Primer: Cincinnati Bengals (1-8-1) @ Pittsburgh Steelers (7-3)

by Josh Kirkendall on Nov 19, 2008 12:19 PM EST in Primer

Game: Cincinnati Bengals (1-8-1) @ Pittsburgh Steelers (7-3)
Series Leader: Steelers, 46-30
Streak: Steelers won the past four.
Coaches vs. Opponent: Lewis: 3-9. Tomlin: 3-0
Broadcast: NFLN (8:00 PM ET): Bob Papa, Cris Collinsworth. Westwood One Radio: Ian Eagle, Boomer Esiason, Hub Arkush (Field reporter). SIRIUS: 124 (WW1), 126 (Cin.), 127 (Pit.). XM: 124 (WW1), 102 (Cin.), 103 (Pit.).
SB Nation: Behind the Steel Curtain
NFL.com: Game Center
Weather: Temperature 33, light winds and light snow showers [Weather.com]
Uniform: White
Television Coverage: NFL Network or inside the cities the game is played.
Site: We plan on being here.

Bengals

Team has won five of the past seven games against AFC teams in November.
Ryan Fitzpatrick has recorded a 60% completion rate in each of his six starts.
In Fitzpatrick's last two starts, he's thrown for three touchdowns and only one interception (88.9 passer rating). Has 103 yards rushing in his past three games.
When he rushes twenty times or more in a game, Cedric Benson averages 76.6 yards rushing.
With six receptions, T.J. Houshmandzadeh will have at least six receptions in nine straight games. Since 2007, Houshmandzadeh leads the NFL with 185 receptions.
Chad Johnson has three touchdown receptions in his past four games.
With a reception, Chad Johnson will have at least one reception in 103 straight games.
The Bengals are 22-6-1 (any guesses on when the "one" happened?) when the defense picks off two pass or more.
Dhani Jones leads the team with 96 tackles.
Glenn Holt is still first in the AFC with 933 kickoff return yards.

Steelers

With a win, the Steelers will have beaten the Bengals in five straight games -- first time since September 19, 1993.
In 2008, the Steelers are 6-1 against AFC clubs.
Ben Roethlisberger is 25-8 when playing at home with 6,998 yards passing, 47 touchdowns and 33 interceptions (90.7 passer rating). Including the playoffs, the Steelers are 29-2 when Roethlisberger has a passer rating of 100 or better.
Willie Parker looks to have 100 yards rushing at home for the third straight game.
As a starter against the Bengals, Parker averages 113.7 yards rushing.
Hines Ward, averaging 118 yards receiving in his past two games, looks to have a 100-hundred receiving performance for the first time since 2002. He has five touchdowns in the past three games against the Bengals.
Santonio Holmes is averaging 100 yards receiving in his past three games against the Bengals.
Steelers lead the AFC with 36 sacks.
LaMarr Woodley has 8.5 sacks in his past seven games and James Harrison has nine in his past seven and ranks 2nd in the NFL with 12.

Team Rankings

Offense	Bengals	Steelers
Total	242.6 (32nd)	300.2 (25th)
Passing	158.9 (30th)	200.4 (18th)
Passing TDs	8 (t-29th)	12 (t-15th)
Rushing	83.7 (30th)	99.8 (23rd)
Rushing TDs	4 (31st)	10 (14th)
Scoring	13.8 (31st)	20.9 (t-23rd)

Defense	Bengals	Steelers
Total	337.7 (20th)	238.1 (1st)
Passing	206.6 (15th)	169.2 (1st)
Passing TDs	14 (t-20th)	9 (6th)
Rushing	131.1 (23rd)	68.9 (1st)
Rushing TDs	12 (24th)	4 (t-3rd)
Scoring	24.9 (t-24th)	15 (2nd)
Sacks	11 (31st)	36 (t-1st)
QB Rating	85.3 (17th)	71.9 (6th)
20-Yard Passes Allowed	21 (4th)	14 (1st)
Interceptions	8 (t-20th)	10 (t-9th)

Special Teams	Bengals	Steelers
Kickoff Return	24.6 (7th)	19.8 (31st)
Punt Return	8.0 (23rd)	6.0 (30th)
Punting (Net)	33.1 (31st)	37.4 (16th)

Turnover Differential	-4 (22nd)	0 (20th)

Carson Palmer (just FYI since he's not playing)

Date	Result	Comp	Att	Yards	TDs	INTs
12.02.07	L, 10-24	17	44	183	0	0
10.28.07	L, 13-24	23	31	205	1	0
12.31.06	L, 17-23	20	38	251	2	0
9.24.06	W, 28-20	18	26	193	4	2
12.4.05	W, 38-31	22	38	227	3	0
10.23.05	L, 13-27	21	36	227	0	2
11.21.04	L, 14-19	13	25	165	2	1
10.3.04	L, 17-28	20	37	164	1	2
Passer	Rating: 83.4	154	275	1,615	13	7

Ryan Fitzpatrick

Date	Result	Comp	Att	Yards	TDs	INTs
10.19.2008	L, 10-38	21	35	164	1	0

Cedric Benson

Date	Rush	Yards	TDs
10.19.08	14	52	0

Kenny Watson

Date	Rush	Yards	Rec.	Yards	TDs
10.19.08	4	17	1	1	0
12.02.07	5	23	0	0	0
10.28.07	19	88	5	26	0
12.31.06	0	0	4	19	0
9.24.06	3	35	1	9	0
10.3.04	1	0	2	17	0
	32	163	13	72	0

Chris Perry

Date	Rush	Yards	Rec.	Yards	TDs
12.4.05	0	0	2	12	0
10.23.05	3	1	5	43	0
10.3.04	0	0	2	24	0
	3	1	9	79	0

Chad Johnson

Date	Rec	Yards	TDs
10.19.08	8	52	1
12.02.07	6	86	0
10.28.07	5	51	0
12.31.06	4	53	0
9.24.06	1	11	0
12.4.05	5	54	0
10.23.05	4	94	0
11.21.04	5	80	1
10.3.04	4	54	0
11.30.03	6	117	1
9.21.03	4	77	0
11.24.02	7	152	0
10.13.02	7	71	0
12.30.01	2	25	0
10.07.01	5	52	0
	73	1,029	3

T.J. Houshmandzadeh

Date	Rec	Yards	TDs
10.19.08	8	58	0
12.02.07	5	42	0
10.28.07	7	81	1
12.31.06	4	44	0
9.24.06	9	94	2
12.4.05	5	88	2
10.23.05	7	75	0
11.21.04	2	24	0
10.3.04	6	53	0
11.24.02	1	6	0
10.13.02	4	56	0
12.30.01	9	98	0
	67	719	5