CINCINNATI — Here we go again. Another game against the hated rivals from the Steel City. Once again feeling like the Bengals are the inferior team going in, even though there are reasons to believe the Bengals can actually win this game tomorrow. It just feels like the Steelers are in our heads as Bengals fans. No matter how hopeful we get,, they will always find a way to crush that hope. Someway somehow. And after last week’s performance in Chicago, what reason is there for me and other Bengals fans to have confidence this team can pull out a win tomorrow? But then again, what hope did we have last year before the Bengals upset win on Monday Night Football? Something has to change for the Bengals fortunes in this rivalry, so why not this team, with the talent that it has, being the ones to flip the script in a rivalry long since been dominated by Pittsburgh.
Cincinnati Bengals @ Pittsburgh Steelers – 1 p.m. on CBS (Kevin Harlan, Trent Green, Melanie Collins) Radio: ESPN1530 and 102.7 WEBN (Dan Hoard, Dave Lapham)
Opening Thoughts
I thought about this earlier in the week and I didn’t want to say it was true, but now I think it is. I think this is the biggest game of Zac Taylor’s head coaching tenure here in Cincinnati. He’s been here long enough, and he’s assembled a roster that consists of “his guys.” It’s time for him to win games as the head coach, especially after the disappointing loss last week at Chicago. There is too much talent on this team for that kind of subpar performance to occur, and Taylor needs to figure out how to best utilize that talent to victories. And what better way to send a message to the fanbase that things are different, and new, than with a win at Pittsburgh.
It was great last year when the Bengals beat the Steelers on Monday Night Football, but they had nothing to lose with just three games to play. Now in a crucial early-season game against them, how do the Bengals play? Do they come out aggressive, or do they come out conservative and timid once again against the Steelers? A win can go a long way. The Bengals are most likely going to beat Jacksonville next Thursday night, but why not also steal a win at Pittsburgh and possibly build a cushion, momentum, at 3-1? But that starts with winning tomorrow’s game at Pittsburgh.
Players to watch
Bengals on offense – Jackson Carman. Hey rookie, welcome to the NFL! The Bengals second round draft pick back in April is poised to make his debut Sunday starting at right guard. But talk about being thrown right into the fire against the ferocious defensive line that is the Pittsburgh Steelers. That’s what Carman will be walking into in his first career start.
Carman was highly underwhelming in Training Camp, and the most startling comment was James Rapien saying that he was not in shape. That’s not something you want to hear about a second round draft pick that’s supposed to be a building block towards an improved offensive line. Word this week is that he has made improvements since training camp, but we can’t really be sure until we actually see him play. And what better litmus test than the physicality of the Steelers.
Steelers on defense – Cameron Heyward. With linebacker TJ Watt out Sunday with a groin injury, the focus for me shifts to their next best defensive player. Heyward is a monster with 59 sacks since he entered the league in 2011. With Watt and Tyson Alualu out Sunday, Heyward could have lots of opportunities to get after Joe Burrow. That’s not something I want to visualize, but it’s a realistic possibility. Especially since he could lineup against Jackson, which would be a huge mismatch in terms of experience and talent.
Steelers on offense – JuJu Smith-Schuster and Chase Claypool. Don’t let the Steelers team offensive stats and rankings fool you. This offense has a dangerous corps of receivers. Smith-Schuster is always a dangerous threat over the middle, and get him in space and he’s even more dangerous. Claypool is a matchup nightmare with his 6’4″ frame, and is a huge deep threat and threat in the red zone. Eli Apple going up against him for the Bengals doesn’t offer much hope, especially after getting burned by both K.J. Osborn and Adam Thielen of the Vikings in the season-opener.
Bengals on defense – Trey Hendrickson and Logan Wilson. Talk about Zac Taylor and Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anaumo getting “their guys.” Hendrickson and Wilson are prime examples of that, as both are part of a new-look young defensive corps for the Bengals. Both had impressive games last week in Chicago, with Hendrickson largely contributing up front in holding Chicago to just 208 total yards of offense. The free agent signing from New Orleans this offseason recorded 1.5 sacks last week and forced a fumble, validating every reason why the Bengals signed him.
The player who nearly recovered his forced fumble, linebacker Logan Wilson, gets better by the week. Wilson had nine tackles and a critical interception during the Bengals comeback attempt, coming a year after he intercepted two passes as a rookie. Hendrickson’s ability to apply pressure on Big Ben from the edge and Wilson’s ability to tackle and make plays by being in the right place at the right time will be crucial to the overall defensive performance in a game that could be low-scoring.
Thoughts on the opposing quarterback
When it comes to longevity, we all think about Tom Brady. But right behind him is Ben Roethlisberger. It’s amazing that this is already his 18th year in the NFL. It feels like just yesterday he led the Steelers to two Super Bowl titles in a four-year span from 2005-2008 and an appearance in Super Bowl XLV two years later.
I once read in a Sports Illustrated article, with Roethlisberger on the cover, that he is polarizing. You love seeing that No. 7 on his jersey if you’re a Steelers fan, but you just loathe seeing it if you’re not a Steelers fan. But I wonder how he’s viewed amongst Steelers fans themselves. I think he might be polarizing even amongst the fans that root for the team he plays for. Since taking the Steelers to the Super Bowl in 2010, do you know how many playoff wins he has? Three. That’s right. Just three. To put that into perspective, Brady has 20 playoff wins since 2010 including four Super Bowl titles. Roethlisberger has had some impressive statistical seasons since 2010, but has failed to take some really talented Steelers teams as far in the playoffs as their potential suggested they could go.
I thought Big Ben had a really good season last year, especially coming off elbow surgery the year before. And considering the Steelers offense was severely one-dimensional, Big Ben really was the reason why the Steelers were able to accrue yards and put up enough points to win 12 games and the AFC North.
Now back for his 18th season, its worth wondering if this is his last dance with the black and gold. Bengals fans certainly hope so, considering his ungodly good record against them. But after the Bengals defense made him look his age in their Monday Night Football upset of Big Ben and the Steelers last year, maybe that was a sign that the times are a changing. Will Big Ben play like he did when he was 30 on Sunday or like he’s ready to retire, like he hinted at during the 2017 season? I wonder how Steelers fans felt about that.
Frankie’s Gameplan to Victory
1. Protect. the. Franchise. – No further explanation needed, Your Honor.
2. BE AGGRESSIVE. B-E AGGRESSIVE. B-E A-G-G-R-E-S-S-I-V-E AGGRESSIVE. B-E AGGRESSIVE. – That was my favorite cheer the cheerleaders did at Springboro High School football games. It amazed me how they were able to spell a complex word with all the movements incorporated in the cheer. Anyway, you know what else is apparently complex? Zac Taylor coaching aggressive. With all the talent the Bengals have at the skill possessions, taking shots down the field should be a major part of the gameplan. Taylor shouldn’t wait for the third quarter to call a deep shot. How about taking a shot on the first possession? Send a message to the Steelers defense and the entire team that you’re here to play.
Where this game will be decided: I think whichever team’s skill players perform the best will win this game. This could be a highly-physical game where points and yards could come at a premium. That’s why whichever team’s receiving corps is able to best move the chains I think will go a long way towards deciding the outcome of the game. The Bengals secondary is much-improved, but they will need to play perhaps their best of the season to contain the Steelers receivers. Pittsburgh lost a lot in their secondary, but they still have Minkah Fitzpatrick lurking at safety and Joe Haden has the skills to be a shutdown corner.
Game pick: Steelers 20 Bengals 17
These two teams play a lot of close games regardless of the talent difference. I think this game will be close as well, and the Bengals can hopefully take advantage of the Steelers not having TJ Watt and other key members of their pass rush. But it’s that feeling of until I see the Bengals win a game in Pittsburgh, I can’t pick them to win this game in the Steel City Sunday.
Let me be Frank and Cut to the Chase 