Fletcher Page, Cincinnati Enquirer
https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/nfl/bengals/2018/12/28/nfl-week-17-cincinnati-bengals-pittsburgh-steelers-3-keys-and-predictions/2422045002/
December 28, 2018
Antonio Brown scores the winning touchdown in the final seconds of the Steelers' 28-21 victory in Cincinnati on October 14th. (Getty Images)
The Cincinnati Bengals travel to Pittsburgh to play the Steelers on Sunday at 4:25 p.m. The game will be broadcast on CBS.
Cincinnati enters 6-9 coming off a 26-18 loss against the Cleveland Browns. The Steelers are 8-6-1 after losing to the New Orleans Saints 31-28 on Sunday.
Here's a look at three keys to Sunday's game and our predictions:
Three keys
Push the ball downfield: Good as he's been, Joe Mixon can't be everything for the Bengals offense. We learned that last week when the Browns defense packed the box, stuffed Mixon runs and forced quarterback Jeff Driskel to, unsuccessfully, try to throw for first downs. Driskel had just three yards passing in the first half, the Bengals failed to score and the Browns built a lead big enough to coast to victory. The Bengals can't afford to fall behind early, nor can they allow the Steelers defense to dictate what happens by packing the box without consequences.
Manufacture points, field position, extra possessions: Given the Bengals' struggles offensively — four straight punts to begin the game Sunday in Cleveland — the defense could help out by getting a turnover or three. The Bengals have gotten just one takeaway the past three games; a Carlos Dunlap fumble recovery in the win against the Raiders. A turnover Sunday could set the offense up, give the defense more rest or, even better, put points on the board.
Cover up: Two Steelers wideouts, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Antonio Brown, crossed the 100-yard receiving mark in the Week 6 matchup. A trio of tight ends, led by bruising Vance McDonald, did damage, too. With that history in mind, the Bengals secondary and linebackers must cover up against passes by Ben Roethlisberger. Opponents have consistently run the ball against the Bengals all season, but Baker Mayfield threw three touchdowns last week as injuries continue to pile up on the Bengals defense. Vontaze Burfict, Jordan Evans and Dre Kirkpatrick join the list of injured players out for Sunday, putting even more strain on the effort to limit Roethlisberger's production.
Predictions
Paul Dehner Jr.: This won’t be last year. Outside of playing a team with the playoffs on the line in the final week on the road, that’s where the comparisons end. There won’t be an Andy Dalton or a Tyler Boyd on the field to lead a charge. And considering the run of awful and heartbreak against the Steelers – more specifically losers of seven in a row and 10 of 11 – there’s a much different mojo at Heinz Field than there was at M&T Bank Field last year. Even though the Steelers have struggled of late, including a mind-boggling loss at Oakland, hard to imagine anything resembling a letdown with their season on the line. The likely return of running back James Conner only increases the chance. The Bengals have shown they’ve got some fight left in them when going down by double digits, but continue to struggle out of the gate. Meanwhile, the Steelers have shown a propensity to melt down late in games during their current skid. That sounds nice and all, but I have little expectation this game stays close. Pittsburgh will be scoreboard watching the majority of the fourth quarter.
Prediction: Steelers 31, Bengals 13
Fletcher Page: Hard to figure these Steelers.
How did they tie with the Browns to begin the season? How in the world did they lose to the Oakland Raiders? How did they blow that game against the Saints last week?
Those questions, whatever the answers, have created a win-or-stay-home scenario Sunday. And while the Bengals ended dreams for the Ravens in similar circumstances last season, I'm not buying it this time around.
Sure, the defense has played better in recent weeks. But the offense is down to just one consistent threat in Joe Mixon, as Jeff Driskel and the passing attack behind a subpar offensive line has proven to be broken.
The Steelers have something on the line. The Bengals do not. A fast start by Pittsburgh should be enough to kill the upset bid.
Prediction: Steelers 28, Bengals 10
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