More photos » by Gene Puskar - AP

5 days ago: Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer looks to pass in the first quarter of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

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Santonio Holmes dropped a touchdown pass and Jeff Reed kicked a field goal with 16 seconds left in the first half to put the Steelers ahead 9-6 going into halftime. The Bengals took the ball first and self-destructed with an illegal substitution play, and Shayne Graham missed a 51-yard field goal attempt off the upright.

Bernard Scott returned a kickoff for a touchdown, but Kevin Huber mishandled the ensuing snap on the PAT, so the Bengals were left with 6 points and a 3 point half-time deficit, which could have been a 1-point lead.

Negatives so far, just to get it out of the way - injuries and penalties. The Steelers lost Troy Polamalu, but Cedric Benson looked awful after leaving the game early with a leg injury. He is severely hobbled, and I don't think we can expect much from him in the second half. The Bengals have been penalized on almost every special teams play, suffered the aforementioned bad illegal substitution penalty, and Ndukwe committed an absolutely atrocious, unnecessary pass interference penalty late in the first half to give up the Jeff Reed field goal that made it 9-6.

Positives - the defense is playing excellent football (even if they've been on the field for a long time, the Bengals are losing posession by about 5 minutes). They've sacked Roethlisberger 4 times, and hit him 4 more. CBS says that he's been "hurried" on 6 other plays. That's gotta be most of the pass plays the Steelers have run. There's been excellent pressure and excellent coverage from the defense and that's kept the game in reach. The Steelers have simply not been able to execute in the red zone. The defense has also recorded 5 other tackles for a loss.

The offense, meanwhile, has been inconsistent at best. Carson doesn't seem to be very accurate, especially downfield, and the early open receivers were only finding space when they were tapping toes on the sideline. The running game is working okay, but they're really not consistently going to the run, especially without Benson.

The important thing at this point is that the Bengals are right in this game in a great position to win. Despite being down on the scoreboard, they're playing great defense and we all know the offense has the capability, especially without Troy P. in the game, to make points happen. It's a defensive struggle (94 Bengal yards, 139 Pittsburgh yards), and I honestly like our chances down the wire. Let's make it happen, Bengals.

Game: Cincinnati Bengals (6-2) at Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2)
Series Leader: Pittsburgh Steelers, 47-31
Streak: Steelers have won five of the past six and 14 of the past 19
Coaches vs. Opponent: Lewis: 4-10. Tomlin: 4-1
Broadcast: CBS (1:00 PM ET): Jim Nantz, Phil Simms.  Westwood One Radio: Howard David, Dan Reeves.  SIRIUS: 147 (Cin.), 123 (Pit.).  XM: 105 (Pit.). 
SB Nation: Behind the Steel Curtain
NFL.com: Game Center
Weather: Mostly cloudy with a high of 62. [Weather.com]
Uniform: White
Television Coverage: All of Ohio and many surrounding states, additional Midwest and West Coast coverage. Click on the link. [506]

CINCINNATI BENGALS

INACTIVE	DOUBTFUL
Keith Rivers	G Evan Mathis (ankle)
Andre Smith	LB Keith Rivers (calf)
Chase Coffman
Jerome Simpson	QUESTIONABLE
Orien Harris	RB Jeremi Johnson (chest)
Evan Mathis	DE Frostee Rucker (neck)
Jordan Palmer
Fui Vakapuna	PROBABLE
	WR Andre Caldwell (illness)
	DE Robert Geathers (hip)
	DT Tank Johnson (illness)
	C Jonathan Luigs (illness)

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

INACTIVE	OUT
RB Carey Davis	RB Carey Davis (hamstring)
DE Travis Kirschke	DE Travis Kirschke (calf)
QB Dennis Dixon
CB Keiwan Ratliff
G Kraig Urbik
OT Tony Hills
DE Ra'Shon Harris
WR Shaun McDonald

We don't typically do open threads for other games. Then again, other games haven't exactly affected the Cincinnati Bengals. Here's the scenario. If the Steelers lose to the Broncos, then lose to the Bengals, Cincinnati is 7-2 while Pittsburgh falls to 5-4. The Bengals would essentially have a three-game lead on the division with seven games remaining in the season.

Just as importantly, the Bengals need the Broncos to beat the Steelers so it helps the other tie-breakers -- record against common opponents and record in the conference.

Now, that's the fluffy feel-good scenario. But that's why we're having an open thread for Monday's game between Pittsburgh and the Broncos.

More of the same since the overflow thread. Flacco tries that "deep throw" thing, but Leon Hall covers D. "you can't cover me 1-on-1" Mason and takes the ball away. Bengals hand to Cedric Benson, who gains his 80th rushing yard in the first half, but no more points resulted. Kevin Huber decided he wanted to punt it to the 1-inch line, and the Ravens ran out the clock to get to the half with a giant goose egg on the board, honestly, lucky that they weren't down 20, 23, 24, or even 31.

Some numbers...

• Possession:

  Baltimore: 8:26

  Cincinnati: 21:34 .

  Goal of 20 minutes of first-half possession, achieved.

• Total Plays:	Baltimore: 18	Cincinnati: 42
  Total Yards:	Baltimore: 44	Cincinnati: 235

  Will you take it? I'll take it. Domination!

Now, the Ravens are getting pressure on Carson, but it doesn't seem to matter. Cedric Benson has 18 first-half carries for 80 yards, which is kind of good against the Baltimore rush defense. Carson has been efficient and mistake-free, Ed Reed and the Ravens' defense looks uninspired. Joe Flacco posted a first-half QB rating of 12.0 (ouch) on 3.0 yards per atempt. The Ravens have 9 rushes for 17 yards (1.9/carry), and "dangerous" Ray Rice has only 10 yards on 2.5 yards per carry.

Good things happened, good things need to keep on happening. 17 points is great, but this team needs to NOT let up. Toward the end of the first half, the offense suffered from bad playcalling (broken screen) and bad play (low snap on a 3rd down blitz didn't give Carson a chance). If the Ravens clean up penalties, the Bengals will have to take this one away. Don't count on Baltimore to roll over.

Win it for Slim Henry!

More photos » by TONY TRIBBLE - AP

14 days ago: FILE - In this Sunday, Dec. 14, 2003 file photo, Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chad Johnson holds a sign asking the NFL not to fine him after scoring on a 10-yard reception against the San Francisco 49ers in the first half, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Tony Tribble, file)

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Well, the Bengals certainly came out firing on all cylinders in this one. Covering kicks, pushing large men around, throwing footballs, running and breaking tackles, tackling (swarm!), coverage tight down field, field goal snaps still routine. What a good half to be a Bengals fan, are you with me?

Here's an overflow thread because the other one is supermassivelarge. A second half thread will be, as always, posted around halftime.

Game: Baltimore Ravens (4-3) at Cincinnati Bengals (5-2)
Series Leader: Baltimore, 15-12
Streak: Bengals have won four of the past six meetings
Coaches vs. Opponent: Lewis: 8-5. Harbaugh: 2-1.
Broadcast: CBS (1:00 PM ET): Dick Enberg, Dan Fouts. Westwood One Radio: Kevin Kugler, Mark Malone. SIRIUS: 129 (Bal.), 123 (Cin.).  XM: 105 (Cin.). 
SB Nation: Baltimore Beatdown
NFL.com: Game Center
Weather: Partly cloudy with a high of 64 degrees and light winds. [Weather.com]
Uniform: Black
Television Coverage: Ohio, West Virginia, eastern Kentucky, most of Virginia, Pennsylvania and Colorado [506]

CINCINNATI BENGALS

INACTIVE	QUESTIONABLE
Jordan Palmer	T Andre Smith (foot)
Andre Smith	S Roy Williams (forearm)
Roy Williams
Fui Vakapuna	PROBABLE
Chase Coffman	RB Jeremi Johnson (knee)
Jerome Simpson	DT Tank Johnson (foot)
Dan Skuta	S Tom Nelson (shoulder)
Orien Harris	RB Bernard Scott (knee)

BALTIMORE RAVENS

INACTIVE	QUESTIONABLE	PROBABLE
DT Haloti Ngata	S Haruki Nakamura (chest)	LB Prescott Burgess (illness)
QB John Beck	DT Haloti Ngata (ankle)	TE Todd Heap (ankle)
RB Jalen Parmele	S Tom Zbikowski (illness)	LB Jarret Johnson (shoulder)
CB Frank Walker		LS Matt Katula (elbow)
LB Antwan Barnes		RB Le'Ron McClain (shoulder)
T Oniel Cousins		CB Frank Walker (illness)
G Tony Moll
LB Paul Kruger

More photos » by Al Behrman - AP

Here's a real picture. Revenge-man Cedric Benson had another great day on the ground. (AP Photo/Al Behrman)

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The Bengals got off to a flying start in the first quarter after some Cincy Jungle residents questioned the decision to take the ball first. The Bears' defense was reeling in the first quarter, and the offense was settling for minimal yards per play. Carson Palmer looked great throwing on the run as the Bears' D faced injury and match up issues all over the field. Cedric Benson, of course, ran like a bull. He gashed the Bears D left and right for a ridiculous first quarter average of 8.8 yards per carry on 8 touches. What a first quarter. Bengals possess the ball for 2 4:00 TD drives and the Bears run around for 3.5 yards a play. 157 yards, meanwhile, in the first quarter for the Bengals compared to 22 for the Bears.

Enter second quarter: Bears go 3 and out on their first possession. Could Cincinnati put this one away early? Big pass to Coles down the sideline. Carson throws another beautiful ball to Chad, rolling right, and Chad beats Lance Briggs to the 16. Gift football to cheerleader. 12 more to Ocho on a bullet up the middle as Chad beats Tillman. 2nd and goal - play action to Benson with 2 FB back there, Foschi breaks free in the endzone and... catches the football? He can't fumble in the endzone on a reception (thank god), TD Bengals! 21-0. A 7 play, 63 yard 3-minute or so drive. I'm confusing the Bengals with the Bearcats and the Bears with Louisville. Heart rate normalized.

The Bears even began to threaten in the 2nd quarter until Devin Hester fumbled and destroyed some momentum. It was a great strip. Carson and Cedric and Chad keep moving the ball on the ensuing drive - big third down conversion to Chad Johnson.  Cedric Benson takes another big carry inside the 15. On the following 3rd and 7, a succesful WR screen to Coles results in a 28-0 lead. Man, talk about execution and great blocking from Foschi and Caldwell on the perimeter.

By the way, no botched PAT this week. No awful TE play.

Leon Hall makes the interception at some point in there, but it only leads to 3. I don't really know what else to say, but the Bengals thouroughly dominated the first half until "Prevent" was called until the Bears kicked a field goal as time expired. Let's hope they don't take their foot off the gas in the second half.

Passing Stats:

Some other stuff:

Benson - 20 rushes (1 away from magic 21), 98 yards, long of 23.

Ocho - 8 receptions, 103 yards and a touchdown.

Tight Ends - 1 touchdown, 1 catch, 0 drops, 0 turnovers.

More photos » by Ernest Coleman - AP

about 1 month ago: Brianna Tharps, 6, and her mother Christina Tharps, of Walton, Ky show off there two Cincinnati Bengals tickets on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009 in Cincinnati, for Sunday's NFL football game against the Houston Texans. Bengal's player Chad Ochocinco, Motorola and Ch 12 purchased and gave away the tickets to avoid a television black out of Sunday's football game. (AP Photo/The Enquirer, Ernest Coleman)

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"Touchdown, Laveranues Coles!" exclaimed jsl413. "Oh, and a PAT too!" It was 2:21 Eastern Standard Time, and the Bengals, despite shooting themselves in the foot and losing arguably two of their best defensive players in the first half have clawed their way back into this one. Houston made some plays before the half, but did not get close enough to score. Then, Schaub was like, "I'm gonna throw an interception to Chris Crocker." Crocker continued to return it to the Houston 41. Pass over the middle to Coats for 8 yards (fumbles after he hits the ground) and a time out. 3 seconds, 49 yard field goal. It's up! It's so, so good (probably from 55+)! I think it had to be something in Shayne's head, with BSL.

Let's take a look at the first half as we try to understand what's happened so far.

1. Neither team is doing much in the way of stopping the other team, but the Bengals defense seemed to step up at the end of the second quarter with a few nice stops. Statistically, I think Palmer is playing his best game of the year. He's connected with Chad deep, and he's found Caldwell a few times for big conversions. He's 13/19 for 182 yards, completing about 68% of his passes for almost 9  yards per attempt. Schaub, meanwhile, has gaudy numbers but has not been all that great (from what I can tell). Over 100 of his passing yards have come off of catch-and-runs to the excellent Houston skill players.
   
2. I think Hall has played a decent game against Johnson. He should have caught that ball earlier. For Houston, DeMeco Ryans has been everywhere. We should stop running at him.
3. I just saw the Bengals touchdowns. Cedric Benson is good, and that was some kind of catch from Coles in the back of the end zone.
4. Things I want to see improve in the second half: the running game, primarily. We will have to keep Houston honest in the second half, and that can be helped by establishing a legitimate running game. I think we've been OK on defense, it's been turning around, but we'll see if the Bengals coaching staff decides to make any adjustments this week. Also, we have to stop the drive-killing penalties. They're making me sad.
   

Team stats that I think are important:

Time of Posession: CIN - 15:51, HOU - 14:09

Yards: CIN - 218, HOU - 238

PENALTIES, penalties, penalties! CIN - 3 (30), HOU - 1 (5)

Enjoy the second half!