2007 Steelers - Week #13 Cincinnati Bengals

Last Weeks Result

• Pittsburgh 3, Miami 0
• Record: 8-3
• Standings: Sole possession of 1st in AFC North

Last Weeks Game Recap

This is a really hard game from which to deduce information about either of these teams. I feel that I could successfully argue that the Steelers are a more talented team than the Dolphins is most positions. While both teams had to play on the same field, I really believe that it becomes an equalizer. In other words, conditions like this are going to hurt the more talented team. Joey Porter is always good for a quote and he summed it up well when he said that Willie wasn’t a 4.2 guy today on that field, but instead he was a 4.8 guy. Everyone on that field was a 4.8 guy.

Kind of lost in the game and the score is the fact that Roethlisberger only had two passes hit the ground. He had 18 completions and an interception in 21 passes. I had almost forgotten how good Porter is in coverage. Ben did not get the ball high enough, but with most other linebackers it is an incomplete pass at worst. The Steeler receivers (especially Ward) were excellent at holding on to a slick ball. On the other side of the field, there were several passes dropped by the Dolphins.

Now for the negatives. There was only three penalties, but two of these negated first downs. These killed good drives that looked to be scoring drives. However, the number one drive killer on Monday night was the sacks. Once again the Steelers allowed sacks to a team that hasn’t really lit up the rest of the league. A lot of these sacks were due to Ben hanging onto the ball too long, as he did not want to make any mistakes. And on defense, there seemed to be some pretty big openings in the pass defense for John Beck.  I know this is a good defense, but how come rookie quarterbacks always seem to have their break out days against this defense?

This game is basically a mulligan as far as I am concerned.  The Steelers desperately needed a win which they got.  I just don’t think that too much should be read into this game with the field conditions and weather.

Game MVP

Jeff Reed - For special teams play, there were quite a few people that I could put here. But I’ve got to go with the guy that scored the only points for either team. It was basically a PAT attempt, but it was certainly not a give me on that field. I think that he and Sepulveda found the best piece of turf on that field, allowing him to plant and drive the ball through the uprights.

Honorable mention goes to Hines Ward. It is nice to have a clutch receiver in a game like this. I felt that Hines defined clutch especially on the last drive to score.

Game Grades

• Offense: B- - In most instances scoring only 3 points in a game would be worthy of an F. However, the three points did win this particular game. And on a sloppy night made for turn-overs, there was only one interception and nearly ever ball that came near a receiver was grabbed and held onto.
• Defense: B - On a normal field pitching a shut out would earn an A. However, it is hard to judge how good the defense really played. John Beck completed some nice passes against this defense and would have completed more if his receivers would have been more sure-handed. There were holes in this defense that were exploited quite well. However, with the conditions of the field, the game plan was pretty conservative to avoid slipping and getting beat deep.
• Special Teams: A - Finally I feel that the special teams redeemed themselves. In the poorest conditions possible, a mistake on special teams would have cost the Steelers this game. Not only were special teams free of mistakes, but they nearly always won the field position game.
• Coaching Staff: C- - It is tough to pin too much on the coaches, but there were quite a few drives that were killed by penalties. This is something that must be addressed. Championship teams do not get penalized to the degree that the Steelers have been the past few weeks.
• Overall: B-

Season (Composite) Grades

• Offense: - C+
• Defense: - C+
• Special Teams: - C+
• Coaching Staff: - C+
• Overall: - C+ - To date, based on the games they have played they are above average, but not an elite team.

Next Up: Cincinnati Bengals

Heinz field gets an opportunity to be in prime time coverage again this week as the Bengals come to town. Will the grounds crews be able to make up for the Monday Night disaster? I can’t possibly imagine that the field will be in the same condition, however, it is still supposed to be wet on Sunday and the field will not be fast.  This would seemingly be a concern for the Bengals more than the Steelers.  I definitely do not expect a 3-0 score in this game.  The Bengals finally have their 3-headed receiving corps put together now that Chris Henry has come out of his self-induced suspension.  The Bengals have had a down year due to some injuries, however they are still a very dangerous team and will not be taken lightly by the Steelers.

There is a competitive hatred of the Steelers by the Bengals.  This rivalry had been one-sided for so long that the Bengals and the fans came to envy and hate the Steelers.  Finally in 2005, the Bengals had a breakthrough season and are able to win the division for the first time (in the case of the AFC North - 15 years total).  To intensify this hatred, the Steelers knocked them out of the playoffs in their first playoff appearance in 15 years.  Added insult was the fact that the Steelers went on to win the Superbowl.  Their is almost a fanatical hatred in Carson Palmer when he talks about the Steelers.  T.J. Houshmandzadeh would quit football altogether before he played for the Steelers.

The Bengals will play their best against the Steelers.  This has turned into a good rivalry as of late and I am really expecting a good game between these two teams.   At the end of the day, the Steelers have a better defense than the Bengals, while having an offense that is more balanced.  I think Palmer and the Bengals have a scary good passing game, but lack the balance that is necessary to carry a game against a good team.   With a relatively error free day, the Steelers should be able to dispatch of the Bengals.

Final Score Prediction

Pittsburgh 27

Cincinnati 20