What makes this game?

[Stripes]

I say the Bengals win this one on the arm of Carson Palmer. I think he get's his 10th straight game with a rating above 100, breaking Peyton Manning's NFL record. The run defense better show up, and I think it will play well enough to allow the offense's succes to matter.

[alense]

Despite the fact that Carson had a rating of over 100 in the Jacksonville game, we still lost. The one thing that we could not do in our one and only loss was stop the run. Because the Steelers are no doubt a running team, I think run defense is the most important key to this game.

[NYBengalfan]

I chose the bengals passing game, regardless the Steelers will run. I could see us winning in a high scoring shootout, but also I could see us making big plays on D. They have that "Bend but dont break" concept

[TippCityRick]

This game is won or lost on Carson's arm. The Steelers will set out to stop our run from the start. You can count on that. If Palmer can make plays in the passing game that will make them drop the safeties out of the box and allow Rudi & Perry to run. If not it will be a long day.

As far as the Steelers running the ball, they will. We have not shown the ability to shut down anyones run and I don't think we'll start now. Our D is set up to keep away from the big play as all good defenses are. If we can consistantly get to 3rd down then we'll be successful. If not, . . . you get the point.

[The_Next_Big_Thing]

This game is won or lost on Pittsburgh's pass defense in the 4th quarter. It's going to be a close game, and will probably come down to a list minute drive.

If Carson can't remember that Polamalu isn't on his team, and throws more interceptions for touchdowns this year, we are screwed.

If, on the other hand, Carson eats their pass defense up in the 4th Q, we are golden, just like our Golden Boy Carson Palmer.

[USMC203]

It falls on the bengals front 7!! I do not think there is one person that does not think of that on this board. We all know that the D line is soft on the run. I am sure Coach Marvin and staff will fix that in the next draft. We need another big guy to go next to S. Smith who is geating better every game.

[The_Next_Big_Thing]

It falls on the bengals front 7!! I do not think there is one person that does not think of that on this board. We all know that the D line is soft on the run. I am sure Coach Marvin and staff will fix that in the next draft. We need another big guy to go next to S. Smith who is geating better every game.

I for one do not think it falls on the front 7. Our defense is getting it done. Yes, we are a bit soft on the run, but that's ok. We force turnovers often enough to make up for it.

As for next draft, you're going to be disappointed if you expect a big guy next to Smith to be drafted on day 1, because it ain't gonna happen. Robinson and Smith will be fine. I don't think Marvin Lewis is ready to give up on our dline yet. We will probably draft the Oline on day one, and another safety and another defensive end. Tackle will be a day two pickup if at all.

[derekshank]

I thought this would be an easy one, but many of you think otherwise. I say it is far and away the Bengals run defense. Roethlisberger has been very good, but he's not 100%, and they Steelers are still a team that runs the ball 70% of the time. If we can take them out of their game plan, they will not have a chance, because We will score our points.

This one will be up to the defense. Pittsburgh doesn't turn the ball over when Ben is in the game, so we'll have to stop the mfair and square, and you know they will be running the Bus right at Thurman all day long. If you run D doesn't show up, Pittsburgh wins TOP and probably the game.

[USMC203]

It falls on the bengals front 7!! I do not think there is one person that does not think of that on this board. We all know that the D line is soft on the run. I am sure Coach Marvin and staff will fix that in the next draft. We need another big guy to go next to S. Smith who is geating better every game.

I for one do not think it falls on the front 7. Our defense is getting it done. Yes, we are a bit soft on the run, but that's ok. We force turnovers often enough to make up for it.

As for next draft, you're going to be disappointed if you expect a big guy next to Smith to be drafted on day 1, because it ain't gonna happen. Robinson and Smith will be fine. I don't think Marvin Lewis is ready to give up on our dline yet. We will probably draft the Oline on day one, and another safety and another defensive end. Tackle will be a day two pickup if at all.

Pull in your horns Big Thing, I am a Bengals fan also. I don't think I said what round it would be in but I think that is what they will do unless S. Andrews comes along. I also know that Marvin and his Staff will do what they always do, Take the best player that is there when they pick!

[Stripes]

I thought this would be an easy one, but many of you think otherwise. I say it is far and away the Bengals run defense. Roethlisberger has been very good, but he's not 100%, and they Steelers are still a team that runs the ball 70% of the time. If we can take them out of their game plan, they will not have a chance, because We will score our points.

This one will be up to the defense. Pittsburgh doesn't turn the ball over when Ben is in the game, so we'll have to stop the mfair and square, and you know they will be running the Bus right at Thurman all day long. If you run D doesn't show up, Pittsburgh wins TOP and probably the game.

I also expected run defense to dominate this poll. It seems to be the majority in any event. I think that any statistics we put up defensively as far as stopping the run will be skewed a bit due to injuries on the Pittsburgh line and to their receivers. Big Ben will be short a lot of weapons assuming even half of the players listed as "questionable" are unable to play. If this does come to pass (no pun intended), then the Steelers will be forced to be one dimensional on offense. I expect a heavy dosage of Willie Parker and Jerome Bettis, but if we have eight guys in the box all day long and force Ben to beat us with his depleted receiving corps then their already struggling running game shouldn't be as big a factor as some may expect.

[alense]

As for next draft, you're going to be disappointed if you expect a big guy next to Smith to be drafted on day 1, because it ain't gonna happen. Robinson and Smith will be fine. I don't think Marvin Lewis is ready to give up on our dline yet. We will probably draft the Oline on day one, and another safety and another defensive end. Tackle will be a day two pickup if at all.

I don't see how we can't draft a D-Lineman as #1, unless we are looking at a safety. Our D-Line is the only thing keeping us from being an elite team. Our O-line looks great and works well together, why would we use our #1 pick on another one that will sit on the bench barring any injuries? I know Marvin says he will always take the best athlete available at the time, despite position, but we really need help on our D-Line.

[ArmyBengal]

I don't see how you can say anything except our run defense or the Steelers running game. Either way, we have to stop the run. You cannot just EXPECT turnovers to happen... We have shown our inability to stop the run and I'll give anyone ONE guess to state what kind of team the Steelers are... Anyone ?? O.K. they run the ball all the time. If they establish a running game, they are good. If you don't think they like to run the ball, take a look at Rottenburgers stats. He has less attempts then Carson does completions. ESPN made the comment this morning about how if the Steelers threw the ball less than 25 times, they would win the game. OUR RUN DEFENSE WILL BE THE DIFFERENCE !!!

WHODEY !!!

[alleycat]

Quoting Big Thing:

"I for one do not think it falls on the front 7. Our defense is getting it done. Yes, we are a bit soft on the run, but that's ok. We force turnovers often enough to make up for it."

I agree with you mostly except for one little thing: the only QB in the league who has fewer interceptions than Carson is Big Ben - with ZERO. That's the perfect weapon against our D - a solid running game and a QB who doesn't throw picks.

Now, last year, Ben was playing pretty flawlessly until he faced the Bengals. And then he played like A$$ for the rest of the year. So perhaps we have a bead on him and can do whatever we did last year to disrupt him again and force him to make mistakes. I know one thing, if you've ever hyperextended your knee like that, you'll be very instinctually protective of letting people plow into it again. Perhaps we can make him jittery one more time. I hope...

As for next draft, you're going to be disappointed if you expect a big guy next to Smith to be drafted on day 1, because it ain't gonna happen. Robinson and Smith will be fine. I don't think Marvin Lewis is ready to give up on our dline yet. We will probably draft the Oline on day one, and another safety and another defensive end. Tackle will be a day two pickup if at all.

I don't see how we can't draft a D-Lineman as #1, unless we are looking at a safety. Our D-Line is the only thing keeping us from being an elite team. Our O-line looks great and works well together, why would we use our #1 pick on another one that will sit on the bench barring any injuries? I know Marvin says he will always take the best athlete available at the time, despite position, but we really need help on our D-Line.

Other than lacking an absolute pro-bowl quality disrupter on the D-line, I disagree. I watched the short cuts of the Bengals several times yesterday, and I saw something which actually gives me hope: ODell whiffing over and over on tackles. On at least 10 plays (not coincidentally many of their good runs) a streaking orange helmet knifes through the crowd and dives right past the runner. If Odell doesn't miss, the Titans get totally stuffed in their run game. This is a focus/discipline thing, and is coachable and can be improved. Odell will step up. Add that to the fact that Pollack will eventually play SSLB and not lose contain on the perimeter as Landon is doing (who will be perfectly suited when he returns to the WSLB to replace Simmons), and we start looking pretty good. I hope Askew steps it up eventually. Hopefully we can then slide Geathers over to true end where he belongs and we can get some Pass rush from him. If not, we need to spend a high pick on DE (after Safety and/or Oline).

[redsbengalsbucks]

One aspect of the game will not decide who wins this one.

they have to stop the run and make Rottenheadcheeseburger win the game if he can.

they have to mix up the offense enough to keep a still above average Steeler defense from causing problems.

Above all they have to finish the game with more points than Pitt, I dont care how they do it!!!!

[Columbusbengal]

I don't see how we can't draft a D-Lineman as #1, unless we are looking at a safety. Our D-Line is the only thing keeping us from being an elite team.

The reason we won't be drafting a d-lineman is that no difference-maker will be available by the time we pick. I was listening to a draft analyst last night who indicated that this was not shaping up to be a banner year for d-linemen anyway. It's also a lot harder to find good run stuffers in the second or third round (although it can happen). At least this year we have some cap space and we are becoming a team that free agents might want to play for, so there is a chance we will actually sign a free agent lineman. I guarantee that neither Marvin nor Mike is going to overpay for one though.

[Stripes]

One aspect of the game will not decide who wins this one.

they have to stop the run and make Rottenheadcheeseburger win the game if he can.

they have to mix up the offense enough to keep a still above average Steeler defense from causing problems.

Above all they have to finish the game with more points than Pitt, I dont care how they do it!!!!

I agree, all of the above will factor into who wins, but there is usually one thing that shouts out at the viewer "if this had gone differently, we wouldn't have won/lost..."

[cincy9275]

we must take away the steelers running game .come out and put up a couple of early touchdowns or our front seven needs to step it up and tackle the running back before he gets in the second and third level of our defense. this will be key to us winning the game . without there running game i really don't think they have a chance .

[bengalboomer7]

Every game whenever we get a turnover over I find myself thinking about our chances getting so much better. The actual numbers of turnover ratio to wins is incredible. So, I'm gonna say turnovers win this game and you gotta like the bengals chances looking at the first six games.

[schweinhart]

It's got to be "Other" because it's all those things.

If it's any one thing it's the chemistry and balance on ball sides of the ball for the Bengals, but especially the offense.

The Steelers main threats for this week look to me like:

1. Randle El returning punts.

2. Heath Miller as an all-downs TE on the order of Todd Heap.

3. Big Ben running.

4. Verron Haynes as the 3rd down back.

The Steelers defense should struggle mightily this week vs. the best QB in the AFC North and his arsenal.

I don't see stopping the run as much of a challenge this week as the past 3 weeks, except for Big Ben.

The Bengals are thicker in the middle w/ Shaun Smith/Bryan Robinson/Odell Thurman so Bettis should find it tougher going vs. this Bengals D than any Bengals D he's faced in recent years. Parker isn't the caliber of cutback threat that Taylor or Brown and a waft of Amos Zeroue should fill PBS when he gets the ball.

The most interesting matchup to me for this one is how the Bengals will rush Big Ben. I doubt they do what they did in the 2nd game last year and go blitz happy, but it also seems unlikely that they'll rush just 3 like the Pats did last year in AFC title game to force Big Ben to stay in the pocket rather than truly rush him for the purposes of sacks.

The Bengals came out stunting the DE/DTs last week vs. McNair but Chow immediately shortened the field to take it away. My guess is that the Bengals will mix in a few of those stunts plus a DB blitz here and there but mainly stick to a straight up 4 man rush with an emphasis on outside contain. They should try to force Big Ben to beat him w/ his arm instead of giving him chances to throw on the run or run the ball himself.

[clevelandbengal]

How about us converting short yardage plays. We have had two weeks in a row where we havent converted on 3rd and 4th with one yard to go. That has to change this week.

[Stripes]

How about us converting short yardage plays. We have had two weeks in a row where we havent converted on 3rd and 4th with one yard to go. That has to change this week.

True, that is a small factor that could have a big impact. It certainly had a huge impact against Jacksonville.