Jmat

It's Steelers week in Cincinnati! Let the fun begin!

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BlueNSilver

Game of the week. I'll be watching this one for sure.

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The Bitter Truth

This is the one that we have all been waiting for. This is the game of the year so far for both clubs. Winner vastly improves their shot at winning the division and making the post season. Loser will have to seriously question where they stand against good teams as both have questionable records against such clubs already.

All trash talk aside; this is going to be a big test for the Steeler defense. I’m not real concerned about the Bengal defense giving us problems though unless we end up playing catch up with their offense.

IMHO the Steelers have to exploit the Bengals soft middle. And I think they need to do it with Willie Parker and not Bettis. Give Parker a 3-4 yard deep hole and let him make a guy or two miss …

The Bengals pass rush is pathetic, but rushing Ben isn’t a good idea anyway. I think the Bengals dropping guys into coverage is the way to go anyway. If they try to rush him, given they aren’t good at it anyway, it will be a very long day for the Bengal secondary.

Basically:

For the Steelers to win: Run the ball up the gut. A lot. The Defense won’t stop Carson and company, but they have to slow them down. Get to Carson early and often. The more snot bubbles popping out of his ear hole the better. A shootout is a loss for the Steelers.

For the Bengals to win: Attack through the air and get points on the board quick. Make it a shootout because you don’t have the guns to win a defensive struggle.

I think the Steeler offense has a good day against this defense and the Steeler defense holds the Bengals in check long enough to squeak out a victory.

Steelers win this one 24-17.

pablo33

TBT's analysis is about right on.

I expect the Steelers to be able to run the ball effectively with either Parker or Bettis (hopefully not both). I know you Steelers fans have concerns about your running game, but those should be eased a little bit by our defense. The Bengals D needs to do its best to limit the long runs by the Steelers backs, which means solid tackling and (at least if Parker's running with the ball) not overpursuing like they did against Jax. To help minimize the damage that the Steelers offense will be able to do, it sure as hell wouldn't hurt for the Bengals D to come up with a few more turnovers, be they INTs or forced fumbles.

For the Bengals offensively, I think the need to stay committed to the run game, and run it effectively. Their big plays will come through the air, but if they get stuck in a "pass every down" rut LeBeau and the Steelers D will have an edge. The OL will need to be on its game to establish an adequate rushing attack and to pick up the various pass rushers gunning for Palmer. This game could go a long way towards showing us how far along Carson Palmer is in his development. If he is able to recognize the defense and make the correct reads, the Bengals will be in good position to win in a bit of a shootout. If he gets confused and starts getting hit, the Bengals will likely be in for a long day because the Steelers will have the lead and start pounding away.

In all honestly, I think this game could easily go either way. Both teams have some weaknesses that the other is in a position to exploit. Based partly on the home field advantage and partly on not wanting to pick against my team (because the last time I did they lost):

Bengals 27 Steelers 20

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Thanks for the sig RipsVikes


"The team was renamed the Steelers in 1941 in part in honor of Pittsburgh’s steel industry, but also in reference to the city’s two greatest ills of the time: burglary and illiteracy."

natas

PITS D is the difference

PIT - 21
CIN - 13

imported_Alex_DeLarge

Our top cover corner is out for the game, Deshea Townsend is a VERY underrated corner and he will surely be missed covering "CJ"...I just hope he doesnt roam wild on Ike Taylor, and I know for damn sure he can burn Willie Williams

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All Credit goes to Predator

pablo33

CJ on Willie I feel real, real good about. Willie's got some veteran tricks, but I don't think he has what it takes to hang with CJ at this point in his career.


I would've felt better about CJ on Ike if I hadn't seen Ike make that play on the deep ball to Jimmy Smith near the end of the 4th quarter Sunday. That was a helluva play. There's not doubt Ike's got the physical ability to hold CJ in check, it'll just come down to smarts and experience. I'm glad Cowher never really gave Ike a chance to play during the last two seasons.

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Thanks for the sig RipsVikes


"The team was renamed the Steelers in 1941 in part in honor of Pittsburgh’s steel industry, but also in reference to the city’s two greatest ills of the time: burglary and illiteracy."

natas

I may have to change my pick for this week.. chad+banged up secondary = no good for steelers.. wow..

]<ing

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Aviator

I'll be watching this game, looking forward to it. Can't figure who to root for.

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^Sig By 85D^