Primer: Pittsburgh Steelers (6-3) at Cincinnati Bengals (6-2)

by Josh Kirkendall on Nov 9, 2011 11:00 AM EST in Primer

Game: Pittsburgh Steelers (6-3) at Cincinnati Bengals (6-2)
Series Leader: Steelers, 49-32
Streak: Steelers have won seven of the past nine
Coaches vs. Opponent: Tomlin: 6-2. Lewis: 5-12
Broadcast: CBS (1:00 PM ET): Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts. SIRIUS: 91 (Pit.), 82 (Cin.). XM: 229 (Cin.).
SB Nation: Behind The Steel Curtain | SB Nation Game Coverage
NFL.com: Game Center
Weather: Sunny to partly cloudy and 59 degrees at kickoff [Weather Underground]
Uniform: Black

CINCINNATI BENGALS

With a win the Bengals can tie for the second-longest single-season winning streak in franchise history (6 in '73, '75 and '88).
Quarterback Andy Dalton has 12 touchdown passes, most by a rookie quarterback during team's first eight games since the merger in 1970.
Dalton looks to become the first rookie quarterback with six straight wins since Vince Young in 2006.
Dalton needs 159 yards passing to surpass Greg Cook for most passing yards by a rookie in club history.
Cedric Benson is averaging 81 yards rushing per game in the past three Novembers.
Wide receiver A.J. Green leads all NFL rookies in receptions (40), yards receiving (599) and touchdown receptions (five).
Andre Caldwell recorded his second touchdown reception of the season last week against the titans.
Wide receiver Jerome Simpson looks to record a touchdown in his third straight game.
Defense has recorded nine forced fumbles this season, second-most in the NFL behind Baltimore (10).

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

With a win this weekend, Mike Tomlin can join Chuck Noll (193), Bill Cowher (149) and Raymond "Buddy" Park (51) as the fourth head coach in franchise history to reach 50 regular season wins.
Steelers have won eight of the past nine games in Cincinnati.
Ben Roethlisberger is 6-1 at Cincinnati with 10 touchdowns, five interceptions and a passer rating of 98.7.
Running back Rashard Mendenhall posted 99 yards rushing with a touchdown in his previous game against the Bengals.
Mendenhall needs one rushing touchdown to become the eighth player in franchise history with at least 25 rushing touchdowns.
Wide receiver Mike Wallace looks to record his third straight 100 yards receiving in a game in Cincinnati.
Wide receiver Antonio Brown has posted 100 yards receiving or more in two of the past three games.
Linebacker LaMarr Woodley (48) needs two sacks to become sixth player in franchise history with 50 career quarterback sacks.
James Harrison has posted three quarterback sacks in his previous games against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Safety Troy Polamalu tied a career-best two interceptions in the last meeting against Cincinnati, including a 45-yard touchdown return.

TEAM RANKINGS (2011)

Offense	Bengals	Steelers
Total	316.2 (22nd)	389.1 (9th)
Scoring	24.4 (14th)	21.8 (19th)
Third Downs	37% (t-18th)	52% (3rd)
Rushing	104.1 (21st)	110.3 (19th)
Rushing TDs	4 (t-23rd)	5 (t-17th)
20-Yard Runs	2 (t-30th)	4 (t-22nd)
Passing	212.1 (21st)	278.8 (8th)
Passing TDs	13 (t-10th)	15 (t-5th)
Sacks Allowed	13 (5th)	26 (28th)
20-yard Passes	26 (t-14th)	35 (t-5th)

Defense	Bengals	Steelers
Total	301.2 (4th)	280.2 (3rd)
Scoring	17.5 (4th)	18 (5th)
3rd Downs Allowed	35% (8th)	42% (25th)
Rushing	84.5 (2nd)	95.6 (6th)
Rushing TDs	6 (t-12th)	6 (t-12th)
20-Yard Runs	4 (t-7th)	5 (t-10th)
Passing	216.8 (10th)	184.7 (3rd)
Passing TDs	8 (t-3rd)	11 (t-13th)
Sacks	20 (t-11th)	23 (7th)
QB Rating	83.1 (14th)	84.0 (17th)
20-Yard Passes Allowed	22 (9th)	19 (t-3rd)
Interceptions	3 (30th)	2 (t-31st)

Special Teams	Bengals	Steelers
Kickoff Return	23.0 (t-16th)	28.1 (4th)
Punt Return	12.2 (7th)	11.3 (9th)
Punting (Net)	39.5 (t-11th)	38.4 (t-18th)
Punts Inside the 20	14 (t-5th)	9 (t-25th)

CAREER AGAINST THE STEELERS

Andy Dalton

Date	Cmp	Att	Yrds	TD	INT	Rating
N/A

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
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
10.19.2008	1	2	0

A.J. Green

Date	Rec	Yards	TDs
N/A

Andre Caldwell

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

Jermaine Gresham

Date	Rec	Yards	TDs
11.8.2010	2	11	0

Tweet Comment 10 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Wow. Big discrepancy in sacks allowed this year between the two teams

This will be a big key to the game. First, can we get pressure on Ben? Second, can we bring him down?

by n8dogg on Nov 9, 2011 11:39 AM EST reply actions

I haven’t seen the Steelers in action in this year, but typically, Big Ben hangs on to the ball too long trying to make a play thereby leading to sacks. Their OL – from what I read – was struggling early in the season, but they gave up just one sack against the Ravens a few days ago.

by BlitzAway on Nov 9, 2011 11:49 AM EST up reply actions

are you serious? is there an announcer really named Ian Eagle?

His parents must have named him after the movie Iron Eagle

Broadcast: CBS (1:00 PM ET): Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts.

by ephram on Nov 9, 2011 12:14 PM EST reply actions

Loved that movie

I’m sure its the reason I work better when listening to my headphones

by LeapingLeonard on Nov 9, 2011 12:47 PM EST up reply actions

must have some guy named Chappie as your manager :-)

by ephram on Nov 9, 2011 3:01 PM EST up reply actions

yes

you really haven’t heard of him?

He is on the low end of the totem pole there. We had to listen to him a lot until the finally started hiring even sh*ttier announcers.

andy it’s not pronounced “E-N” (Eyan), it’s pronounced “EYE-N”.

by supergrover on Nov 9, 2011 1:07 PM EST up reply actions

His name is Ion Eagle.

I represent the Bengals of Cincinnati with extreme passion and prejudice and make no apologies for it!

by Law1951 on Nov 9, 2011 1:08 PM EST up reply actions

And is anyone as superstitious as I am about which announcers call the game?

Usually, we fare well with Steve Tasker, Solomon Wilcots and/or Don Criqui call the games on CBS. The Bengals also seem to do well when they’re on FOX.

Guys like Eagle, Gus Johnson (when he was with CBS), Jim Nance, and Greg Gumbel bring back sad memories.

CincyJungle Contributor
Follow me on Twitter: @CUIBengalsFan

by Anthony Cosenza on Nov 9, 2011 3:37 PM EST up reply actions