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Bengals and Steelers promise quintessential AFC North football
A hobbled Ben Roethlisberger returns for Pittsburgh while Andy Dalton tries to keep the Bengals undefeated in a battle of the AFC North's top teams.
Quick hits: Ced says he's ready; No Tez at practice; Fateful Heinz bus rides; Tomlin kid-ding around
No sign of Vontaze Burfict before or during Wednesday’s practice. Same with rookie tackle Cedric Ogbuehi, but he said before practice his knee is ready to go and he’s just waiting for the team to tell him he can practice .
Bengals Prepare For Biggest Matchup Yet Against Steelers
The Cincinnati Bengals have taken the NFL by storm throughout the first six weeks of the season by jumping out to a 6-0 start. So far they have had impressive comeback wins against the Baltimore Ravens in Baltimore and in overtime at home against the Seattle Seahawks. The Bengals offense has been one of the best in the league, averaging 410.3 yards per game, good for ninth in the NFL after the bye week. This Bengals team has an opportunity to do what no Bengals team has ever done–go 7-0–but first, it must overcome its most crucial matchup so far this season in its upcoming Week 8 contest against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Bengals-Browns Nov. 5 game a sellout; Local 12 will air it
The Bengals’ next home game, Thursday night Nov. 5 vs. Cleveland, is a sellout, the club’s ticket office announced on Thursday, and if you don't have a ticket you can see the game live on Local 12. Kickoff against the Browns is at 8:25 p.m., but Local 12 will be live at Paul Brown Stadium from 4-6:30 p.m. and then will have a pre-game special from 7:30-8 p.m. Local 12 will also have a post-game special following the game.
Le'Veon Bell: Bengals' Reggie Nelson didn't intend to hurt me
Ahead of their teams' first meeting since Reggie Nelson's hard hit on Le'Veon Bell's right knee shattered Bell's hopes of playing in the 2014 playoffs, both players contended Wednesday there were no lingering hard feelings about the once-controversial tackle.
Join Bengals.com's Geoff Hobson as he hosts Paul Dehner Jr. (The Cincinnati Enquirer), Coley Harvey (ESPN), Jay Morrison (Dayton Daily News) in a round table discussion about week 7's matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Steelers' Bell sees a familiar ring in Bengals' Dillon
It turns out that Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell, who has already run the Bengals out of one AFC North title, borrowed some of his game from Cincinnati’s all-time leading rusher. The Bell-Dillon model is on display in Sunday in Pittsburgh (1 p.m.-Cincinnati’s Channel 12), where the Bengals knocked him out of last season’s regular-season finale with a knee injury after just eight carries for 20 yards.
10-28 Andy Dalton press conference transcript
Here is a transcript from Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton's regular weekly Wednesday press conference as he and his teammates look ahead to this Sunday's game at Pittsburgh.
Bengals: 5 Must-Win Games After the Bye
The Cincinnati Bengals have gotten off to one of the two best starts in the history of this storied franchise, but there is still a lot of work yet to be done. The Bengals aren’t just looking to win a playoff game; they’re looking to win a Super Bowl. And the easiest way to give yourself a chance to win the Super Bowl is to earn a first-round bye in the playoffs.
10-28 Marvin Lewis press conference transcript
Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis held his regular Wednesday press conference as the team prepares to play at the Pittsburgh Steelers at 1 p.m. on Sunday (the game can be seen on Local 12) and here is the transcript from it.
Behind Enemy Lines
Antonio Brown puts Bengals special teams on high alert
Over the last six years the Bengals faced the standard gauntlet of dangerous punt returners. Josh Cribbs. De’Anthony Thomas. Devin Hester. You name it. None broke free for a punt return touchdown, except for one.
Roethlisberger "not getting hopes up" due to potential swelling
Though the Steelers are preparing to have Ben Roethlisberger back from a four-week absence for this week’s game vs. the Bengals, Roethlisberger told reporters Wednesday he’s "not getting [his] hopes up" until he sees how his knee reacts to the practice week.
NFL fines Pittsburgh Steelers' DeAngelo Williams, William Gay for uniform violations
Two Pittsburgh Steelers players were fined by the NFL on Wednesday for supporting causes personal to them. Running back DeAngelo Williams received a first-offense uniform violation of $5,787 for wearing "Find the Cure" in his eye black in honor of breast cancer awareness. He has worn the eye black for years, he told ESPN.
Random Bytes
Sammy Watkins lashes out at critics in since-deleted Instagram post
Sammy Watkins' 2015 season went from bad to worse Tuesday night when he lashed out at those critical of him for missing time this season because of injuries. In a since-deleted post on his Instagram account, the full text of which is below, Watkins pointed out the NFL has a 100-percent injury rate before telling his critics to "get a life."
Insider Buzz: Cowboys WR Dez Bryant Expected to Play Week 8 vs. Seahawks
Dallas Cowboys fans and Dez Bryant fantasy owners, rejoice. Bryant returned to practice Wednesday, per NFL.com's Marc Sessler, and could be back this weekend for the game against the Seattle Seahawks.
Johnny Manziel gets starter's reps on day he's interviewed by NFL
Johnny Manziel will get the starter’s reps at quarterback Wednesday in practice for the Cleveland Browns. After practice, Manziel will meet with NFL investigators looking into what happened Oct. 12 in Avon, Ohio. Coach Mike Pettine described the interview as "imminent" at his Wednesday news conference. Sources have said it is set for Wednesday afternoon, with a representative from the league present.
Adrian Peterson of Minnesota Vikings to be cautious about diet
Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson plans to steer clear of Chicago's seafood restaurants this weekend. "Yeah, I'll be a little more cautious of what I eat," Peterson said Wednesday during a conference call with Chicago media members.