Primer: Cincinnati Bengals (7-4) at Pittsburgh Steelers (8-3)

by Josh Kirkendall on Nov 30, 2011 11:00 AM EST in Primer

Game: Cincinnati Bengals (7-4) at Pittsburgh Steelers (8-3)
Series Leader: Steelers, 50-32
Streak: Steelers have won eight of the past 10
Coaches vs. Opponent: Lewis: 5-13. Tomlin: 7-2
Broadcast: CBS (1:00 PM ET): Jim Nantz, Phil Simms. Westwood One Radio: Howard David, Tony Boselli. SIRIUS: 113 (Cin.), 86 (Pit.). XM: 228 (Pit.).
SB Nation: Behind The Steel Curtain | SB Nation Game Coverage
NFL.com: Game Center
Weather: Partly cloudy and 50 degrees at kickoff [Weather Underground]
Uniform: White

CINCINNATI BENGALS

The Cincinnati Bengals are 4-2 on the road this season.
Quarterback Andy Dalton is averaging 321.5 yards passing in his past two games against AFC North opponents.
Last week Dalton (16) surpassed Greg Cook (15) for most touchdown passes in franchise history.
Running back Cedric Benson posted his 15th 100-yard rushing game with the Cincinnati Bengals last week. The Bengals are 13-2 in those games.
Rookie wide receiver A.J. Green leads all rookies with 745 yards receiving and six touchdown receptions.
Green posted a 36-yard touchdown reception in his only meeting against Pittsburgh.
Green (44 receptions, 745 yards receiving) can challenge Cris Collinsworth (67 receptions, 1,009 yards receiving in 1981) for most receptions and yards receiving by a rookie in club history.
Bengals defense are tied for second most forced fumbles in the NFL.
Defensive tackle Geno Atkins is looking to post a quarterback sack in his fourth straight game.
Robert Geathers has four quarterback sacks in his past five games against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

The Pittsburgh Steelers are 28-9 when playing at home under head coach Mike Tomlin.
Steelers are looking to post a fourth straight win over the Cincinnati Bengals.
Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is 11-4 as a starter against the Bengal and is 21-8 overall in December.
Running back Rashard Mendenhall has three rushing touchdowns in his past three games against the Bengals.
Wide receiver Mike Wallace needs 61 yards receiving to reach 1,000 yards in consecutive seasons.
Wide receiver Antonio Brown is averaging 92 yards receiving per game in his past three games.
Hines Ward needs nine yards receiving to become the 19th player in NFL history with 12,000 yards receiving.
Defense allows second-fewest yards per game (277.5) in the NFL this season.
Linebacker LaMarr Woodley needs two sacks to become the sixth player in franchise history with 50 quarterback sacks.
Linebacker James Harrison has five sacks in his past seven games against the Bengals.

TEAM RANKINGS

Offense	Bengals	Steelers
Total	334.6 (18th)	374.5 (10th)
Scoring	23.5 (t-12th)	21.2 (19th)
Third Downs	37% (17th)	49% (2nd)
Rushing	108.5 (20th)	109.6 (18th)
Rushing TDs	7 (t-19th)	7 (t-19th)
20-Yard Runs	3 (t-30th)	4 (t-28th)
Passing	226.2 (17th)	264.9 (8th)
Passing TDs	17 (t-10th)	17 (t-10th)
Sacks Allowed	17 (4th)	32 (t-26th)
20-yard Passes	39 (12th)	41 (10th)

Defense	Bengals	Steelers
Total	307.7 (5th)	277.5 (2nd)
Scoring	19.5 (8th)	17.1 (4th)
3rd Downs Allowed	36% (t-10th)	42% (25th)
Rushing	92.7 (5th)	96.3 (6th)
Rushing TDs	10 (t-23rd)	6 (t-5th)
20-Yard Runs	6 (t-9th)	5 (t-5th)
Passing	215.0 (11th)	181.3 (3rd)
Passing TDs	13 (t-23rd)	13 (t-23rd)
Sacks	28 (12th)	24 (t-17th)
QB Rating	83.3 (15th)	78.5 (9th)
20-Yard Passes Allowed	32 (t-10th)	24 (2nd)
Interceptions	6 (t-28th)	7 (t-26th)

Special Teams	Bengals	Steelers
Kickoff Return	22.9 (21st)	26.0 (7th)
Punt Return	10.9 (11th)	10.6 (12th)
Punting (Net)	39.6 (t-12th)	38.3 (18th)
Punts Inside the 20	17 (t-11th)	12 (t-27th)

CAREER AGAINST THE STEELERS

Andy Dalton

Date	Cmp	Att	Yrds	TD	INT	Rating
11.13.2011	15	30	170	2	2	61.8

Bruce Gradkowski

Date	Cmp	Att	Yrds	TD	INT	Rating
11.21.2010	13	24	98	0	1	46.9
12.6.2009	20	33	308	3	0	121.8
12.28.2008	5	16	18	0	2	1.0
12.3.2006	20	34	175	0	3	35.8

Cedric Benson

Date	Rushes	Yards	TDs
11.13.2011	15	57	0
12.12.2010	8	19	0
11.8.2010	18	54	1
11.15.2009	7	22	0
9.27.2009	16	76	1
11.20.2008	16	35	0
10.19.2008	14	52	0

Jerome Simpson

Date	Rec	Yards	TDs
11.13.2011	0	0	0
10.19.2008	1	2	0

A.J. Green

Date	Rec	Yards	TDs
11.13.2011	1	36	1

Andre Caldwell

Date	Rec	Yards	TDs
11.13.2011	3	25	0
11.15.2009	4	23	0
9.27.2009	6	52	1
11.20.2008	3	26	0

Jermaine Gresham

Date	Rec	Yards	TDs
11.13.2011	4	23	1
11.8.2010	2	11	0

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Comments

Weather is going to be high 40s and 50% chance of rain.......

get ready to run Benson!

by The Van Buren Boys on Nov 30, 2011 11:23 AM EST reply actions

At least Dierdorf isn't commentating

Yes I'm a Bengals fan

by Helmsy on Nov 30, 2011 11:33 AM EST via mobile reply actions

feel good article about Andy

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/962332-christian-ponder-vs-andy-dalton-did-minnesota-vikings-make-an-awful-mistake

by ticalcaldwell on Nov 30, 2011 11:33 AM EST reply actions

Here's a plus that some people are missing.

Dalton has ice in his veins and has already led several comeback victories. Rookies aren’t supposed to do that. That reason alone makes me glad to have him then any other rookie qb.

by TCfromDubVee on Nov 30, 2011 12:12 PM EST up reply actions

Good point.

W talk about it here, but for some reason you never hear anyone talk about Dalton’s 4th quarter comebacks when discussing his ROY candidacy, etc.

"I thought, 'Ball, please get down and into my hands.'"
-AJ Green

by Jaegner on Nov 30, 2011 2:29 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

I had to make a comment on that article in reply to someone saying

Dalton isn’t as mobile as Ponder. Not to take anything away from Ponder as I am a fan, but Dalton is a mobile son of a gun! He doesn’t run the ball as much as Ponder, but he also doesn’t need to.

by Oregonbengalsfan on Nov 30, 2011 1:36 PM EST up reply actions

Dalton is very mobile for what he does

Vick and other scrambling QBs think pass first, but once flushed outside the pocket, they look where their going to run and then if they can, set their feet then throw it, if they haven’t run passed the line of scrimmage. However, Dalton thinks pass first pretty much the whole time will behind the line of scrimmage, because when he is flushed outside the pocket, his eyes remain down the field. Much like Drew Brees! So Dalton is a lot better than he appears.

AMAS

by AMAS85 on Nov 30, 2011 1:54 PM EST up reply actions

Another good article about Dalton vs Cam

http://sports.yahoo.com/top/news?slug=ycn-10552233

At first I thought it was the same old “make excuses for Cam as to why he SHOULD be the ROY……i.e. Cincys good D, game manager..blah..blah”….but it actually points out the obvious….Dalton can throw….Cam is just a great athlete

by ticalcaldwell on Nov 30, 2011 11:42 AM EST reply actions