Weird thing about the Steelers

[walzav29]

I really think the Bengals will win the rematch. The only thing about them guys that worries me is Ben. These are the same bunch of clowns that they always are. You could see it against Jax, and the Packers last week. If Ben is in, those games are different. He is good. The weird part is that he threw just 14 passes. Are you telling me that Maddox and Batch couldn't throw 14 passes without completely screwing up? On paper. I like the Bengals, but when that big goon is in there well..... Hell he's only lost to the Pats. That has to say something. I do hope he plays in the rematch. To win the division, I want the Bengals to beat Pitt. I don't want them backing into it.

[HoosierCat]

If Ben is in, those games are different. He is good. The weird part is that he threw just 14 passes. Are you telling me that Maddox and Batch couldn't throw 14 passes without completely screwing up?

In a word...yeah. Maddox stunk in his one outing and if Batch's uniform hadn't said "Batch" on the back I would have bet the farm that was Akili Smith.

Pitt has this rep as a physical, smashmouth team, but I don't think that they are much, if any, more physical or smashmouth than any other NFL team. I mean, football is a pretty violent sport. 200lb. and 300lb. guys go out and beat the crap out of each other for three hours. No one who isn't physical or smashmouth is going to last very long -- and if that's all you bring as a player you are likely to end up as a physically smashed wreck.

IMHO the Steelers' success mostly has to do with them being a technically sound, low-mistake team (which is why putting in screwups like Batch and Maddox queers the deal). For example, this year Pitt ranks 31st in offensive penalties with 44; only Indy is better, and barely, at 43. Remember former Pitt OC and current Bills HC Mike Mularkey's comment to his team before last year's game against the Bengals? "Just go out, play your game, they're the Bengals, they'll screw up."? That, I think, is pretty much Pitt's strategy for every game they play. And it's a model the Bengals could learn a lot from, even now.

[NYBengalfan]

I know in my heart that they could beat them. I just dont get how he does not lose. I think that he is good but, he's not great...yet. I just dont think he deserves as much credit as he has been getting. He throws 10 passes a game and all of a sudden he is a GOD. Its that running game, not him.

If we stop their running game of Gay Willie Parker, FAT Bettis and Douche Staley we'll win.

Speaking of childish name calling, Where is Steeler7? Thank god he's gone

[Jet23]

The Bengals had 1 bad quarter against the Steelers and everyone uses that as evidence that the Bengals are not in their league. By the end of the year, the Bengals will be better than the Steelers. And that idiot, Stephen A. Smith pretty much proclaimed that the Bengals have no chance of winning the division given the manner in which the Steelers 'bitch slapped' them at home. It cost me a remote and I had to apologize to my dog.

[Stripes]

I don't think Big Ben has been the reason we've lost these games to Pittsburgh. Each time we've faced him, we've put up a good game against him, but we have done nothing to stop Bettis/Staley/Parker. Until we can keep them in check, we cannot win that game. I think that the defense has already shown great signs of improvement since that defeat, and we'll see for sure what to expect when we face the Colts.

[BengalszoneBilly]

Think about it this way...if we had to split with them this season, wouldn't it be more advantageous to have the game you won be the latter match up? No loss of momentum or confidence going into the playoffs IMHO!

[duus]

As long as they actually win on 12/4, I couldn't care any less how it is done. I was oh so hyped for the last game, and it truly crushed my world. It's only now that I feel like I am coming out of it. Now I am starting to get back to where I think they can beat them in Pittsburgh. I'm just so afraid that I will begin to get jazzed again, and then crushed for the holidays :-)

Come on Bengals ... bring my Christmas present straight to my home in Pittsburgh.

All I want for Christmas is a Bengal victory at Heinz Field!

[Section 310]

I know what you guys mean about the Steelers. I am a realistic and an objective fan, but I think the game will be much different when the teams meet in Pittsburgh. I truly believe the team will step up and knock the Steelers in the mouth.

[Jet23]

And lest we forget, Pittsburgh plays better on the road for some reason.

[derekshank]

One of the reasons Ben is so good is because he only has to throw it 14 times a game. When the other guys are in there, teams stack the lines, and the Steelers are forced to throw... and Batch and Maddox make mistakes. Ben doesn't... so teams can't go 9 in the box and expect to win.

When we play Pittburgh again, we need to force Pittsburgh to have to throw the ball more than 14 times... and since we won't stop the run without putting 9 in the box... it means we have to score early and often, like we should have been able to do last time.

[BengalByTheBay]

I have an extensive record of Ben bashing, but the guy just keeps winning. I guess I'm in the minority, but I want to see much better play from the defense before I get any feeling that we're even competitive with the Squeal curtain right now. I'm happy that we've got several weeks before we see them again. Anybody else have this weird feeling that Ben's knee may be more of a problem than they're letting on?

[BengalszoneBilly]

I have an extensive record of Ben bashing, but the guy just keeps winning. I guess I'm in the minority, but I want to see much better play from the defense before I get any feeling that we're even competitive with the Squeal curtain right now. I'm happy that we've got several weeks before we see them again. Anybody else have this weird feeling that Ben's knee may be more of a problem than they're letting on?

I don't know how many guys here are old enough to remember "Broadway" Joe Namaths incredible (albeit short) stint as a QB great for the NY Jets back in the day, but it started much in the same fashion. He appeared out of no where, had great early success, but what appeared to be minor knee problems at first quickly snowballed into custom knee braces, then ultimately his early decline as the premier QB in the game.

Granted, he had previous knee issues due to injuries incurred durring his high school play, and his college days at Alabama. Regardless, Joe Namaths pro football career could best be described as a bottle rocket. Very impressive...but only for an incredibly short time. After the Super Bowl win over the heavily favored Baltimore Colts, he performance was never the same. Why? Mobility. His knees robbed him of it.

[Keller]

You know, I really wanted to like Ben but I just can't get past how overrated he has become, (and the fact that he's a Steeler). I know it's not his fault, but I still hold it against him.

Hopefully it will be nice and cold in Pittsburgh that day and he'll play with that stupid glove on his throwing hand and spend the day throwing dead ducks to Deltha and Tory.

(wow, could my grammar in that last sentence be any worse?)

[Kazkal]

i think to many people are blamin maddox,they had '''no''' run game at all imo ben would have been bad ttoo

[walshfan]

The Steelers keep it strong on the O line and at backers..

Faneca, Hartings and Simmons are their cornerstones on offense.

Joey Porter and Co. are tough..

We have the same ingredients....Its execution and nothing else.