What is the most important matchup?

[derekshank]

I know there are other interesting match-ups... but these to me are the four most intriguing, and important.

Geathers needs to take advantage of the inexperienced rookie, and make Ben uncomfortable.

Kaesviharn... or whoever ends up being mismatched against Miller needs to play a very good game.

Thurman needs to make up for his mistakes in the first game and keep them from running wild.

But for me... the most important match-up is... Chad Johnson and Ike Taylor. Chad got 90-something yards last game... but only caught 4 passes.

Chad needs to have a big game, and get pressure off of Housh and Henry. If he plays like he should, Taylor will be overmatched, and we'll move the ball, and score... putting the pressure on Ben to throw, so they won't have the luxury of running the ball every single down.

[The_Next_Big_Thing]

The matchup of matchups isn't listed. The difference is going to be our Oline vs. Their Dline. If Palmer has time to pass, and Rudi has room to run, it's all over for them.

[HairOnFire]

The matchup of matchups isn't listed. The difference is going to be our Oline vs. Their Dline.

I'll argue that the key matchup is our D-Line against the Steeler O-Line....so I guess I'll vote for the Geathers/Essex battle. The Bengals have to take advantage of Essex, but I imagine that will mean more than a one-on-one matchup. For example, I expect to see the Bengals attempt to anchor off of Justin Smith's LDE position while running repeated overload blitzes from the opposite side designed to take advantage of Essex's inexperience working with his fellow blockers, including backs.

And I'll argue once again that the Bengals best run defense is it's own offense. If they can get an early lead they'll pressure the Steelers to change their gameplan just as they did against the Colts. Granted, the Bengals can't allow the Steelers to revive their running game to the degree witnessed in the earlier Bengal/Steeler game, but the Bengals defense doesn't have to stuff the rush outright. In fact, I think it would be a huge mistake to overplay the run at the expense of their pass defense. Play it mostly straight up and hope that they can control the run damage suffered while putting massive pressure on the Steeler passing game when it finds itself in 3rd down situations. Do that and the Bengals should be able to survive a Steeler offensive attack that has to settle for FG's instead of TD's and may have to abandon the run early if it can't control the Cincy offense.

[ShulaSteakhouse]

Yep, it's Geathers' game - still like him, but does anyone know if he's playing this week? He didn't play last week - something I didn't even realize. He had two good games (ecspecially vs Indy) and then got hurt I believe.

The Bengals practiced longer Wednesday (and used all of their practice and the stadium fields for the 1st time) than I've ever seen them during the week. It was freezing outside and they were out there all day.

I sense some sort of major adjustment for this game, and extra work on kick-offs.

[Stripes]

My vote went to Chad and Taylor. If the offense can play as smoothly as it has been lately (Chad's success would ensure that) then we'll be playing with the lead, and the opposing running game will falter accordingly. That's how we've won games all year, and I don't think this'll be any different.

[Spain]

Our dline has hope this time around 2 rookies in the lineup!

[AMC]

No question....The Bengals D MUST slow down the run, whether it be Bettis, Parker or Staley...Cannot let them control the line of scrimmage...I am more worried about our D-line, but I think we may put decent pressure on Rottenburger...Or at least be in the backfiled consistently...call me an optimist!

[rizzy]

Heath Miller killed us last game.

[schweinhart]

The Bengals need to win all of those matchups to put themselves in a position to win this game.

Those and several others.

Randle El is the one player who has gotten the most lost in the mix for Pittsburgh this year. I expect their offense to find ways today to get the ball in his hands as much as possible whether on reverses, quick throws to him at the line, WR screens, throws by him off reverses.....however they can get the ball to him. And any time the Bengals punt, Randel El vs. Tab Perry is going to be a key matchup.

Willie Parker looks like the primary threat at RB to start, but this game has Duce Staley written all over it if Parker looks more like Amos Zeroue than Gayle Sayers early.

Quincy Morgan is an awful WR but an explosive KR in lanes. The Bengals special teamers need to plug those lanes with a vengeance to keep Pittsburgh from starting at midfield or worse after every kick off.

The biggest key on offense IMO is to keep Carson clean with plenty of time to throw in the pocket. That's gonna mean blitz pick up of LBs and DBs. This might be the biggest weakness this offense has. If they can't pick up the Blitzburgh, they'll have a long day of hot reads for short gains, Carson running for his life, and turnovers.