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Bengals at Steelers: Preview, Predictions, and More

By Stephen Forsha

Jan 9, 2016; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) throws a pass during the third quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Wild Card playoff football game at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 9, 2016; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) throws a pass during the third quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Wild Card playoff football game at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /
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Cincinnati Bengals vs Pittsburgh Steelers

This very intense rivalry heats up once again on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET when the Bengals and the Steelers renew their hatred for each other in what should be a very intense AFC North showdown. These two teams last met each other in the Wild Card round of the playoffs last year, where the Steelers moved on.

Related Story: Bengals Week 1 Recap

Though Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton missed that game due to injury, this season both teams are still favored to be in contention for just not a playoff spot, but the AFC North title. Though it is just Week 2, this game has vast importance as the season rolls along.

Both the Bengals and the Steelers enter with season-opening wins, and the Steelers lead the all-time meetings with a record of 58-35. In their previous six meetings, the Steelers have won five times, with the lone loss coming last season by a 16-10 score. In three of their past four games, the outcome has been decided by 10 points or fewer.

Pittsburgh is coming off a game where they held the Washington Redskins to 55 total rushing yards and won in a dominating outing against the reigning NFC East champions. The offense of Pittsburgh played well too, as quarterback Ben Roethlisberger passed for three touchdowns, and wide receiver Antonio Brown didn’t miss a beat either with eight catches for 126 yards.

Cincinnati enters this game with a one-point victory over the Jets due to a game-winning field goal. Dalton passed for 366 yards on 23 completions with one touchdown and one interception. The Bengals’ top wide receiver, A.J. Green totaled 12 receptions for 180 yards and one touchdown.

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So if there is anything close to a guarantee in this game (besides the fact it will be very physical), it is the fact all of us should get to see great wide receiver play from two of the very best in the game today.

Keys To Victory For Bengals

1. Andy Dalton stays on the field: The one game where the Bengals defeated the Steelers last year, Dalton played against Pittsburgh for the entire game. With the Red Rifle injured, Cincy lost the other two meetings, including the postseason affair. When Dalton is on the field, the Bengals are a better team and that makes Green a better player. That is what the Bengals want: for Green to be at his best.

2. No meltdowns: Watch the final few minutes of the Bengals-Steelers playoff game from last season, and you will see the Bengals have the worst of meltdowns at the most inopportune times. That can’t happen ever again, especially against the Steelers. It is that simple.

3. Stop Antonio Brown: For the Bengals to have a chance in this game, it is common sense they must do whatever they can to not let Brown control this game. Never let the best wide receiver in the game have single coverage, and stay on him the entire game. The Redskins didn’t do that, and look how that turned out for them in Week 1.

Keys To Victory For Steelers

1. Slow down the rushing game: When the Steelers defeated Cincinnati in the playoffs last season, they held Jeremy Hill to 12 carries and 50 yards. In their previous December meeting last season, Giovani Bernard led the Bengals with six carries for 40 yards. Sure, in the game the Bengals won, Hill led with 60 yards rushing, but a good run game for the Bengals can go a very long way in setting up the rest of their offense.

2. Keep the football away from Green: Not only does Pittsburgh need to slow down the Bengals’ rushing game, but they need to keep the football away from Green at all costs. Just like mentioned with the Bengals needing to stop Brown, the same goes for the Steelers in stopping Green. In the Cincinnati win against them last November, Green had 11 receptions (17 targets) for 118 yards and one touchdown. Keep Green under 100 yards receiving and the Steelers vastly increase their chances of winning.

3. Be physical: The Steelers are always a very physical team, but when they face the Bengals in recent years, that intensity and physicality seems to jump even higher. The team who is more physical in this game will be the ones who ultimately win the first of two regular-season meetings this Sunday.

Odds

Point Spread: Pittsburgh -3
Moneyline: Pittsburgh: -175, Cincinnati +155
Over/Under: 48.5

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Prediction

As mentioned earlier, this game will come down to who can keep a superstar receiver from completely taking over the pace of the game, and which team can be the most physical without getting out of line. A lot is going to happen in this AFC North game, and it just could be the most anticipated game of Week 2 in this playoff rematch.

Pick: Cincinnati Bengals: 21, Pittsburgh Steelers: 23

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