Good Steelers/Bengals stats from Lance's Blog

[ShulaSteakhouse]

Defending the turf: The Bengals haven't beaten Pittsburgh at home since Dec 30, 2001. The Steelers have won their last four in Cincinnati and 6 of 7.

Run to victory: Under Cowher, club is 127-28 (.819) when out-rushing opponent

Getting ahead: The Steelers are 98-21- (.820) when scoring first under Cowher....including 8-1 this year.

Hold that lead: The Steelers are 100-1-1 when leading by 11 points or more under Cowher, the best mark in NFL history among 70 coaches with a lead that size more than 40 times in their career.

First and foremost: The Bengals are allowing an AFC worst 6.01 yards on first down.......31st in the NFL...........and have allowed 700 more yards on first down than Pittsbugh.

Road trippin: The Steelers were 6-2 on the road this year. Since they won their last Super Bowl during the 1979 season, the Steelers have won only two of eight road playoff games. They won at Denver in 1984 and Houston in 1989.

Where did the TO's go?: The Bengals forced 29 turnovers in their first 9 games....and average of 3.2 per game, they have forced just 15 in their last 7 games....and average of 2.1.

Regaining their identity: Steelers LT Marvel Smith missed the Dec 4 vs the Bengals and a total of four games....the Steelers have rushed for 408 yards in the two games since his return...their best back to back total this season.

Easy as 1-2-3?: Steelers 11-0 when rushing for 100+, 0-5 when rushing for less than 100. Bengals are 17-1 when they win the turnover margin, 3-15 when they lose it.

Parking Parker?: Willie Parker has carried 33 times for 206 yards in the two meetings (6.1).

He had eight runs of 20 yards or longer this year. Bettis has eight in the last four years and just one this season.

Experience counts?: Only 3 Steeler offensive starters have not started a playoff game.

Bearcat Back: LB Andre Frazier should return to special teams following a hamstring injury.

Better the 2nd time around? In Ben's first playoff experience he threw 5 int in two games after going 13-0 as a starter in the regular season.

Cover that TE!: The Bengals have been carved up by opposing TE's. Steeler TE Heath Miller has not caught a TD since week 8.

Focus Chris: Chris Henry caught 5 passes in week 13 vs Pittsburgh, he's caught 1 since.

Line em up!: The Bengals OL has allowed just 21 sacks, the Steelers DL has recorded 47 sacks.

Very Special: Tab Perry's 94 yard KR was the turning point in the last meeting. The Steelers have allowed an average of just 99 yards in kick returns per game in their last 4. Special teams saved the day for Pittsburgh vs Detroit. Ricardo Colclough returned a kickoff 63 yards to set up another touchdown. And Chidi Iwuoma forced a fumble, recovered by teammate Brett Keisel on a punt return.

Catch him if you can: Antwan Randle El is averaging 10.2 yards per kick return...including 2 td's. He has returns of 35 yards+ in each of his last three games.

Championship D?: Only two of the last 10 teams to make the Super Bowl have been ranked outside the top 10 in total defense....the Bengals rank 28th (Enquirer)

Protecting the pigskin: The Bengals set a franchise record with only 6 lost fumbles.

Division dominance: The Steelers are 6-0 when playing a divisional foe in the playoffs...outscoring them 179-93. This will be their first postseason meeting with the Bengals.

Bengal killers?: Jerome Bettis has faced the Bengals 20 times........422-1,794 (4.3) and 17 td's.

Continuity: Since Bill Cowher took over in 1992, there have been 89 coaching changes in the NFL.

4th qt precision?: Carson's passer rating is #2 in the AFC (101.1)....but drops to 12th in the AFC in the 4th quarter (85.5). He has thrown five 4th quarter interceptions......most of the Top 20 rated passers in the 4th quarter.

3rd an 1: Rudi is 6 for 6 in this situations this year......2nd best in the NFL...........Shaun Alexander is 16 for 16.

3rd down catches: TJ 21, Henry 17, Perry 16, Chad 15

Return to sender: Keiwan Ratliff is 23rd in the NFL in punt return average.....5.6. His season long of 13 is worst among the top 25 punt returners.

Steelers passing the "D"?: Last week Joey Harrington completed 17 of 33 passes for 212 yards, no interceptions, three touchdowns, was sacked just once and had a 102.1 passer rating. The Steelers allowed the Lions to convert 10 of 17 3rd downs. Pittsburgh's defense finished 20th in the league on third downs.

[Stripes]

Hold that lead: The Steelers are 100-1-1 when leading by 11 points or more under Cowher, the best mark in NFL history among 70 coaches with a lead that size more than 40 times in their career.

If I remember correctly, that one loss came to our Bengals in 2001.

First and foremost: The Bengals are allowing an AFC worst 6.01 yards on first down.......31st in the NFL...........and have allowed 700 more yards on first down than Pittsbugh.

Wow, I had no idea this was the case. I wonder how many of those 6.01 yards are from the running game. We can't let Parker and Bettis chew us up on first downs, or the confidence on defense will be shattered very quickly.

Where did the TO's go?: The Bengals forced 29 turnovers in their first 9 games....and average of 3.2 per game, they have forced just 15 in their last 7 games....and average of 2.1.

15 turnovers in 7 games still isn't bad at all. Tough to expect the Bengals to keep up that rediculous pace they had going before that.

Easy as 1-2-3?: Steelers 11-0 when rushing for 100+, 0-5 when rushing for less than 100. Bengals are 17-1 when they win the turnover margin, 3-15 when they lose it.

Always a key statistic... I assume these stats (the turnover stats for the Bengals) are reflective of Marvin's tenure. I believe the only game we've lost under Marvin after winning the turnover battle was the 34-17 embarassment in Cleveland in 2004 (we were +4 too!).

[ShulaSteakhouse]

That's a fine memory there TDB.

The most disheartening stat has to be the 1st down yards - that'll keep a defense on the field a long time. It's hard to believe a playoff team is so bad on defense - the #'s are just staggering in favor of the opponents when it comes to our team's defense. I just don't know how they overcome the defensive problems the rest of this year. They will simply have to play over their heads to win games.

Justin Smith and Robert Geathers - where are you?

I want to see Pollack become a difference maker Sunday also.

[walshfan]

Stats wont mean a thing come sunday....its about whether the Bengal offensive line gives our franchise the time he needs to carve up some steeler meat...

I think they will.. The Bengals will prove to everyone who doubts that they can win in the playoffs...

If you do want a stat remember that Cowher has never won a road game in the playoffs..

[jjakq27]

Hold that lead: The Steelers are 100-1-1 when leading by 11 points or more under Cowher, the best mark in NFL history among 70 coaches with a lead that size more than 40 times in their career.

If I remember correctly, that one loss came to our Bengals in 2001.

I think Danny Farmer caught a TD late in that game. I think they won in OT

[walshfan]

Kitna was the one to beat them....

It wont matter this week ... they'll succomb to the aerial onslaught that awaits them... Bengals 34 Stools 30...

[ShulaSteakhouse]

If you do want a stat remember that Cowher has never won a road game in the playoffs..

Yep and the Steelers have dominated us at home for the past few years - should be a fun game - all i ask for out of the Bengals' is to leave everything on the field and provide us a good/great game to watch, and something to build on for next season. I certainly don't expect this team to go very far this year - but anything can happen and it's that glimmer of hope that I'm hanging onto.

I am just geeked to get together with a bunch of friends Sunday and watch a playoff game for the first time since I was in high school and did the same thing. Been a looong time coming.

[walshfan]

I agree... I want the Bengals to play as error free as possible..

I think they'll win if that happens.. This offense is just too damn good to contain unless they beat themselves...

Steeler secondary is ripe for the picking and hopefully Palmer picks them apart for a victory....

[Jet23]

The only stat that really matters is the fact that every time I go to the game they lose. Every time I go to Willie's to watch it, they win.

You will be happy to know that I will be at Willie's come Sunday!

[duus]

The only stat that really matters is the fact that every time I go to the game they lose. Every time I go to Willie's to watch it, they win.

You will be happy to know that I will be at Willie's come Sunday!

And perhaps this is the best argument for me not traveling from Pittsburgh to the game myself. I came into town for two games this year, both losses (Indy and Buffalo). Maybe I should just sit in my living room by myself and enjoy this one like I did the last one.

[walshfan]

The only stat that really matters is the fact that every time I go to the game they lose. Every time I go to Willie's to watch it, they win.

You will be happy to know that I will be at Willie's come Sunday!

And perhaps this is the best argument for me not traveling from Pittsburgh to the game myself. I came into town for two games this year, both losses (Indy and Buffalo). Maybe I should just sit in my living room by myself and enjoy this one like I did the last one.

Duus.. Dont stay at home by yourself for this epic game.. go out to some place (anyplace) where other Bengal fans are and enjoy the comraderie watching this game together... You owe that to yourself my friend.

[duus]

The only stat that really matters is the fact that every time I go to the game they lose. Every time I go to Willie's to watch it, they win.

You will be happy to know that I will be at Willie's come Sunday!

And perhaps this is the best argument for me not traveling from Pittsburgh to the game myself. I came into town for two games this year, both losses (Indy and Buffalo). Maybe I should just sit in my living room by myself and enjoy this one like I did the last one.

Duus.. Dont stay at home by yourself for this epic game.. go out to some place (anyplace) where other Bengal fans are and enjoy the comraderie watching this game together... You owe that to yourself my friend.

I agree. And my wife does too. I am heading to Columbus and proceeding south until I find a completely Orange & Black place to park myself for the game. I posted this in my "Driving Through Eastern Ohio" thread. If you know where I should go ... PLEASE LET ME KNOW! I cannot wait for this!

[Stripes]

And perhaps this is the best argument for me not traveling from Pittsburgh to the game myself. I came into town for two games this year, both losses (Indy and Buffalo). Maybe I should just sit in my living room by myself and enjoy this one like I did the last one.

I had the same ticket package this year. That sucked.

Still, these silly Steelers aren't the Colts and they won't get us in any trap game, so you can expect a win.