Monday, December 29, 2014

Andy Dalton remains a tourist


Paul Daugherty, pdaugherty@enquirer.com
December 29, 2014
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton (14) is
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton (14) is sacked by the Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker Jason Worilds (93) on their final drive of the game. (Photo: The Enquirer/Jeff Swinger)
PITTSBURGH – The Pittsburgh Steelers laid a big hurt on the Bengals collective psyche Sunday night, and a bigger one on A.J. Green's head. The former pain should have been forgotten as soon as the Bengals boarded the bus to the airport. The latter is of larger concern.
Success in the NFL is so much shifting sand. The league conducts 17 weeks of one-game seasons. Assessing confidence or momentum week to week is a fool's game. As they say in the mutual-fund ads, past results are no guarantee of future performance.
By midnight last Monday night, the Bengals had scaled the big-game hill. Six midnights later, they were back at the trailhead. The questions that the Bengals answered so emphatically in beating Denver rejoined the party Sunday at Heinz Field.
What did any of it mean?
That Cincinnati will play at Indy next Sunday afternoon at 1, instead of hosting the Ravens at the same time. That's it. Going any deeper than that is asking to look foolish.
"You don't want to carry that emotional heartbreak,'' said George Iloka. "We'll get over it. We have to. Indy doesn't care we lost tonight.''
The Steelers won Sunday, 27-17, because they are more comfortable this time of year than the Bengals are, and more resourceful. Or maybe it was that the Bengals had three turnovers, to Pittsburgh's two. Or that Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown are in better tune than Green and Andy Dalton.
The Steelers survived two very bad plays in the second half – an ill-conceived fake punt and a holding penalty that wiped out a 59-yard run. The Bengals could not survive two ill-fated Dalton-to-Green throws in the first half. The first interception bushwacked a promising drive that had reached the Steelers 28-yard line. The second allowed Pittsburgh to begin a touchdown drive from the Cincinnati 28.
CINCINNATI
A.J. Green tallies up fourth 1,000 yard season
If you're worried about anything, skip the result here Sunday and focus on the ongoing inability of Dalton (ably assisted by Green) to make a big play in a big game, at a big moment. Marvin Lewis laid blame on Green for the first pick, near the Steelers end zone. He blamed the second interception on Dalton. "They each were a little at fault,'' the coach said.
At Indianapolis, the Bengals will see an offense as good as Pittsburgh's, and a quarterback, Andrew Luck, equally capable of making the scoreboard smoke. It's nice to pound Jeremy Hill – a weapon Cincinnati didn't use in its 0-27 embarrassment at Lucas Oil Stadium Oct. 19 – but at some point, your best players have to play their best when the stakes are high and non-negotiable.
CINCINNATI
Nelson, Tomlin have words after game
Green later lost a fumble after being stripped of the ball, then took a shot to the head on the same play, that will have him on concussion protocol this week. If Green isn't cleared to play, it's hard to see how the Bengals can score enough to keep up with the Colts.
As for Sunday night, what's worth remembering is that Pittsburgh got two interceptions from a backup cornerback cut last March by the Texans. The strip and fumble recovery came from another vagabond corner, cut by the woeful Jacksonville Jaguars last season. You might not have known of Brice McCain and Antwon Blake before Sunday night. You do now.
CINCINNATI
Bengals take turnover lesson into playoffs
Plus, Roethlisberger seems at home this time of year. Dalton remains a tourist. By halftime, Big Ben had thrown for 191 yards and no interceptions; Dalton had 81 yards and the two picks. Pittsburgh attacked downfield, to Antonio Brown (five catches) and Martavis Bryant (a 21-yard TD catch.) Cincinnati worked on perfecting its horizontal passing game.
The Bengals had the ball almost 10 more minutes than Pittsburgh, and produced 10 fewer points.
Give Cincinnati points for persistence. The Bengals almost overcame themselves. They trailed just 20-17 and were driving when Green fumbled. But ultimately, the team that made you breathe a little easier last week left you gasping Sunday.
CINCINNATI
Fifth quarter: The biggest Bengals killer
At this delicate and defining point in the season, the only judgments that matter are the final ones. The Bengals have a chance to get it right, again, six days from now. "Doesn't matter what your record is or where you're seeded,'' Andrew Whitworth said. "We're all the same now. All that matters is if you win.''
Given the NFL's penchant for upending story lines, none of us should be offering any bold pronouncements. Except, maybe, this one: Another first-round Bengals farewell would be worse than the previous three. NFL economics and injuries dictate that it's hard to keep good teams together for extended runs. The Bengals have had their run. How much longer it lasts before rebuilding is mandatory, is anyone's guess.
The window isn't opening any wider. This Sunday night didn't help. Maybe next Sunday afternoon will.
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Steelers might need Antonio Brown's greatness to get past Ravens


By Scott Brown
http://espn.go.com/blog/pittsburgh-steelers
December 29, 2014

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown (84)
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown (84) catches the ball against the Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick (27).  The Enquirer/Jeff Swinger

 PITTSBURGH -- The biggest reason to think the Pittsburgh Steelers will be all right if running back Le'Veon Bell is unable to play in the wild-card round is Antonio Brown. 

Forget the three-time Pro Bowler's statistics for a second. 

They are staggering and dizzying, but they don't completely do justice to the player who lights up rooms with his megawatt smile and lights up defenses with his mad football skills. 

Brown returned a punt 71 yards for a touchdown to open the scoring Sunday night in a 27-17 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. He capped the scoring with a 63-yard touchdown reception, a play that allowed Steelers fans who had crammed into Heinz Field to exhale and Pittsburgh to win its first division title since 2010. 

NFL Nation: Week 17 Coverage

Brown made both look plays look easy, even though they were anything but. 

Brown caught Kevin Huber's punt early in the first quarter and proceeded to run horizontally, something generally not encouraged in the NFL. He reversed field, and after directing Shamarko Thomas into Huber's path, he was off to his third career punt return for a touchdown. 

All three are against the Bengals, for those who are scoring at home, and for those -- ahem, Cincinnati coach Marvin Lewis -- who should be. 

Brown struck again after the Bengals had knocked Bell out of the game and pulled to within three points. Two plays after cornerback Antwon Blake forced and recovered a fumble, the Steelers faced a critical third-and-8 from their own 37 with just over three minutes left in a three-point game. 

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger threw a pass down the right sideline that Brown caught even though Bengals cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick was in decent position to make a play. Brown made a seamless adjustment and Kirkpatrick looked lost. Sixty-three yards later, Brown had scored the touchdown that all but clinched the Steelers' 11th win of 2014 and set a franchise record for most scoring catches in a season (13). 

"He's a playmaker," Roethlisberger said. "I have all of the faith and trust in the world in him." 

So does coach Mike Tomlin, whose appreciation for the 195th pick of the 2010 NFL draft goes way beyond Brown's immense physical talent. 

"It's not haphazard the he rises up in moments," Tomlin said after winning the AFC North for the fourth time in eight seasons. "He works harder than he plays. I hope that is a blueprint for our younger guys, and I think it is, how to work and ultimately how to deliver for your teammates." 

The Steelers might need Brown, who led the NFL in both receptions (129) and receiving yards (1,698) this season, do that more than ever Saturday night. 

He is the only one of the Steelers' Big Three who didn't have to battle through a stomach virus during the Bengals game or slowly walk to a cart with his right knee wrapped in ice after the game. 

Roethlisberger, whose linemen said he was sicker than he let on, should be fine by Saturday night, when the Steelers host the Ravens in a wild-card game. Less certain is the status of Bell, who hyperextended his knee after taking a direct hit on it from Bengals safety Reggie Nelson. 

Brown, on the other hand, is a picture of health, and he is close to unstoppable right now. 

The Steelers might need him to lead the way Saturday night, when they try to advance beyond the wild-card round of the playoffs for the first time since 2010. 

"The playoff is starting a new season," Brown said. 

The Steelers can only hope it is the same old story for their star wide receiver.
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Sunday, December 28, 2014

Bengals-Steelers: Scouting report, what to watch for


Paul Dehner Jr. and Richard Skinner, rskinner@nky.com
December 27, 2014
(Photo: Getty Images)
WHEN THE BENGALS PASS
Andy Dalton has thrown for more than 233 yards just once in the last seven games and has averaged just 182.6 yards per game in that span, but the one big game he had in that time frame came when he completed 21 of 29 passes for 302 yards in the 42-21 loss to Pittsburgh on Dec. 7.
Dalton needs to throw for 245 yards in this game to not set his career low for passing yards, which is 3,398 in his rookie season of 2011. He also has 17 touchdown passes, three fewer than the career low of 20 he set his rookie season.
Wide receiver A.J. Green needs 41 receiving yards to reach 1,000 for the fourth straight year after having no receptions due in part to an arm injury in Monday's 37-28 win over Denver. Green had 11 receptions for a career-high 224 yards and a touchdown in the earlier game against Pittsburgh this season.
Wide receiver Mohamed Sanu has struggled the last seven games - with just 16 receptions for 146 yards and one touchdown - after having 39 catches for 628 yards and four touchdowns over the first eight games. He also has five dropped passes in the last seven games and has been targeted just 31 times in the last seven games, compared to 65 in the first eight games.
CINCINNATI
Bengals notebook: Eifert done; Green good to go
The Steelers' secondary is a banged-up mess with starting corner Cortez Allen on injured reserve, starting corner Ike Taylor questionable and starting strong safety Troy Polamalu questionable.
Pittsburgh has allowed opposing quarterbacks a combined 99.4 rating on the season.
WHEN THE BENGALS RUN
Rookie running back Jeremy Hill has been outstanding the last two games since being tabbed as the team's featured back, rushing for more than 140 yards each of the two games and a combined 295 yards and three touchdowns on 47 carries.
For the season, Hill has 1,024 yards and nine touchdowns rushing and is averaging 5.1 yards per carry.
In six games he's started this season, he combined to rush for 696 yards on 123 carries (5.7 yards per carry) and five touchdowns. He rushed for 147 yards or more in four of the six starts and is the first running back in Bengals history to rush for 140 yards or more four times in a season.
Giovani Bernard has been very good in the backup role the last two games with 184 combined yards from scrimmage. He had 115 yards rushing and a 5.0 per carry average and eight receptions for 69 yards in those two games.
The Steelers have held nine opponents to under 100 yards rushing on the season, including each of the last three games, all of which they won. The Bengals had 86 yards on only 21 carries in the first game against Pittsburgh this season.
Linebacker Lawrence Timmons has been the Steelers' best player against the run, according to profootballfocus.com, and is the team's leading tackler with 121 (80 of which are solo), which is 55 more than anyone else on the team.
WHEN THE STEELERS PASS
Ben Roethlisberger has two Super Bowl rings and has consistently been one of the NFL's best quarterbacks, but he is having the best statistical season of his 11-year career.
He has already set single-season team records for yards passing (4,635), completions (384) and is two touchdown passes short of tying his single-season high of 32. This is the ninth straight season he has passed for 3,000 yards or more, which is tied for the fifth-longest streak in NFL history.
He has had eight games of 300 yards or more passing this season, including completing 25 of 39 passes for 350 yards and three touchdowns in the Steelers' 42-21 win over the Bengals on Dec. 7.
Wide receiver Antonio Brown has gone from being a sixth-round pick to arguably the NFL's most dangerous wide receiver. A year after catching 110 passes for 1,499 yards and eight touchdowns, he has 122 receptions for 1,570 yards and 12 touchdowns. He needs two receptions to have the second-most in a season in NFL history.
Brown had nine receptions for 117 yards in the first meeting against the Bengals three weeks ago.
Rookie Martavis Bryant had a 94-yard touchdown reception against the Bengals and has seven touchdowns this season, which is second-most on the team, despite having just 25 receptions.
Running back Le'Veon Bell is second on the team in receptions (77) and receiving yards (774), while tight end Heath Miller is also a valuable weapon (63 catches for 720 yards).
WHEN THE STEELERS RUN
Bell is having an outstanding season running the ball with 1,341 yards and a 4.8 per carry average and has been a workhorse over the last five games, carrying the ball 120 times (24.0 per game) for 594 yards (118.8 per game average).
His workload has increased thanks to LeGarrette Blount being released after the team's 11th game of the season.
No other running back currently on the roster has more than nine carries.
Bell rushed for 185 yards on 26 carries in the Steelers' win over the Bengals on Dec. 7.
Pittsburgh finished that game with 193 yards on 31 carries. It's the only game out of the last six that the Bengals allowed an opponent to rush for more than 100 yards. The Bengals won the five games they didn't allow that to happen.
Center Maurkice Pouncey has graded out as the team's top run blocker, according to profootballfocus.com. Three of the other four linemen (tackles Kelvin Beachum and Marcus Gilbert and right guard David DeCastro) have slightly above average run-blocking grades, as do tight ends Heath Miller and Matt Spaeth. Left guard Ramon Foster has graded slightly below average.
In the last five Bengals wins, they allowed just 3.3 yards per carry, while Pittsburgh averaged 6.2 per carry in the win over the Bengals three weeks ago.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Steelers kicker Shaun Suisham has been outstanding this season, converting 27 of his 30 field-goal attempts - with two of his misses coming beyond 50 yards. He is a perfect 10 for 10 from 40-49 yards out.
Since the 2012 season, Suisham has made 30 straight field goals from 40-49 yards, which is the longest active streak in the NFL.
Steelers rookie punter Brad Wing is averaging 43.9 yards gross and 38.9 net. He has had only 26 of his 58 punts returned for an 8.2 per return average.
Punt returner Antonio Brown is averaging 8.4 yards per return with a long of 36, and the Steelers are averaging just 21.4 yards per kickoff return.
Bengals kicker Mike Nugent has made 14 straight field goals since his miss on the final play of overtime against Carolina. He went 3 for 3 each of the last two games, including going a combined 3 for 3 from 40-49 yards.
Punter Kevin Huber was selected to the Pro Bowl on Tuesday. He is averaging 46.7 yards per punt gross and 43.0 net with only 28 of his 70 punts having been returned for a 5.1 average. The longest punt return allowed this season is just 11 yards.
Kevin Huber on Enquirer Sports' Beyond the Stripes, presented by josephauto.com from the Moerlein Lager House. The Enquirer/Glenn Hartong
Adam Jones leads the NFL in kickoff return average (33.2 per return) and is also averaging 11.9 per punt return. Brandon Tate has also been very good as a punt returner of late, ripping off a 30-yard return two weeks ago against Cleveland and a 49-yard return in Monday's win over Denver.
THREE KEYS FOR THE BENGALS
1. Less long runs
Doesn't take a genius to figure out not allowing Le'Veon Bell to run for 185 yards as he did in the first meeting will be critical. Most of his yardage came on a few long runs. Holding him to one or two double-digit gainers as opposed to five will be a key to reversing the final score. That wouldn't hurt the Bengals either: to keep him contained out of the backfield. He shook Emmanuel Lamur out of position for a touchdown reception. The Steelers are one of the top offenses in football for a reason, but forcing Roethlisberger to launch in what could be poor conditions changes the dynamic of the game.
2. Make Pittsburgh pay
When the Steelers decide to drop an extra player into the box to stop the run, the Bengals must make them pay by throwing with numbers into the secondary. This strategy will be employed more and more as Jeremy Hill runs at his current pace and Andy Dalton struggles, as he has the past two weeks. The Bengals did a nice job of hitting shots over the top the last game against Pittsburgh, with a career-high 224 yards receiving for A.J. Green, but with his health in question, they'll need to find somebody to win one-on-one deep when given the opportunity. The Bengals have proven the last two weeks they can win without average days from Dalton, but Pittsburgh will do all it can to force the Bengals' hand.
3. Win the return game
The Bengals have seen too many games in Pittsburgh turn on an Antonio Brown punt return. Twice he's taken punts to the house in blowout wins at Heinz Field, last year being the latest example. Adam Jones and Brandon Tate were able to turn the tide of momentum against Denver on Monday with long returns and they've been doing that the majority of the season. Special teams are often overlooked but will be a large part of this team winning games. Look for Sunday to serve as the latest example.
PHOTO NUGGET
The Steelers have turned into the kings of Week 17. They have won the final game of the season six years in a row and only lost once under Mike Tomlin (during his first season of 2006). However, it should be noted, five of those six straight victories to close the season have come against perennial cellar dweller Cleveland.
SPOT 1: Ben at his best
Ben Roethlisberger has enjoyed the best season of his career. With 30 touchdowns against eight interceptions, he's broken career marks in multiple categories. Big Ben ranks in the top three of the league in yards (2nd), yards per attempt (3rd), passer rating (3rd) and completion percentage (3rd). How good has Roethlisberger been compared to his previous seasons?
Here's a closer look:
Statistic, career high, 2014
Completion percentage, 66.6 (2009), 67.4
Yards, 4328 (2009), 4635
TDs, 32 (2007), 30
Interception percentage, 1.3% (2010), 1.4%
Adjusted net yards/attempt, 7.5 (2005), 7.8
Sack percentage, 6.3% (2012), 5.5%
SPOT NO. 2: Minimizing Dalton
As the season comes to a close, a better representation emerged of just how much Hue Jackson shifted emphasis away from Andy Dalton and toward the running game. Not only has the passing game consisted of a higher percentage of shorter passes, but the overall attempts are a drastic drawback from his first three seasons. Jackson refuses to let Dalton's performance define his offense.
The numbers are obvious when checking the percentage of total passes thrown deep by comparison over the course of his career as well as total attempts. A clear scale back in all throws as well as his higher-risk throws has occurred.
Stat, 2012, 2013, 2014
Percentage passes attempted 20+yards, 11.7%, 12.7%, 14.7%, 11.7%
Attempts per game: 32.3, 33.0, 36.6, 29.6
THE COACHES
Bengals: Marvin Lewis (100-94-2 overall) is in his 12th season. Mike Tomlin leads the series 11-4 all time.
Steelers: Mike Tomlin (86-49) is in his 8th season. He was previously an assistant coach at the University of Cincinnati (1999-2000).
Series history: Steelers lead 55-34, 1-0 in postseason
WHAT TO WATCH: WR ANTONIO BROWN VS. BENGALS DBs
In the first meeting between these two teams, Antonio Brown caught nine passes for 117 yards. He's one of five receivers to cross the 100-yard barrier against the Bengals this year, who had previously done a nice job this season of containing the top wideouts of opposing teams. Demaryius Thomas followed Brown's lead with 115 yards last week to make it two in the last three weeks. Much of their success prompted Bengals coaches to insert Dre Kirkpatrick into the lineup in place of ailing Terence Newman for the final portion of last week's game. Kirkpatrick immediately picked off two passes, and defensive coordinator Paul Guenther said this week he'll receive more snaps. There's a good chance he'll start with Newman missing all week out sick.
Background
Brown moves all over the line of scrimmage as Pittsburgh attempts to create matchups. In the first game, he was targeted four times against Newman, four against Adam Jones and then once against six other defenders. He'll be everywhere. So, to claim that this job falls on one corner would be false. Jones did a nice job on Brown that day. Although he caught three of the four targets, none went for longer than nine yards as the receptions were contained.
Numbers
Brown leads the NFL with 1,570 yards, but the most impressive number is his 122 receptions. With two receptions Sunday, he'll own second place in NFL history for most receptions in a season. Marvin Harrison leads all with 143 in 2002. Wes Welker's 123 in 2009 currently sits alone in second place.
Quoteable
Dre Kirkpatrick on facing Antonio Brown when Roethlisberger scrambles:
"Those guys are good at, when he's scrambling, to come back to him and try to finish on the ball. That's why we have to play the scramble drill all week. We know he's going to get loose and he's going to get out on the edge and he's going to make throws and he's going to make big plays. We have to be poised to come back the next play and try to get a big stop."
PAUL'S PREDICTION
The Bengals proved themselves last week. They proved they could handle one of the best teams the AFC has to offer and do so in the primetime spotlight. The lone hiccup over the course of the last six weeks came during a six-minute span of the fourth quarter against Pittsburgh. The instant unraveling of that game felt almost fluky in nature when you consider the two sides went punch for punch for three quarters prior. I don't think the Bengals fall victim of the same fate and I can certainly assure Jeremy Hill has more than eight carries. Many of the Bengals' brightest moments have come at Heinz Field, and thanks to the continued success of this running game, they enjoy another one Sunday - clinching back-to-back AFC North titles.
FINAL: Bengals 31, Steelers 28
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Saturday, December 27, 2014

Bengals vs. Steelers preview


By Scott Brown and Coley Harvey
http://espn.go.com/blog/pittsburgh-steelers
December 26, 2014


Ben Roethlisberger and Andy Dalton

When: 8:30 p.m. ET, Sunday Where: Heinz Field, Pittsburgh TV: NBC 

 The Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers have each clinched postseason berths, but that won't prevent their Sunday night showdown from having a playoff feel to it. That is because the stakes are significant if not borderline enormous when the teams meet for the AFC North title. The winner will secure a No. 3 seed -- possibly a No. 2 seed in the case of the Bengals -- and assure themselves of a home game in the playoffs. The loser has to negotiate the wild-card route in the playoffs, which will only make it that much harder to win the AFC title. 

ESPN Bengals reporter Coley Harvey and ESPN Steelers reporter Scott Brown take a closer look at the game. 

Bengals at Steelers: Stats of the Week

20.2
Andy Dalton's career total QBR in prime-time games. That's nearly 40 points below his total QBR when playing at other times of the day. He also has had his struggles with the Steelers at all hours, going 2-5 and posting a 43.9 QBR against them in his four-year career. That QBR is 10 points lower than his average against all other teams.
1
The number of 100-yard rushers the Steelers have allowed in their past eight games. The Steelers have allowed an average of just 86.3 rushing yards per game during that span, but they will be tested by the Bengals, who have gotten 1,696 rushing yards from rookie Jeremy Hill and second-year man Giovani Bernard.
Brown: Coley, is it to too simplistic to say that the outcome of this game will come down to how quarterback Andy Dalton plays in a second consecutive prime-time game? All this guy has done is take the Bengals to the playoffs in each of his first four seasons yet he still battles the perception that Cincinnati wins in spite of him. 

Harvey: I think it is probably too simplistic to say that, Scott. Now, will Dalton have a meaningful impact on the outcome of Sunday night’s game? Absolutely. He is, after all, the quarterback of the team. But something we’ve seen in the past two weeks in particular is that the Bengals can win in spite of, not because of him. Dalton had a relatively poor game at Cleveland two weeks ago when he notched a 27.3 QBR in a 117-yard passing performance that happened to come in a 30-0 win. Cincinnati’s swarming defense hounded Johnny Manziel throughout his first career start, and Bengals rookie running back Jeremy Hill’s 148-yard, two-touchdown day sparked the team’s 244-yard overall rushing performance. Similarly, Monday night against Denver, Dalton wasn’t very impressive, turning in a 29.0 QBR. Although his four high targets to A.J. Green, including one that resulted in an interception, weren’t very pretty, Dalton actually played a fairly clean game otherwise. Offensive coordinator Hue Jackson made it clear that he wasn’t going to put the game on Dalton’s shoulders, and again, the Bengals came through with a win. With all of this said, though, we’d be remiss if we didn’t point out that Dalton very nearly played a big role in a potential Bengals win over the Steelers three weeks ago. His two-touchdown, no-interception, 302-yard, 93.8-QBR performance almost was enough. Had it not been for a fumble on a handoff from Dalton to Hill at the start of the fourth quarter, the Bengals might have won. Instead, Pittsburgh rattled off 25 unanswered points on a defense that couldn’t stop it. 

Simple question for me to start off, Scott. What is the mood in Pittsburgh right now? There’s been a buzz in Cincinnati since Monday night’s win. Is this what’s supposed to happen after a team wins in prime time? It’s a new experience around here, and the Bengals still like their chances Sunday given how competitive they were for three quarters against the Steelers three weeks ago. 

Brown: Business as usual, Coley. At least that is what the players are saying. I think it is human nature for the Steelers to let up just a bit after saying they have been in playoff mode since the beginning of the month and then clinching a postseason berth last Sunday. We will see how coach Mike Tomlin and the veterans in that locker room are able to keep the young players focused, and certainly the Steelers know that there is a huge difference between winning the AFC North and entering the playoffs as a wild-card team. Steelers fans are excited about Pittsburgh returning to the playoffs for the first time since 2011, but I’m not sure they know what to make of this team. Steelers fans are used to rugged, hard-hitting defense defining their favorite team, but if Pittsburgh is going to make a lengthy postseason run the offense is going to have to lead the way. 

Le'Veon Bell ran wild against the Bengals earlier this month, but he has been held to 110 rushing yards in the Steelers’ past two games. Do you expect the Bengals to load the box to stop Bell as the Atlanta Falcons and Kansas City Chiefs did? Or will the Bengals show a bunch of different looks as they did against the Broncos to try to confuse Ben Roethlisberger and keep the Steelers’ offense from getting into a rhythm? 

Harvey: I’d expect the Bengals to do whatever they need to in order to stop Bell. The priority for the Bengals in the two games since Bell gashed them for 185 yards has been to shut down the run first. Granted, a lot of Bell’s yards came late, but the Bengals’ thought process has been that if they can get to ball carriers early with hard hits, they can turn opposing offenses one-dimensional. Teams are then forced to pass, which might not necessarily be a bad thing for Roethlisberger. One thing to note: The weather is expected to be a factor Sunday, with snow and/or rain in the long-range forecast. If any precipitation comes, you know both teams are going to want to keep the ball on the ground, meaning the seven- and eight-in-the-box scheme might be one Cincinnati employs. As much as the disguised coverages and different looks worked against Denver on Monday, they might not be necessary against Roethlisberger. Besides, the Bengals don’t believe rhythm is an issue for him. They’re more focused on Big Ben’s ability to scramble and extend plays, completing passes in those seemingly broken, out-of-sync moments. 

Obviously Bell was the big difference-maker in the last meeting, including more than 100 yards in the fourth quarter. But what gives the Steelers confidence their offense still will be OK if he does get shut down as he has been the past few weeks? I know Roethlisberger will play the biggest role in that, but I guess I’m asking do the Steelers need a good rushing attack to thrive? 

NFL Nation: Week 17 Previews

Brown: The Steelers have scored just 47 points in two games since their 42-point outburst against the Bengals. Take away cornerback William Gay’s third pick-six this season against the Atlanta Falcons and the Steelers have managed just four offensive touchdowns in their past two games. Is it a coincidence that Bell has rushed for just 110 yards in those two games combined? Probably not, and the Steelers need to get their team MVP going again. Bengals coach Marvin Lewis, however, has too much of a defensive background to let Bell beat the Bengals again after he trampled them for 185 rushing yards, 50 receiving yards and three touchdowns, so I expect Cincinnati to crowd the line of scrimmage and show Roethlisberger some different looks to get him to check into running plays. Roethlisberger said he expects the Bengals to try to disguise things and confuse him, as they did with Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning. The hope for the Steelers, Roethlisberger said, is that they play well enough to force the Bengals to adjust to what they are doing, not the other way around. 

How is the Jeremy Hill-Giovani Bernard dynamic working at running back? The Bengals look like they have two really good backs, and I’m wondering if both are happy sharing carries. How do you expect the Bengals to use them Sunday night? 

Harvey: Scott, it has worked tremendously well since Jackson told the two coming out of the Steelers' loss that he wanted Hill to take on the starting, feature back role. Jackson’s preference all along has been to have one primary rusher, with another as a complement. It didn’t work out that way earlier this year. The two-man routine that had been employed just simply wasn’t as effective as he had hoped. I’ll say this. I’m sure deep down Bernard isn’t too pleased with having to take a backseat after being a rising star as a rookie himself just a year ago, but he isn’t showing that he’s upset. He’s saying all the right things about the new backfield breakdown, and he’s still viewed as a happy, contributing member of the locker room. On the field, it has been a benefit for the Bengals. Hill now has a defined role and is shining in it. Bernard still is effective in the short passing game and as a runner who can be used in space. The two will be used in this same capacity Sunday night, with Hill continuing to serve as the bell-cow back who also can rip off runs like his 85-yard rumble Monday. 

It’s the time of year when players are banged and bruised and playing through pain. I know Pittsburgh had a few injuries in the secondary last weekend. How healthy are the Steelers on the back end entering this game? I ask in part because the Bengals’ A.J. Green is nursing a bruised biceps and could be iffy. If he plays, that might be an advantage for Ike Taylor. 

Brown: I’m not sure Taylor or strong safety Troy Polamalu plays Sunday night. Coach Mike Tomlin has opted for healthy players over more pedigreed ones during the stretch run and that might not bode well for Taylor or Polamalu suiting up against the Bengals. Will Allen has been solid at strong safety and the return of Taylor would relegate Antwon Blake, who has made some big plays as a nickel back, to special teams. Whoever plays in the defensive backfield Sunday night will make containing Green a top priority. Blake told me earlier this week that the Steelers defensive backs have to keep Green in front of them -- something they did not do earlier this month in Cincinnati. The Steelers also have to do a better job of tackling the catch. That is critical in Dick LeBeau’s scheme and is one of the areas in which the defense struggled at times in the Steelers’ 20-12 win over the Kansas City Chiefs last Sunday. 
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