As we head into the home stretch of the NFL season, divisional races and playoff matchups are slowly starting to take shape. This Sunday finds several key games with teams in the heat of racing. Here’s a look at some of them.
Bengals at Steelers: This is an AFC North title matchup and there are plenty of sidelights. If the Steelers win, they will be tied for the division lead, but they will essentially have it because they will have swept the Bengals (8-3) in head-to-head play. Pittsburgh has already won Cincinnati, 27-13, in a game dominated by the Steelers’ defense. Pittsburgh’s 221 rushing yards, a hefty 4.7 yards per carry, was history, along with Cincy just barely over 300 total yards. The Steelers’ injuries since then have been significant and a big cause of their current two-game winning streak.
As usual, Bengals WR Chad Johnson is in the middle of the conversation this week. Johnson plans to entertain Steeler fans with his best touchdown celebration yet. Johnson said, “I’m going to guarantee that I won’t be stopped this Sunday.”
If the Steelers lose, they would be two games behind the Bengals with four to play, including tough games against the Bears at home and at the Vikings. “Obviously, it’s the biggest game of the year and we all know what’s at stake,” Bill Cowher said. The Pittsburgh offensive line that sent three starters to the Pro Bowl last season is not healthy. The Steelers rushed for 86 yards in Monday night’s loss at Indy and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was sacked three times. Left tackle Marvel Smith returned after missing a game with an ankle injury, but was unable to propel himself properly and was replaced by rookie Trai Essex, who played in his second NFL game. Smith (ankle) is out, which means Essex will start. Another rookie, Chris Kemoeatu, is working both guard positions.
One key will be Roethlisberger, who said his right thumb injury “is pretty painful” but is hopeful it won’t severely affect his pitch on Sunday. Also, Big Ben sprained an ankle after returning from a three-week layoff following knee surgery. “It’s a little painful, but we’re going to try and see if we can pull through,” Roethlisberger said. “A couple of contractions will hopefully help him out.” He didn’t look healthy Monday night, even though he was under a lot of pressure from the Colts. Roethlisberger is 18-2 as an NFL regular season starter and completed 17 of 26 passes for 133 yards on Monday.
RB Willie Parker (12 carries, 43 yards) will start again, but Cowher hasn’t decided whether to return to dressing both Jerome Bettis (6 carries, 9 yards) and Duce Staley (2 carries, 6 yards) as backups. Parker gained 131 yards on 18 carries in the first meeting against Cincy, but that was with a healthier offensive line. Pittsburgh dictated the style and pace of that first game against the Bengals, but that hasn’t been the case in recent weeks.
The Bengals rank 25th in the NFL in rush defense, having allowed an average of 122 yards per game. The Bengals have lost four of five games against Pittsburgh in the three seasons since Marvin Lewis became head coach. In the four losses, the Bengals have allowed the Steelers to run the ball an average of 39.7 times and gain 168.8 rushing yards. The only time the Bengals under Lewis beat the Steelers, a 24-20 victory at Heinz Field in 2003, Cincinnati limited Pittsburgh to 85 rushing yards on 25 carries. In their last two games, the Steelers gained 70 yards and averaged 2.8 yards per carry in a 16-13 overtime loss to the Ravens and then managed just 86 yards and 3.4 yards per carry in Monday night’s loss. -7 against the Colts. The Steelers haven’t had a 100-yard rusher since Parker did against the Bengals in October. The Steelers will be excited at home to end their losing streak, but are they healthy enough?
Cowboys vs. NY Giants: The NFC East lead is on the line. The Giants lost 16-13 at Dallas in the first game in overtime. However, Dallas had the yardage advantage 385-270. Cowboys quarterback Drew Bledsoe has been looking old since he threw for more than 300 yards against the Giants. So have WRs Terry Glenn and Keyshawn Johnson (combined 64 years old), who haven’t come close to their 14-catch, 184-yard effort against the Giants. The Dallas Defense has held three teams under 73 rushing yards in the past five weeks. Bill Parcells’ team has the fewest penalties in the NFL (63), the Giants were penalized 16 times in last week’s frustrating loss at Seattle. The NY Giants are 5-1 SU, 4-2 ATS at home averaging 32 points per game (4-2 “over” home total). The Giants’ young secondary is a concern, as second-year cornerback Curtis Deloatch and rookie Corey Webster have struggled. Also, New York DT William Joseph (elbow) will not play Sunday. Enjoy Showdown Sunday!
