Steelers’ record: 7-3
One year ago: 7-3
Series record (including playoffs): Steelers lead, 50-32
STORYLINE
This is what Coach Mike Tomlin identified as the critical elements heading into this game vs. the Bengals: “We have to be better offensively in the red zone. Last week we were 1-for-4 in the red zone, and that’s not going to help you beat good teams. Defensively, we have to right the ship in terms of what we do on third down and get off the field in those situations. Last year, the special teams contributed a fumble recovery on the opening kickoff and blocked a punt in the game in Cincinnati, and we expect similar contributions from that unit.”
TURNING POINT
It seemed as though the game might turn into a rout, especially after the Steelers took a 14-0 lead with touchdowns on their first two offensive possessions. But the third time the Bengals got the ball, rookie QB Andy Dalton converted a third-and-5 with a 25-yard pass to Andrew Hawkins. Four plays later, Dalton hit A.J. Green with a 36-yard touchdown pass and the game was closely contested the rest of the way.
STAT THAT STANDS OUT
In five of the last six games, the Steelers have scored a touchdown on their opening possession of the game.
WHAT WENT RIGHT
* The Steelers had things going their way early.
* The way Roethlisberger was playing, even on the rare occasion when he missed one he came right back and made the play on the next one. After missing a wide-open Jerricho Cotchery on first down from the Bengals 20-yard line, Roethlisberger came back on third down to fire a strike to
* On a play from the 13-yard line, Roethlisberger’s pass deep down the left sideline to
* It was a third-and-7 from the Pittsburgh 39-yard line with 3:22 left in the first half,
* Up to the moment of a first-and-goal from the Bengals 9-yard line, in a tie game late in the third quarter, Rashard Mendenhall had 33 yards on 12 carries. On his 13th carry, Mendenhall broke one tackle by Domata Peko and ran through another by Rey Maualuga to score the touchdown that gave the Steelers a 24-17 lead after three quarters.
WHAT WENT WRONG
* On a first-and-10 from the Bengals 20-yard line on the Steelers second possession, LT
* Trailing, 14-0, the Bengals put together a quick and seemingly easy drive for a touchdown. They went 79 yards in seven plays, with Andy Dalton converting a third-and-5 with a 25-yard pass to Andrew Hawkins, and then on second-and-8 he hit A.J. Green with a 36-yard touchdown pass. On the play, it seemed as though
* After making a great catch to set up the Steelers’ second touchdown, a bobble by Heath Miller allowed CB Leon Hall to come up with an interception that gave the Bengals possession at the Steelers 41-yard line. Miller was wide open in the flat, and Roethlisberger delivered the ball on the numbers, but he couldn’t catch it cleanly and Hall grabbed the ball before it hit the turf. The possession ended with a 43-yard field goal by Mike Nugent, and the Steelers lead was cut to 14-10.
* On the play after the two-minute warning, Roethlisberger stepped up and found Cotchery wide open for an apparent touchdown, but the play was nullified by an offensive pass interference penalty called on Heath Miller.
* The Steelers offense had some success throughout the first half operating out of an empty-set formation, but on the plays the worked the ball was coming out quick. When it did not, there were protection issues, evidenced by the fact Roethlisberger was sacked three times for 19 yards in losses on the final possession of the first half.
* After a 7-yard completion to Andre Caldwell that would have resulted in a third-and-goal at the 2-yard line,
* On third-and-12 from the Pittsburgh 8-yard line with 12-plus minutes left in the fourth quarter, Ben Roethlisberger had
INJURY UPDATE
The list of players the Steelers made inactive for the game against the Bengals was significant mostly for the names that were not on it.
Back for the Steelers were James Farrior and
