The Bengals know it.
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The Steelers will play the Cincinnati Bengals in an AFC wild card game at 8:15 p.m. Saturday at Paul Brown Stadium.
The subtext to that one: Houston’s defence picked off Dan Fouts five times to set up the win.
So can the Bengals win with McCarron at quarterback? Running back Giovani Bernard was the team’s receiving leader with 46 yards. Right tackle Marcus Gilbert even went so far as to say in a tweet: “All I want for Christmas is the Bengals”. Cincinnati was 11th in yards allowed, but gave up only 279 points, second-fewest in the NFL.
The Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers had quite the split series between them during the 2015 National Football League regular season.
And his coach held out the possibility he might have a backup role for the Bengals’ playoff game. The early forecasts are calling for a cold afternoon, with a temperature barely in the double-digits, conditions that ought to benefit a Vikings team built around National Football League rushing leader Adrian Peterson and a stout defense that racked up 14 sacks over a season-finishing three-game winning streak.
Dalton, who broke the thumb on his throwing hand during a December 13 game against the Steelers, had the cast on his right hand removed after a visit to a local hand specialist on Monday, but his status for the playoffs is still uncertain.
The problem in facing the Steelers is you’re going to get a battle as long as Ben Roethlisberger is alive and has at least one leg to throw from.
BC: “The Steelers have a big play defense”.
“It isn’t about the schemes”, cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick said. “You’re going to have to do your best, throw out all of the records, throw out where you are playing”. He’s a great competitor.
Cincinnati’s defence can get pressure on Roethlisberger from up the middle or around the corners.
It’s the third meeting of the season between the Steelers and the Bengals. Roethlisberger’s longest completion in the first game went for only 25 yards.
“That’s the game”, Bengals defensive backs coach Vance Joseph said.
While being unsure of who will start at QB in a few days for a major game isn’t ideal, it will definitely keep the Steelers defense on their toes, forcing them to be ready for either opponent. Middle linebacker Vontaze Burfict lost his cool during the game on December 13, getting involved in a pregame altercation with Steelers players at midfield.
Burfict is finally in form after missing the first six games while recovering from knee surgery. Like we do in all instances, we will let practice participation be our guide in terms of what to expect from him. “He’s the spark of this defence”.
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“We did some really good things, obviously the things that kill us are turnovers”, Ben said. You see No. 55 running around all over the field, making plays. “He’s done well. Still, Andy Dalton is the Bengals’ quarterback and if he is healthy with work behind him, he will play”. That the two rivals will meet each other in the first round of the playoffs means that there are sure to be fireworks. The Franklin Lakes native was signed to the Falcons’ practice squad in September after being waived by Buffalo. He was evaluated for a concussion and sore back after Sunday’s game.
