
Week 10 Cincinnati @ Pittsburgh 1PM EST CBS
Who Dey?? Dey are the 2009 Bengals. The 6-2, with a share of AFC North lead, Cincinnati Bengals. These are not the perennial doormats that have amassed a .379 winning percentage since they lost the Super Bowl to the 49ers in 1988. They've averaged 6 wins per year since that time with 0ne playoff birth in 18 years. The winner will have the inside track on the 2009 AFC North Division Championship.
5 reasons why this game will be tough for the Steelers to win:
1. Cedric Benson - Last month Benson snapped Baltimore’s streak of not allowing a 100-yard rusher at 39 games. Now he’s trying to stop the Steelers streak at 26. The last time the Bengals rushed for 100 yards against Pittsburgh was Oct. 3, 2004 when Rudi Johnson had 123 yards in a 28-17 loss in Pittsburgh. That was 86 games ago. In the last 80 games the Steelers have allowed three 100-yard games
1. Cedric Benson - Last month Benson snapped Baltimore’s streak of not allowing a 100-yard rusher at 39 games. Now he’s trying to stop the Steelers streak at 26. The last time the Bengals rushed for 100 yards against Pittsburgh was Oct. 3, 2004 when Rudi Johnson had 123 yards in a 28-17 loss in Pittsburgh. That was 86 games ago. In the last 80 games the Steelers have allowed three 100-yard games
2. Carson Palmer to Ocho Cinco - Palmer's 14 TD's are the 4th highest total in the NFL, Chad 85 has caught 44 balls from Palmer for 639 yards and 5 TD's. Watch out for Andre Caldwell and Laveranues Coles to get an increased looks from Palmer this week if the Steelers Defensive gameplan includes Blitz coverage schemes.
3. Improved Bengal Defense - The Bengals are ranked No. 2 against the run. The last time they finished a season that high was 1983, when LeBeau was the Bengals secondary coach
4. Improved Bengal Offensive Line - The Bengals run behind the left tackle Andrew Wentworth more than any team in the league, and their average of 5.0 yards per carry on such runs is sixth-best. Many of those runs are zone-blocking plays that start to the right, giving Cedric Benson the freedom to cut left whenever a lane develops. Steelers have the 5th ranked Rushing Defense so unstoppable force, meet immovable object
5. Pittsburgh Jail Cells are void of Bengal Players - Where are all the felons on this Bengals roster? Aside from Chris Henry, who was placed on IR after suffering a broken arm last week, the Bengals have stayed out of Jail and on the field. Barring a late night crackdown in the Strip District, the Bengals should have everyone free on their own recognisance.
The Steelers will win the game, but not cover the spread of 7 points. It'll be a close back and forth game with the Steelers taking advantage of a Bengal turnover late.
Steelers 24
Bengals 21