Play like that against the Steelers and we're dead.

[walzav29]

I'm geeked and all, but Pittsburgh will win 41 to 20 if they play the same way. I hope the D can stop the run as usual, and that the confidence level is up.

[HoosierCat]

C'mon, fellas! I know we suck and all, but let me repeat: Pittsburgh. Is. NOT. That. Good.

Anyone think Arizona is better than Pitt? How about Denver? Yet they both came away with wins.

Looking at the sked before the season, how many of us thought the Steelers would 5-1 or 6-0 right now? Pretty much all of us, right? Yet there they are at 4-2, one changed result away from .500 -- just like us.

Other than the game in Cleveland against the Fry Browns, they've played poorly on the road. Their o-line is a particular weak point this season; Ben has taken 15 or 16 sacks so far, in addition to being forced to scramble every other play.

Stack the box to stop Parker, rush the QB early and often. Yeah, Jen will hit Ward and/or Miller for some big plays but that's what our offense is for, right?

Again, I'm not predicting a win (yet) but this is hardly Juggernought coming to town.

[walzav29]

I'm just sweating the last 6 losses at home against them. Plus I thought the season was over beofre the game against the Jet's and with 1 victory the season is back.

[NYBengalfan]

Chin up. We'll be alright. I dont think that we are that bad. If our mediocre Defense shows up and our offense is clicking I still think we can win by 10

[HoosierCat]

I'm just sweating the last 6 losses at home against them. Plus I thought the season was over beofre the game against the Jet's and with 1 victory the season is back.

I don't know that the season's back, but last weekend changed a few things. Not only did the Bengals avoid what would be a crippling 5th loss (at least for another week) but both Pitt and Balti dropped games they were "supposed" to win. That combination has put the division back into play:

PIT 4-2 (1-0)

BAL 4-3 (0-2)

CLE 3-3 (2-1)

CIN 2-4 (1-1)

Baltimore is off next week. Cleveland goes to St. Louis and wil likely win, improving to 4-3. If the Bengals can pull the game out, then the standings look like this:

CLE 4-3 (2-1)

PIT 4-3 (1-1)

BAL 4-3 (0-2)

CIN 3-4 (2-1)

If that situation indeed obtains, I don't think its out of the question that 9-7 could win the division. Certainly, at that point it looks like the AFCN will be hard-pressed to come up with a 10-game winner. Which is more wiggle room then I thought the Bengals would have just a couple weeks ago.

Of course, if the Bengals lose we can go back to the season being over...

[BengalszoneBilly]

Stack the box to stop Parker, rush the QB early and often. Yeah, Jen will hit Ward and/or Miller for some big plays but that's what our offense is for, right?

That's pretty much how Ken Whisenhunt of Arizona lined it out against the Steelers for the rest of the NFL to duplicate. Also as it gets later in the game, and Pittsburgh is playing from behind, Roethlisberger tends to start tossing INT's as fast as the vendors are tossing out bags of peanuts up in the stands! I just hope Bresnahan was paying attention to what went on in that game and schemes accordingly. We're going to need every (semi) healthy LB to be on their game if possible, because once we lose contain on Willie Parker, our game plan will be down the tubes, and pretty much our season as well!

[TJJackson]

so much the better is Cleveland loses, but yeah, if it falls that way, we'd be back in the race

[damiancasey]

I'm just sweating the last 6 losses at home against them. Plus I thought the season was over beofre the game against the Jet's and with 1 victory the season is back.

I don't know that the season's back, but last weekend changed a few things. Not only did the Bengals avoid what would be a crippling 5th loss (at least for another week) but both Pitt and Balti dropped games they were "supposed" to win. That combination has put the division back into play:

PIT 4-2 (1-0)

BAL 4-3 (0-2)

CLE 3-3 (2-1)

CIN 2-4 (1-1)

Baltimore is off next week. Cleveland goes to St. Louis and wil likely win, improving to 4-3. If the Bengals can pull the game out, then the standings look like this:

CLE 4-3 (2-1)

PIT 4-3 (1-1)

BAL 4-3 (0-2)

CIN 3-4 (2-1)

If that situation indeed obtains, I don't think its out of the question that 9-7 could win the division. Certainly, at that point it looks like the AFCN will be hard-pressed to come up with a 10-game winner. Which is more wiggle room then I thought the Bengals would have just a couple weeks ago.

Of course, if the Bengals lose we can go back to the season being over...

It sucks that we're even having this discussion.

So 9-7 wins the division, then the Pats chew us up like a wood chipper.

[walzav29]

Brady goes down and they're finished. Just like if Carson goes down. Yes though. The Pats are playing an entirely different sport.

[Scott]

C'mon, fellas! I know we suck and all, but let me repeat: Pittsburgh. Is. NOT. That. Good.

Anyone think Arizona is better than Pitt? How about Denver? Yet they both came away with wins.

Looking at the sked before the season, how many of us thought the Steelers would 5-1 or 6-0 right now? Pretty much all of us, right? Yet there they are at 4-2, one changed result away from .500 -- just like us.

Other than the game in Cleveland against the Fry Browns, they've played poorly on the road. Their o-line is a particular weak point this season; Ben has taken 15 or 16 sacks so far, in addition to being forced to scramble every other play.

Stack the box to stop Parker, rush the QB early and often. Yeah, Jen will hit Ward and/or Miller for some big plays but that's what our offense is for, right?

Again, I'm not predicting a win (yet) but this is hardly Juggernought coming to town.

They'll try and get Parker going in this game. But, I think the biggest key is Davenport. Historically the Bengals have had problems with the big backs. I'm not sure if Tomlin knows this or not.

[walzav29]

The Bengals haven't just beat the crap out of anyone in a while. That is what I would like to see. I good old pounding. They need to show that they are a real team. Not that they are just winning because of another teams mistakes. I would bet that Jets and Ravens fans are saying they should have beaten the Bengals.

[mancunian]

so much the better is Cleveland loses, but yeah, if it falls that way, we'd be back in the race

The Rams have to win at some point right? They have enough talent on their offence to cause the Browns problems - especially if Jackson can play a part.

I'm an optimistic realist, we're an average team who CAN get to the plays-offs, whether we WILL or not is another question......

[GregCook]

so much the better is Cleveland loses, but yeah, if it falls that way, we'd be back in the race

The Rams have to win at some point right? They have enough talent on their offence to cause the Browns problems - especially if Jackson can play a part.

I'm an optimistic realist, we're an average team who CAN get to the plays-offs, whether we WILL or not is another question......

Cincy vs Squealers. No way to predict it. We've won when you shouldn't and lost when we shouldn't. With the unknowns about injuries, its really crazy. Any chance Marvin has been holding out players to make sure they are 100% for Pitts? Like Brooks, Rudi, Miller and Jeanty? Boy I'd love to have them ready for Pittsburgh! Throw in alittle of CPerry before he breaks again and Cincy will look like a new team this Sunday.

[HoosierCat]

So 9-7 wins the division, then the Pats chew us up like a wood chipper.

Probably...but let's chip that tree when we come to it, eh?

[COB]

C'mon, fellas! I know we suck and all, but let me repeat: Pittsburgh. Is. NOT. That. Good.

That's right on. Pittsburgh is good, but not a great team. The Bengals aren't as bad as we think. We lost to a Browns team that suddenly figured out it had some major offensive weapons.

Then we lost to Seattle - currently leading their division.

Then we lost to New England - currently leading their division.

Then we lost to Kansas City - currently leading their division.

Our momentum is good, Pittsburgh's is bad.

[HoosierCat]

Just for perspective, here's the Steelers' road record since they won their "one for the thumb": 4-7

2006

week 2: PIT 0 @ JAX 9 (Parker 20 yards)

week 5: PIT 13 @ SD 23 (Parker 57 yards)

week 7: PIT 38 @ ATL 41 (Parker 47 yards)

week 8: PIT 13 @ OAK 20 (Parker 83 yards)

week 11: PIT 24 @ CLE 20 (Parker 46 yards, Pit wins with a TD pass with 32 secs. left)

week 12: PIT 0 @ BAL 27 (Parker 22 yards)

week 15: PIT 37 @ CAR 3 (Parker 132 yards)

week 17: PIT 23 @ CIN 17 (Parker 134 yards)

2007

week 1: PIT 34 @ CLE 7 (Parker 109 yards)

week 4: PIT 14 @ ARI 21 (Parker 37 yards)

week 7: PIT 28 @ DEN 31 (Parker 93 yards)

The trend is pretty clear. They are 3-0 on the road when Parker goes over 100, 1-7 when he doesn't. And that would have been 0-8 if not for a last-second TD pass to put them over Cleveland last year.

Stop the run and we should win the game.

[Jet23]

Just for perspective, here's the Steelers' road record since they won their "one for the thumb": 4-7

2006

week 2: PIT 0 @ JAX 9 (Parker 20 yards)

week 5: PIT 13 @ SD 23 (Parker 57 yards)

week 7: PIT 38 @ ATL 41 (Parker 47 yards)

week 8: PIT 13 @ OAK 20 (Parker 83 yards)

week 11: PIT 24 @ CLE 20 (Parker 46 yards, Pit wins with a TD pass with 32 secs. left)

week 12: PIT 0 @ BAL 27 (Parker 22 yards)

week 15: PIT 37 @ CAR 3 (Parker 132 yards)

week 17: PIT 23 @ CIN 17 (Parker 134 yards)

2007

week 1: PIT 34 @ CLE 7 (Parker 109 yards)

week 4: PIT 14 @ ARI 21 (Parker 37 yards)

week 7: PIT 28 @ DEN 31 (Parker 93 yards)

The trend is pretty clear. They are 3-0 on the road when Parker goes over 100, 1-7 when he doesn't. And that would have been 0-8 if not for a last-second TD pass to put them over Cleveland last year.

Stop the run and we should win the game.

Can someone please get this to Bres!

[Stripes]

Bres probably will scheme against the run as he usually does. Roethlisberger will make plays downfield if he does, but with this defense we have to pick our poison.

[mancunian]

The trend is pretty clear. They are 3-0 on the road when Parker goes over 100, 1-7 when he doesn't. And that would have been 0-8 if not for a last-second TD pass to put them over Cleveland last year.

Stop the run and we should win the game.

I guess thats easier said than done

[ArmyBengal]

Is our defense that bad ?? I think YES they are. How bad either team is does not always predict the outcome of the games between the Steelers and the Bengals and neither does playing at home. This is just one of those games where the two teams have a strong dislike for each other and one team or another plays inspired ball for four FULL quarters. I just hope it's the Bengals.

Plan to stop the run and make Rottenfurburger toss the ball more than 20 times. If we lose, so be it, but that is how I want to see the plan for our defense go...

WHODEY !!!