities. We need to protect the ball, but be aggressive on play calls (creative), and McPhearson will be huge. Need to get points on every drive, even if we have to settle for FG's. But we need to make sure we don't keep giving the Steelers offense short fields by going 3 and out deep in our territory.

 

[Cincyfan78]

Looking more and more like Carman will get the start at RG.

Let's see what the kid can do.

 

[cincygrad]

Not a good spot for the Bengals. Last season, Pittsburgh bothered Burrow by getting a bunch of pressure on him and basically bracketing Boyd over the middle. They'll watch that Bears film from last week and make the receivers beat them in zone coverage. Ironically, we had more success against them with Ryan Finley running zone-read plays on MNF.... If we can't block their guys up front, Burrow will be frustrated pretty quickly. Add that to the noise in the building, a rookie offensive guard, and no Tee Higgins and I just don't see how our offense does much of anything.

I would assume that if our D plays like they did in weeks 1 and 2 that they could keep the game close. The Steelers haven't found themselves offensively yet and they have their own line issues.

On paper this seems like it should be a close, low-scoring game. But, its Pittsburgh, so you know that our guys will shit their pants in the first half, give up a punt return for a touchdown, forget to cover a wide open receiver and find themselves down by two touchdowns at halftime. I'd take the Steelers and give the points.

 

[jbuck]

mandatory TO

 

[jbuck]

I had a little tear escape there

 

[jbuck]

ok that's a good D
I'm sniffing the playoffs

 

[jbuck]

awesome

 

[DanBengalfan]

so far so good. 24-7

zac taylor lives another day

 

[jbuck]

I agree, Burrow needs to call the plays

 

[jbuck]

taylor thinks run, Burrow thinks 1st downs

 

[jbuck]

I guess it's 1st and Mixon

 

[jbuck]

2 dead series.

 

[jbuck]

I agree with myself.

 

[jbuck]

last 3 series

 

[jbuck]

I'm going to time this 2 minute warning, the last one was over 3 minutes

 

[DanBengalfan]

good game.

Heck, even AJ Green was ballin' today, shedding off that bungle taint!

 

[cincygrad]

Defense played well for the third straight game. Pittsburgh has some serious issues on offense, but the Bengals did what they had to do and they took care of business on D.

Offense was night-and-day better.... Sure, that team is different with TJ Watt in the lineup, but they still have good defensive players. To hold them to no sacks and only 1 or 2 pressures is great work. The offense was much more variable this week - I'm still confused at what we were trying to do last week.

Overall - Great win. While Pittsburgh might not be the big brother they normally are, it's still big for our team to win in their building. 2-1 with a great chance to get to 3-1 on Thursday night. Good way to start a season.

 

[BKBroiler9000]

Solid team win today (hate this cliche). Defense was stout. Offense was more creative. Granted the Steelers were wounded coming in.

My concern is once again Zac Taylor and his low testosterone play calling late in games.

Last three drives:

3 plays 7 yards punt
3 plays 6 yards punt
3 plays 4 yards punt

This team needs to figure out how to close games out on offense. They got a little lucky Big Ben sucks and the Steelers o line is worse than ours.