RELATED: 5 things Steelers coach said about Sunday’s game
History is always under the surface in this series, especially when it comes to the animosity between the two teams and the physical nature of recent games.
Here is a look at five things to watch Sunday as the first-place Bengals (4-1) try to separate themselves from the rest of the division:
1. Can the Bengals really “stay poised”?
Both coaches emphasized this week that physicality in this series is fine as long as it doesn’t lead to penalties, but baiting the opponent into a reaction isn’t uncommon between these two teams. This also is the first time the Bengals are seeing the Steelers since JuJu Smith-Schuster knocked Vontaze Burfict out with a concussion on a blindside block last December. Injuries are always a concern.
»RELATED: Bengals focused on game vs. Steelers, not rivalry
The Bengals spent all week talking about "staying poised," and maybe that's the key to breaking the losing streak against Pittsburgh.
Cincinnati was penalized 13 times for a club-record 173 yards during last year’s meltdown against Pittsburgh at Paul Brown Stadium when the Steelers overcame a 17-point deficit to win 23-20. And the most memorable penalties occurred in the 2015 playoff loss when personal foul calls on Burfict and Adam Jones allowed Pittsburgh to move into field goal range for the go-ahead points in an 18-16 decision.
“That’s what the ramifications are — you’re hurting our opportunity to win,” Lewis said of penalties. “You’re really putting a dagger in our opportunity to win.”
Pittsburgh leads the league this year in flags with 49 penalties for 459 yards.
2. Fourth quarter is key
The Bengals have three comeback wins this season and have outscored opponents 56-18, but it’s usually Pittsburgh stealing games late in this series, so what will it be on Sunday?
»RELATED: NFL’s new player-safety rules won’t slow physical nature of Bengals-Steelers
The Steelers outscored the Bengals 22-0 in the last two meetings to rally for wins, and although Cincinnati outscored Pittsburgh 16-3 in the fourth quarter of the 2015 playoff game, the Steelers still came from behind to win 18-16 on a last-second field goal.
“We have a new mentality,” defensive end Carlos Dunlap said. “It doesn’t matter the score, we’re going to strive to finish.”
3. Corrections on special teams
Special teams issues have crept up on the Bengals the last few games, and that’s an area that needs cleaned up, especially considering Pittsburgh has taken advantage in that phase of the game against Cincinnati in the past.
In the last nine quarters, the Bengals have missed field goals, had one field goal and one punt blocked and given up long returns, including a 71-yard punt return for a touchdown last week, in addition to some debilitating penalties.
»RELATED: Bengals’ third-down defense no longer last in NFL rankings
Those issues are uncharacteristic of the Bengals under special teams coordinator Darrin Simmons; however, the Steelers were responsible for two of the last five field goals Cincinnati had blocked and three of the last five punt returns for touchdowns allowed by the Bengals.
“Pittsburgh is a high-pressure team and is a big, physical group,” Simmons said. “They use a bunch linebackers and defensive linemen that they try to create mismatches. They have a couple of guys we know are tough to handle. … We have to get that part of our game shored up quick.”
4. Dalton needs some help
With T.J. Watt already having six sacks this season and the Bengals offensive line struggling to give Andy Dalton time to throw, it could be a rough game for Cincinnati’s quarterback.
Lewis still won’t answer questions about potentially changing personnel up front, simply saying the group needs to do better.
Running back Joe Mixon can take off some of the pressure with a big game as he looks to build off a 93-yard rushing performance against Miami in his return from arthroscopic knee surgery. The running game has been inconsistent since his injury, and Giovani Bernard is still out with a knee injury, so it’s up to Mixon and rookie Mark Walton to get something going.
The offense as a whole was off last week and really has been since Tyler Eifert broke his ankle in the third quarter at Atlanta. John Ross remains questionable, tight end Tyler Kroft has his foot in a boot and is out and those are some key pieces to keep double teams off A.J. Green and open things for Tyler Boyd as well.
Pittsburgh ranks 24th in points allowed (26.6) and 29th for yards allowed (401.2).
5. Secondary stepping up
Rookie Jessie Bates recorded his second interception last week against the Dolphins and was the Bengals' highest-graded player for the game, according to ProFootballFocus.com, earning a 91.1 to move into sixth among all qualifying safeties in overall grade (83.9) this season.
He’s having a heck of a season so far and already has matched the total interceptions of last year’s starting safeties, as strong safety Shawn Williams and former Bengals free safety George Iloka totaled two picks combined through all of 2017.
Bates has been looking forward to a chance to try to intercept Ben Roethlisberger since he was drafted, he said, and turnovers could be a big factor for Cincinnati on Sunday. The Steelers, without Le’Veon Bell, are throwing the ball more this year and Roethlisberger ranks third in the league with 1,664 yards passing. Smith-Schuster is a top receiver this year with 450 yards and two touchdowns on 35 catches, while Antonio Brown adds 373 yards and five touchdowns on 35 catches.
TODAY’S GAME
Steelers at Bengals, 1 p.m., WHIO-TV Ch. 7, Ch. 12, 700, 1530, 102.7, 104.7
About the Author