Filed under: Bengals, Steelers, AFC North
Before the season started, the matchup between the Bengals and Steelers was viewed as one of the top prime-time games of the year. Unfortunately, the Bengals failed to live up to the hype with a record of 2-5, while the Steelers -- who were expected to have an up and down campaign due to the four-game suspension of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger for violating the league's personal conduct policy -- are on fire with the second--best record in the AFC at 5-2, tied with the Ravens, Jets, Chiefs and Colts.The nation will finally see the dynamic duo (supposedly) of Bengals wide receivers Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco with quarterback Carson Palmer airing the ball out. Well, the duo is anything but dynamic, while Palmer, who is pulling the trigger and is 7th in the league with 1,855 passing yards, has not orchestrated the offense as expected.
Running back Cedric Benson is 12th in the league in rushing with 545 yards with two touchdown rushes, averaging 3.8 yards per carry, and has fumbled three times (tied second among starting backs with Frank Gore of the 49ers, Peyton Hillis of the Browns and Tim Hightower of the Cardinals) in critical situations. To make matters worse, the Bengals defense has fallen apart, largely because of injuries.
The Steelers lost last Sunday to the reigning Super Bowl champion Saints. Roethlisberger struggled against New Orleans, but he looks forward into playing in his home state of Ohio in front of his family and friends.
The Bengals swept the Steelers last season, but Pittsburgh leads the all-time series at 48-32 and has a winning record against the Bengals when playing in Cincinnati, 22-18.
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