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Primer against Pittsburgh II

GAME: Pittsburgh Steelers (7-8) @ Cincinnati Bengals (8-7)
WHEN: Sunday, December 31st, 2006 at 1 p.m.
LOCATION: Cincinnati
BROADCAST: CBS with Ian Eagle and Soloman Wilcots. Sirius: 146 (Cincinnati), 110 (Pittsburgh)
SB NATION: Behind the Steel Curtain

Pittsburgh owns the all-time series record 42-30 -- including wins in three of the past five games.

Cincinnati Bengals

  • In his past two games against the Steelers, Carson Palmer has thrown for seven touchdowns.
  • With three touchdown passes, Carson Palmer will only become the third player to throw for 10+ touchdowns in any three-game span against the Steelers. (Brian Sipe, Cleveland, 12 TDs, '79-80 and 10 TDs, '78-79 and Jim Kelly, Buffalo, 10 TDs, '88-92)
  • With 216 yards passing, Palmer will become the first Bengal to reach 4,000 yards passing.
  • Rudi Johnson has 13 rushing touchdowns in his past 13 games against AFC North teams -- team is 11-2 in those games. Johnson has 12+ touchdowns in three consecutive seasons.
  • T.J. Houshmandzadeh's last two games against Pittsburgh: 14 receptions, 182 yards receiving and four touchdowns.
  • Chad Johnson leads the NFL with 1,316 yards receiving.
  • Bengals defense has allowed less than 17 points in four of their past six games.
  • With 1.5 sacks, Robert Geathers will be the first Bengal with 12 sacks in a single-season since Eddie Edwards (13.0, '83)

Pittsburgh Steelers

  • Head coach Bill Cowher has more wins (20-9) against the Bengals than any other opponent.
  • Ben Roethlisberger (3,233) needs 182 yards passing to surpass Tommy Maddox (3,414) for second most single-season passing yards in team history -- Terry Bradshaw, 2,724, 1978.
  • Willie Parker is averaging 111.7 yards rushing in three career starts against the Bengals.
  • With two rushing touchdowns, Willie Parker (14) would surpass Louis Lipps (15, 1985) for most touchdowns in a season by a Steeler.
  • With 46 yards receiving, Hines Ward will become the second player in team history with 8,000 yards receiving and 58 touchdown receptions.
  • Defense (39) needs one sack to reach 40 for the fifth time in six seasons.
  • In his past two games, Clark Haggans has 3.0 sacks and a forced fumble.

OFFENSE

Category Bengals Steelers
Points Scored 23.7 (7th) 22.0 (11th)
Passing 238.8 (5th) 230.5 (9th)
Rushing 105.7 (22nd) 119.0 (14th)
Total Offense (yards gained) 344.5 (8th) 349.5 (7th)

DEFENSE

Category Bengals Steelers
Points Scored 20.5 (16th) 19.9 (14th)
Passing 236.2 (31st) 209.5 (18th)
Rushing 110.4 (12th) 91.2 (4th)
Total Offense (yards gained) 346.6 (28th) 300.7 (10th)