Bengals Early Bird Special: Bring On The Steelers

This Sunday is going to be the most important game for the Bengals up to this point of the season. So far this season the Bengals haven't faced-off against an opponent as well-rounded as the Steelers. As much as I hate the Steelers, I won't deny that they are a solid football team all-around.

For the most part, the Bengals have played teams that are solid on one side of the ball, but not the other. Week one Cincinnati faced the Cleveland Browns. Now everyone can say what they want, but the Browns offense isn't that threatening and it showed during that game. Cleveland has only managed to score 20 or more points one time this season and it wasn't against Cincinnati. Teams aren't going to win if they can't score.

The Broncos, Seahawks, and Jaguars were opponents that had question marks on offense. Denver was the only team from that group to defeat the Bengals. Denver could have easily lost the game against the Bengals if it weren't for that play action call on 4-and-1. But then again, there's no guarantee that if the Bengals converted on that play that they would have scored on that drive. As for Seattle, they have one of the worst ranked offenses in the league. Even though they put up 350 yards through the air they only managed to score 12 points. And finally Jacksonville. They had a rookie quarterback in Blaine Gabbert starting for them and attempting to lead them to victory. And Gabbert played his part of the rookie very well. Sure he helped put up 20 points for the Jags, but that wasn't enough.

As for the 49ers, they have a weak passing game, an adequate ground attack, and a solid defense. The Niners ability to stop Cincinnati on third down situations was the doom for the Bengals in a low-scoring affair. As for the Titans and Bills games, a second surge on offense from the Bengals showed that their opponents' defense was lacking something to be desired. And neither the Bills or Titans managed to put up many points in the second half.

But this Sunday the Bengals face-off against one of the best defense and offenses in the league. Hopefully on Sunday it will be an entertaining, competitive match-up that won't leave us disappointed.

Alright here is what you may have missed or overlooked from Wednesday.

• It's time to vote for the week nine Caption Contest. Hurry before it's too late.
• The injury and practice report from Wednesday for the Bengals and Steelers. Keith Rivers did not practice on Wednesday, despite being cleared to participate in practice.
• So far this season Bengals rookie quarterback Andy Dalton has only been sacked 12 times through eight games. So who deserves the credit for that?
• The Bengals wide receivers will be faced with a tough match-up against the Pittsburgh Steelers cornerbacks.
• ProFootballFocus.com released their mid-season all-pro team. And two Bengals players made the list.
• Bengals defensive end Carlos Dunlap has been nominated for the AFC Defensive Player of the Week. And his fellow teammate on the opposite side of the ball, Andy Dalton, has been nominated for the AFC Player of the Week.
• Bengals offensive lineman Bobbie Williams has "no doubt" the Bengals will come out victorious against Pittsburgh.
• The Game Ball of the Week goes to........check it out for yourself. I won't be telling you anytime soon.
• Relive A.J. Green's 20-yard reception on a critical third down that helped guide the Bengals to their game-winning touchdown.