Still Curtain
FanSided

Steelers vs Bengals: Breakdown, matchups and prediction

By Perry Biggerstaff

Dec 13, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) passes the ball against the Cincinnati Bengals in the second half at Paul Brown Stadium. The Steelers won 33-20. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 13, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) passes the ball against the Cincinnati Bengals in the second half at Paul Brown Stadium. The Steelers won 33-20. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 3
Next

Matchups

Dec 13, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Heath Miller (83) runs the ball as Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict (55) tackles in the first half at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 13, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Heath Miller (83) runs the ball as Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict (55) tackles in the first half at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports /

Steelers Run Game vs Bengals Front Seven

Last year the Steelers went into the playoffs without a legitimate running game and were subsequently drummed out of post season play.  One dimensional teams tend to do very poorly in the playoffs.  This year is like “deja vu all over again” with Le’Veon Bell out for the season and they Steelers now reporting that DeAngelo Williams will not play Saturday night.

The Steelers are going to have to go with Fitzgerald Toussaint and Jordan Todman who are going to have to  step up to keep the Bengals defense honest.   Toussaint knows the system but Todman is the more versatile back.

Heath Miller vs Bengals Linebackers

In games against non-Bengals teams, Heath Miller has averaged three catches per game, but in the two Bengals games he has combined for 20 catches and 171 yards.  The Bengals linebackers are going to have to find a way to cover him, but of course, not at the cost of leaving the Steelers slot receiver open.  That is going to be easier said than done.

Steelers/Bengals vs John Parry’s officiating crew

Yes…in the leagues infinite wisdom, they have scheduled the SAME inept officiating crew that covered the last meeting of these rivals to officiate this playoff game.  The last game was beyond chippy.  Missed calls and the failure to penalize or even warn players of their behavior turned the game into a free for all that resulted in severe fines in the ensuing weeks.

The officials are going to have to take control of this game early.  They will be walking a thin line between letting the players actually play and not letting them take cheap shots.  No one wants to watch a game that is constantly interrupted by penalties, but they can’t miss defenders purposefully trying to injure opposing quarterbacks.

Next: Prediction

Home/Steelers News