Tuesday we wrote up our in depth analysis of the first four games of the Cincinnati Bengals regular-season schedule: away against the Browns, away against the Broncos, home against the 49ers and home against the Bills. Then Wednesday we wrote about the second group of four games: away against the Jaguars, home against the Colts, away against the Seahawks and away against the Titans. We went back 10 games against division opponents and five games against non-division opponents and averaged the points scored by each team, the Bengals' total yards per game, passing yards per game and rushing yards per game, as well as the average amount of turnovers each team had.
Here is our analysis of games 9-12.
Sunday Nov. 13 (1 p.m.): Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals
After eight weeks of football, the Bengals play in their second game against an AFC North opponent. This time it's against Super Bowl XLV losers, the Pittsburgh Steelers. Since it's an AFC North team, I went back 10 games instead of five. The Bengals haven't beaten the Steelers twice in a row at home since they did it in '88 and '89.
In the last 10 games the Bengals played against the Steelers in Cincinnati, they've gone 1-9. The only time they've beaten the Steelers at home in the last 10 years is when they swept the division on the way to the playoffs in 2009. In those 10 games, the Bengals averaged 14.5 points per game, compared to the Steelers' 26. The Bengals averaged 263.6 total yards per game, 74.9 rushing yards per game and 209.6 passing yards per game. They Bengals also averaged 1.4 turnovers per game compared to the Steelers' 1.2.
Sunday Nov. 20 (1 p.m.): Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens
The Bengals continue the AFC North portion of their schedule the following week when they travel to Baltimore to face the Ravens. The Bengals have had more success against the Ravens than they have against the Steelers, even though they were once shut out by the Ravens in Baltimore three times in a row, in 1999, 2000 and 2001.
In the last 10 games the Bengals have played against the Ravens in Baltimore, they've gone 4-6, averaging 16.3 points per game, compared to Baltimore's 19.7. The Bengals averaged 325.6 total yards per game, 103.1 rushing yards per game and 240.4 passing yards per game. Cincinnati lost the turnover war again, though, averaging 2.8 per game, compared to Baltimore's 2.1.
Sunday Nov. 27 (1 p.m.): Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals
Of the 16 games that the Bengals play in 2011, they have the best historical record against the Browns while playing in Cincinnati. In the last 10 battle of Ohio games played in Cincinnati, the Bengals have won eight and lost only two.
In their last 10 games against the Browns in Cincinnati, the Bengals have averaged 23.9 points per game, compared to the Browns' 20.6. The Bengals averaged 346.8 total yards per game, 192 passing yards per game and an amazing 163.6 rushing yards per game. The Bengals averaged 1.6 turnovers per game compared to Cleveland's 1.4.
Sunday Dec. 4 (1 p.m.): Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers
The Bengals actually have a better record against the Steelers in Pittsburgh than they do in Cincinnati. While they've gone 1-9 in Paul Brown Stadium against the Steelers, they've gone 4-6 against the Steelers in Heinz Field.
In the last 10 games played against the Steelers in Pittsburgh, the Bengals have averaged 18 points per game compared to the Steelers' 22.7 points per game. The Bengals averaged 277.3 total yards per game, 76.9 rushing yards per game and 202.4 passing yards per game in Pittsburgh over the last 10 years. Surprisingly, though, they've won the turnover battle, only averaging 1.3 compared to Pittsburgh's 2.1.
Games 13-16 will go up tomorrow morning at 10.