Bengals at Steelers
THE STORY: The Cincinnati Bengals are clinging to a wild card spot in the AFC but are smack in the middle of the most difficult part of their schedule. After edging the Cleveland Browns at home last week, the Bengals now get to travel to face the Pittsburgh Steelers. Cincinnati currently trails the Baltimore Ravens and Steelers by a game in the AFC North but has already lost to each of those teams once and still has to face AFC South-leading Houston on Dec. 11. Pittsburgh has won six of its last seven but will have to finish at least one game ahead of the Ravens if it wants to win the North. The Steelers dropped both meetings with the Ravens already. Pittsburgh is getting healthy at the right time, with LB LaMarr Woodley expected back on Sunday following a three-game absence.
TV: CBS, 1 p.m. ET. LINE: Pittsburgh -6.5, O/U 42.
ABOUT THE BENGALS (7-4): After dropping back-to-back games to Pittsburgh and Baltimore, Cincinnati kept its season alive last week when rookie QB Andy Dalton brought the team back for a 23-20 triumph. The Bengals did not lead until Mike Nugent kicked a 26-yard field goal with 38 seconds left. The Cincinnati defense has given up an average of 246.2 yards passing in its last five games after surrendering just 189 in its first six. Cornerback Adam Jones did not play in the first meeting with the Steelers but is ready to go on Sunday after being limited the past two weeks.
ABOUT THE STEELERS (8-3): Pittsburgh leaned on running back Rashard Mendenhall in the first meeting and was rewarded with two rushing touchdowns. Still, the Steelers did not have the game wrapped up until they intercepted Dalton in the final minutes to seal the 24-17 victory. Pittsburgh struggled to a season-low 290 yards of total offense in a 13-9 win at Kansas City last Sunday, relying on the defense for the win. The Steelers forced four turnovers despite losing safety Troy Polamalu on the first series to a head injury. Polamalu is expected to go Sunday.
EXTRA POINTS:
1. The Steelers have taken the last three meetings between the teams.
2. Hines Ward needs nine receiving yards to become the 19th player in NFL history with 12,000 career yards.
3. The Bengals have the toughest remaining schedule among AFC wild card contenders. Their opponents’ combined records are 30-25.