Minnesota carries a four-game road winning streak into Glendale and sit atop the NFC North with co-leaders Green Bay. Dalton ended the game at 14 of 19 for a total of 220 yards. Despite this, his 1,182 rushing yards remain tops in the NFL. For the Steelers to lose this game it will most likely be because the defense didn’t have good coverage.
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Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger admits he didn’t play well when the team last faced the Cincinnati Bengals in November. I’m not suggesting that the Patriots have to blow out Houston 45-10 or we should write them off, but they certainly need to stop repeating the mistakes that plagued them the last 4 games.
An AFC North title and perhaps a first-round bye in the playoffs are within reach for the Bengals, but a loss to Pittsburgh could complicate things. It’s absurd that a 14-2 record is a must to secure home field advantage, but it’s been a unusual season with a dearth of elite teams and nearly no middle class. A 13-3 wild card team with a 7-9 division victor is a real possibility. The return of Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman sooner rather than later would certainly help assure that the Patriots’ passing game gets back on track. They are only allowing opponents an average of 16.3 points and 337.5 yards of offense per game. The AFC South picture will come into sharper focus following next week’s Texans-Colts game in Indy.
Cincinnati has dropped eight of the past 11 meetings since last sweeping this series six years ago.
During Sunday’s game, several of the Bengals players outdid themselves with their skill and victorious attitude of play. If neither Luck (kidney) or Hasselbeck can go, Indianapolis would be forced to turn to Charlie Whitehurst.
“Those are things that Cincinnati’s known for and those are things that we prepared for, but obviously, couldn’t handle it, couldn’t take care of business”, Shelton said. The Broncos are 3-0 with him under center.
They have yet to put their imprint on a playoff game. Head coach Marvin Lewis did not go as far as ruling out Jones but gave his customary “We’ll see” when asked by the local media about his status. The game against the Denver Broncos turned when Chris Harper muffed a punt. “That’s really special. It was a great day”. The Bengals are No. 1 in the National Football League in scoring defense, giving up just 16.3 points per game. No one has recovered more fumbles.
There’s no way the Broncos can turn to Peyton Manning now.
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Moats stressed the increased intensity between the clubs is directly related to Cincinnati’s rise from afterthought to perennial power, at least in the regular season. There are still major issues due to a banged up offensive line and a depleted receiving corps, but Richard Rodgers grab of Aaron Rodgers’ 61-yard heave with time expired served as the ultimate bandage. Just ask the New England Patriots after they lost to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday at home. With three of those four games in Mile High should kindle that fire even more. Pittsburgh can enhance their odds of making the postseason for the second straight season with a victory, and at the same time will ease some of the tension out of their Week 15 matchup against Denver Broncos at Heinz Field. On the season, Dalton has found Green 70 times for 1,037 yards and seven touchdowns.
