The AFC North did not win a game in Week 1, and now, two teams are likely to end up 0-2 by Sunday afternoon. 0-1 means very little; it is one game after all. The Steelers and Bengals are actually on two completely different ends of the 0-1 spectrum.
The Steelers lost two starters for the season and their offense was nonexistent against the Titans. This team looks no different from the 2012 squad. Mike Tomlin even did things differently in training camp. Tomlin enforced a more physical style of practice, not seen much in the NFL anymore. Nothing changed, nor should anyone believe that things are going to just turn around now.
The Bengals lost to a good, but underrated Bears team. Cincinnati didn’t look hopeless on offense like the Steelers. The Bengals have nothing to be ashamed about, but the Steelers certainly do.
Quarterbacks:
Andy Dalton looked very good in week 1, despite throwing two picks. Dalton completed 78% of his passes, and he threw 2 touchdowns.
Against this Steelers defense, Dalton always seems to have trouble. And this where the game could be lost for the Bengals. Andy Dalton has thrown at least one interception in three of his four career games against the Steelers. Dalton must make good decisions.
Ben Roethlisberger is coming off what you could call an ‘okay’ game. Big Ben couldn’t make things happen against the Titans, but of course, it wasn’t all his fault. Emmanuel Sanders dropped two passes, and the offensive line played awfully. Big Ben has to find a way to make plays and not turn the football over.
Edge – Steelers
Running Backs:
Everybody and their mother knows the Steelers can not run the football. I highly doubt anything will change, until possibly, the comeback of Le’Veon Bell. The Steelers lost LaRod Stephens-Howling for the year, so they brought Jonathan Dwyer back. Dwyer did lead Pittsburgh in rushing yards last season, but he’s not going spark very much production. Expect to see Dwyer, Redman and Jones all get carries in this game. Also, expect the Steelers to amass 70 yards on the ground at the very maximum.
BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Giovani Bernard are expected to share carries in this game. Green-Ellis started in week 1, but Bernard certainly looked better when he got the chance to run the football. I wouldn’t expect the Bengals to get much going on the ground either, but I have to believe they have a better shot than Pittsburgh.
Edge – Bengals
Steelers offensive line vs. Bengals front seven:
This match-up is probably going to make or break this game for both teams. The Bengals’ front four is so very dangerous, and then you add in a pretty ticked off James Harrison.
The Steelers are without center Maurkice Pouncey for the remainder of 2013. Steelers did sign a capable replacement in Fernando Velasco, but he’s going to have his hands full against this Bengals’ defensive line.
Geno Atkins is the NFL’s best defensive tackle. He manhandled the Steelers last year. He gave right guard David DeCastro fits all game long in last year’s week 16 match-up. You’re going to see Atkins line up mostly against left guard Ramon Foster. Of course, Atkins will at times, line up against RG David DeCastro as well. Atkins is going to come at the entire Steelers’ interior offensive line. And after seeing how the Steelers’ line performed in week 1, Atkins could be in for a pretty big day.
Bengals’ defensive ends will be a handful as well. A year ago, Carlos Dunlap and Michael Johnson combined for 18 sacks. Mike Adams will be handling Michael Johnson. Johnson accounted for 13 of those 18 sacks.
The Bengals’ front four is likely going to dominate this game. This a nightmarish match-up for Pittsburgh.
Edge – Bengals
Bengals offensive line vs. Steelers front seven:
As of now, LT Andrew Whitworth is listed as questionable for Monday night’s game. The Steelers would get a pretty big break, if Whitworth does not play. Whitworth, if he plays, will have the duty to block Jason Worilds and Jarvis Jones. Worilds and Jones are co-starters right now at OLB, but Jones is starting to really get a leg up on Worilds. If Whitworth does play, Worilds and Jones will be a non-factor in this game.
On the other side of the line, two big-time players will clash: OLB LaMarr Woodley and RT Andre Smith. Woodley got himself a sack in week 1. It’ll be interesting to see if he can make another play in this week’s game.
The Bengals’ interior offensive line, for the most part, is evenly matched to the Steelers’ interior defensive line.
DE Brett Keisel will be taking on LG Clint Boling, mostly. This is a pretty even match-up; neither one of them have the upper-hand. RG Kevin Zeitler should be able to dominate DE Ziggy Hood. The most interesting match-up on this line may be: NT Steve McLendon vs. C Kyle Cook. McLendon looked very good last week. Kyle Cook, on the other hand, did not fare very well. I believe the Steelers have the advantage in that match-up.
Edge – Bengals
Steelers receivers vs. Bengals secondary:
If the Bengals can rush the pass like the Titans did, the secondary will be in for an easy game.
The Steelers are very likely to not have Heath Miller on the field for this game, so the tight end position will be a non-issue for the Bengals. The Steelers played three tight ends against the Titans, and they combined for one reception.
WR Antonio Brown will draw the seasoned veteran CB Terrence Newman; this should be a pretty evenly matched battle. WR Emmanuel Sanders will go up against CB Leon Hall. Sanders vs. Hall should be very even as well.
Edge – Bengals
Bengals receivers vs. Steelers secondary:
CB Cortez Allen did not participate in practice on Friday, so it doesn’t look like he’ll be playing Monday night, but there’s still a chance that he may.
If Allen does not play, William Gay will assume the No.2 cornerback slot. Gay played very well last week when Allen got injured. Gay will have the task of covering Mohamed Sanu. I expect Gay to play solidly again.
Ike Taylor has shown us before that he can shut down WR A.J. Green. When lining up against Green, in their 3 game history, Taylor has limited Green to one catch against him twice. Andy Dalton is likely going to have to look elsewhere in this game.
Expect a lot of two tight end sets in this game from the Bengals. First-round draft choice and No.2 TE, Tyler Eifert, played in 71% of the offensive snaps against the Bears. I could see Dalton targeting the tight ends quite a bit in this game.
Edge – Steelers
Steelers’ Keys to Victory:
1. Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders must play well
These guys are both expected to exceed 1,000 yards in receiving this season. What we saw from them last week was not 1,000 yards capable. Sanders has to make the tough catches; he certainly did not do that in week 1.
2. The offensive line must give Roethlisberger time to make plays
On most plays against the Titans, Roethlisberger had to get the ball out his hands very quickly, or he’d be on his back. The Bengals’ defensive line is set to have a field day.
3. The defense must make plays
The Steelers have to create turnovers and sacks to win this game. The offense certainly can’t be trusted to make plays after the car crash that was week 1. I’m looking at you: Troy Polamalu and LaMarr Woodley.
Bengals’ Keys to Victory:
1. Get the tight ends highly involved in the offense
A.J. Green isn’t going to get many chances to make plays against Ike Taylor. Jermaine Gresham and Tyler Eifert will have to be called upon greatly.
2. Put Big Ben on his back
The Titans sacked Roethlisberger five times last week, and it wouldn’t surprise me if the Bengals recorded more than five. It’s this simple: Do not let Ben make plays. Honestly, I think the Bengals will get a lot of pressure on Roethlisberger. Hopefully, Ben can walk after this one is over.
3. Take care of the football, Andy
The Bengals defense should dominate the Steelers offense, but you don’t want to give the Steelers any gifts. Andy Dalton has never played extremely well against Dick LeBeau and his defense. If the Steelers are to win, I bet it would be thanks to a couple of Andy Dalton errors.
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