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CINCINNATI
First Half Results
PITTSBURGH |
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22.5
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Final
27 |
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| 331 | CINCINNATI | -1.5 | | 332 | PITTSBURGH | 21.5 |
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| All Games | 9-4 | +4.5 | 8-4 | 7-5 | 25.7 | 12.2 | 368.8 | (5.6) | 1.8 | 18.8 | 9.2 | 320.5 | (5) | 1.8 | | Road Games | 3-4 | -1.9 | 2-4 | 3-3 | 19.3 | 8.3 | 384.7 | (5.6) | 2.1 | 20.1 | 10.1 | 326.1 | (5) | 1.3 | | Last 3 Games | 3-0 | +3 | 3-0 | 2-1 | 33.3 | 17.3 | 336.0 | (5.3) | 1.3 | 19.3 | 6.7 | 351.0 | (5.4) | 2.3 | | Grass Games | 1-3 | -3.1 | 1-2 | 1-2 | 16.0 | 6.7 | 356.2 | (5.4) | 2.7 | 18.2 | 8.5 | 334.5 | (5.4) | 1.2 | | Division Games | 2-2 | -0.6 | 2-2 | 1-3 | 21.0 | 11.0 | 315.2 | (4.5) | 1.7 | 16.7 | 11.7 | 283.2 | (4.3) | 2.2 |
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| Offense (All Games) | 25.7 | 12.2 | 20.5 | 32:34 | 30-116 | (3.8) | 22-36 | 62.0% | 253 | (7) | 66-369 | (5.6) | (14.4) | | Opponents Defensive Avg. | 24.1 | 12 | 19.8 | 30:25 | 28-115 | (4.2) | 21-35 | 59.8% | 237 | (6.7) | 63-352 | (5.6) | (14.6) | | Offense Road Games | 19.3 | 8.3 | 20.9 | 33:20 | 29-114 | (3.9) | 24-39 | 61.2% | 271 | (6.9) | 69-385 | (5.6) | (19.9) | | Defense (All Games) | 18.8 | 9.2 | 18.2 | 29:27 | 24-98 | (4) | 23-39 | 58.4% | 222 | (5.6) | 64-321 | (5) | (17.1) | | Opponents Offensive Avg. | 22.9 | 11.1 | 20.1 | 30:14 | 26-106 | (4) | 23-37 | 60.4% | 249 | (6.6) | 64-355 | (5.6) | (15.5) | | Defense Road Games | 20.1 | 10.1 | 18.4 | 30:24 | 28-101 | (3.6) | 22-36 | 61.2% | 225 | (6.2) | 65-326 | (5) | (16.2) |
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| Stats For (All Games) | 1.2 | 0.6 | 1.8 | -0.1 | 14-6 | 39.7% | 1-1 | 57.1% | 2-56 | (24.1) | 3-28 | (9) | 6-63 | | Opponents Avg. Stats Against | 0.9 | 0.5 | 1.4 | 1.8 | 14-5 | 38.4% | 1-0 | 51.3% | 3-63 | (23.1) | 21-2 | (9.9) | 6-54 | | Stats For (Road Games) | 1.6 | 0.6 | 2.1 | -0.9 | 15-6 | 41.3% | 1-1 | 60.0% | 2-49 | (20.4) | 3-27 | (8.9) | 6-66 | | Stats Against (All Games) | 1.0 | 0.8 | 1.8 | | 15-5 | 35.6% | 1-0 | 30.0% | 3-67 | (22.4) | 2-12 | (6.6) | 4-44 | | Opponents Avg. Stats For | 1.1 | 0.6 | 1.7 | | 14-5 | 38.0% | 1-0 | 45.2% | 3-60 | (23.1) | 22-2 | (10.4) | 6-51 | | Stats Against (Road Games) | 0.6 | 0.7 | 1.3 | | 16-7 | 43.2% | 0-0 | 66.7% | 2-55 | (23.9) | 2-5 | (3.3) | 5-47 |
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| All Games | 5-8 | -5.2 | 6-7 | 6-7 | 22.4 | 8.8 | 344.3 | (5.6) | 1.5 | 24.0 | 13.2 | 342.0 | (5.5) | 1.2 | | Home Games | 3-3 | -1.5 | 3-3 | 3-3 | 23.2 | 9.8 | 341.7 | (5.7) | 1.7 | 23.8 | 12.8 | 302.0 | (4.9) | 0.8 | | Last 3 Games | 1-2 | -1.3 | 2-1 | 2-1 | 25.0 | 6.7 | 347.7 | (5.5) | 0.3 | 22.3 | 7.7 | 346.0 | (5.6) | 1.7 | | Grass Games | 4-5 | -3.2 | 4-5 | 4-5 | 23.4 | 9.4 | 340.2 | (5.5) | 1.6 | 23.2 | 13.4 | 316.8 | (5.2) | 1.3 | | Division Games | 2-2 | +0.2 | 3-1 | 1-3 | 19.0 | 8.2 | 298.7 | (5.1) | 0.7 | 17.2 | 7.2 | 343.0 | (5.1) | 1.0 |
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| Offense (All Games) | 22.4 | 8.8 | 19.6 | 31:12 | 23-77 | (3.4) | 25-39 | 64.1% | 267 | (6.9) | 62-344 | (5.6) | (15.4) | | Opponents Defensive Avg. | 24 | 11.5 | 19.7 | 31:46 | 28-112 | (4.1) | 22-36 | 59.9% | 238 | (6.6) | 64-350 | (5.5) | (14.6) | | Offense Home Games | 23.2 | 9.8 | 18.5 | 30:40 | 24-85 | (3.5) | 22-35 | 63.5% | 256 | (7.3) | 59-342 | (5.7) | (14.7) | | Defense (All Games) | 24.0 | 13.2 | 18.7 | 28:48 | 28-120 | (4.3) | 20-34 | 58.4% | 222 | (6.5) | 62-342 | (5.5) | (14.2) | | Opponents Offensive Avg. | 22.9 | 11.3 | 19.4 | 30:11 | 27-111 | (4.1) | 22-36 | 59.5% | 234 | (6.4) | 64-345 | (5.4) | (15.1) | | Defense Home Games | 23.8 | 12.8 | 17.7 | 29:20 | 28-114 | (4.1) | 19-34 | 57.4% | 188 | (5.6) | 61-302 | (4.9) | (12.7) |
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| Stats For (All Games) | 0.8 | 0.7 | 1.5 | -0.3 | 14-6 | 39.7% | 1-0 | 45.5% | 3-63 | (22.3) | 2-21 | (10.8) | 5-45 | | Opponents Avg. Stats Against | 0.9 | 0.6 | 1.5 | 1.9 | 14-5 | 37.3% | 1-0 | 52.4% | 2-57 | (22.9) | 22-2 | (9.4) | 6-54 | | Stats For (Home Games) | 0.7 | 1.0 | 1.7 | -0.8 | 14-6 | 41.9% | 1-0 | 60.0% | 3-58 | (21.7) | 2-21 | (9.8) | 6-47 | | Stats Against (All Games) | 0.6 | 0.5 | 1.2 | | 14-6 | 40.1% | 1-0 | 50.0% | 3-71 | (20.9) | 3-21 | (8.5) | 6-48 | | Opponents Avg. Stats For | 1.1 | 0.6 | 1.7 | | 14-5 | 37.6% | 1-0 | 49.1% | 3-66 | (24.1) | 24-2 | (10.6) | 6-54 | | Stats Against (Home Games) | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.8 | | 15-5 | 37.5% | 1-1 | 62.5% | 3-58 | (18.3) | 3-21 | (7.4) | 6-44 |
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| | Average power rating of opponents played: CINCINNATI 19.2, PITTSBURGH 19.2 |
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| 10/20/2013 | @ DETROIT | 27-24 | W | 2.5 | W | 45.5 | O | 18-57 | 24-34-364 | 0 | 25-77 | 28-51-357 | 0 | | 10/27/2013 | NY JETS | 49-9 | W | -6.5 | W | 40.5 | O | 25-79 | 19-30-323 | 1 | 24-93 | 23-37-147 | 2 | | 10/31/2013 | @ MIAMI | 20-22 | L | -3 | L | 42 | P | 35-163 | 32-53-302 | 4 | 30-157 | 20-28-188 | 1 | | 11/10/2013 | @ BALTIMORE | 17-20 | L | 2 | L | 43.5 | U | 31-120 | 24-51-244 | 3 | 30-85 | 20-36-104 | 3 | | 11/17/2013 | CLEVELAND | 41-20 | W | -4.5 | W | 40 | O | 31-106 | 14-28-118 | 2 | 19-102 | 27-56-228 | 4 | | 12/1/2013 | @ SAN DIEGO | 17-10 | W | -2.5 | W | 48.5 | U | 38-164 | 14-23-190 | 2 | 24-91 | 23-37-243 | 3 | | 12/8/2013 | INDIANAPOLIS | 42-28 | W | -7.5 | W | 43.5 | O | 35-155 | 24-35-275 | 0 | 12-63 | 29-46-326 | 0 | | 12/15/2013 | @ PITTSBURGH | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 12/22/2013 | MINNESOTA | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 12/29/2013 | BALTIMORE | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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| 10/20/2013 | BALTIMORE | 19-16 | W | -2.5 | W | 40.5 | U | 29-141 | 17-23-145 | 1 | 26-82 | 24-34-205 | 0 | | 10/27/2013 | @ OAKLAND | 18-21 | L | -2.5 | L | 40 | U | 19-35 | 29-45-241 | 2 | 38-197 | 10-19-82 | 3 | | 11/3/2013 | @ NEW ENGLAND | 31-55 | L | 5.5 | L | 42.5 | O | 20-108 | 28-48-371 | 3 | 35-197 | 23-33-413 | 1 | | 11/10/2013 | BUFFALO | 23-10 | W | -2.5 | W | 43 | U | 33-136 | 18-30-164 | 1 | 22-95 | 22-39-132 | 1 | | 11/17/2013 | DETROIT | 37-27 | W | 3 | W | 45 | O | 27-40 | 29-45-358 | 0 | 25-107 | 19-46-344 | 3 | | 11/24/2013 | @ CLEVELAND | 27-11 | W | 2.5 | W | 40 | U | 34-85 | 22-34-217 | 0 | 16-55 | 27-52-312 | 4 | | 11/28/2013 | @ BALTIMORE | 20-22 | L | 3 | W | 40 | O | 18-72 | 28-44-257 | 0 | 25-74 | 24-35-237 | 0 | | 12/8/2013 | MIAMI | 28-34 | L | -3 | L | 41 | O | 21-84 | 23-39-328 | 1 | 24-181 | 20-33-179 | 1 | | 12/15/2013 | CINCINNATI | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 12/22/2013 | @ GREEN BAY | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 12/29/2013 | CLEVELAND | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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| |  | CINCINNATI: The Bengals have grown into offensive coordinator Jay Gruden's zone-blocking scheme nicely. Their offensive line, one of the NFL's best, should continue to improve this season. BenJarvus Green-Ellis should continue to take the majority of the work on first and second down. Rookie Giovani Bernard will be a change-of-pace and passing down back, although he could end up sharing that role with fellow rookie Rex Burkhead, who's considered to be more advanced in pass protection.
Gruden runs a West Coast offense, but it's a passing game that attacks downfield much more aggressively than most WCOs. Andy Dalton is a shaky decision maker with accuracy that comes and goes, but his willingness to let A.J. Green make plays in traffic is what makes this offense go. Green does most of his work on the perimeter and deep. The second read is usually slot receiver Andrew Hawkins, and they run some designed plays to get TE Jermaine Gresham the ball. Their No. 2 receiver is rarely used, and Bernard figures to be the only back that does more than pass protect. The Bengals were balanced in the red zone last year, including a 50/50 run/pass split in goal-to-go situations.
This underrated defense placed sixth in the NFL in total defense (320 YPG allowed) and ranked third in the league with 51 sacks, thanks to DT Geno Atkins (12.5 sacks) and DE Michael Johnson (11.5 sacks). In the second half of 2012, the Bengals allowed a paltry 12.8 PPG with 19 forced turnovers and three defensive touchdowns. New OLB James Harrison is familiar with AFC North opponents, and will help groom young LBs Vontaze Burfict and Rey Maualuga. The strong front seven allows the secondary to go after the football, collecting nearly as many INT (14) as TD passes allowed (16) last year. | | PITTSBURGH: The Steelers remained pass-heavy under offensive coordinator Todd Haley last year, running out of a lot of spread looks. They essentially use the pass to set up the run, with the backs running almost exclusively between the tackles. They'll rotate backs again this year, with rookie Le'Veon Bell likely to emerge as a lead back. Jonathan Dwyer is less versatile than Bell and could be on his way out of Pittsburgh. Isaac Redman and LaRod Stephens-Howling figure to split passing-down duties in the early going, though Stephens-Howling could end up taking the role full-time at some point.
Haley brought more spread looks to Pittsburgh's offense. They go no-huddle frequently, with Ben Roethlisberger trusted to run the offense. Antonio Brown is now their undisputed No. 1 receiver, with the ability to be used deep or as a catch-and-run guy. Emmanuel Sanders is more of a possession receiver and will likely share No. 2 targets with TE Heath Miller. Jerricho Cotchery should see solid playing time as their slot guy, and while rookie Markus Wheaton will be eased in, he should end up seeing significant snaps as their best deep threat. Only the Saints skewed more pass-heavy in goal-to-go situations than Pittsburgh (64.6% of snaps).
Despite a host of injuries in 2012, the Steelers still led the NFL in yardage defense (276 YPG) and passing defense (185 YPG), while finishing sixth in scoring defense (19.6 PPG). Rookie OLB Jarvis Jones makes the team younger and faster, as does CB Cortez Allen, 24, replacing the departed Keenan Lewis. Pittsburgh still has plenty of productive veterans though, like 32-year-old S Troy Polamalu and DE Brett Keisel, 34. Per usual, the team's linebackers are relentless, with OLB LaMarr Woodley and ILB Lawrence Timmons. |
| | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PA SPORTSTICKER PRO FOOTBALL PREVIEW (CINCINNATI-PITTSBURGH) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Bengals-Steelers Preview* ==========================
By ELI KABERON STATS Writer
The Cincinnati Bengals are on the cusp of something that hasn't happened in the team's 46-year history. They've been to the playoffs before, sure, but it's never become a trend.
The Bengals have a chance to earn a postseason berth for a third consecutive season - with a little help - when they face the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday night.
A win over the Steelers and a loss or tie by either Baltimore or Miami will put Cincinnati in the playoffs in three straight years for the first time. If it's the Ravens who lose or tie while the Bengals win, the AFC North title is theirs.
"We're on a roll," linebacker Rey Maualuga said. "At the beginning of the year, we had three goals. We wanted to be undefeated at home, win the AFC North and eventually be world champions."
Before they can look ahead, though, the Bengals need to take care of business under the lights in Pittsburgh.
Cincinnati (9-4) has won three straight, two with an offensive outburst and one behind a stellar effort on the defensive side. The Bengals beat Cleveland and Indianapolis by a combined 83-48 score. In between, they shut the Chargers down in a 17-10 win at San Diego.
Andy Dalton is currently enjoying the highest passer rating of his career, a still-modest 87.7, while the running-back tandem of BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Giovani Bernard has been causing fits for the opposition. They've combined for 1,282 yards on the ground and 10 touchdowns, while Bernard also has three receiving scores.
The Bengals' 160 passing first downs and their 86 rushing both rank in the top-half of the NFL, while the team's 25.7 points per game is tied for ninth.
Cincinnati has also thrived behind one of the NFL's top pass rushes. Though no player has more than seven sacks, 12 have recorded at least one and three have six or more quarterback takedowns.
That should be a concern for the Steelers (5-8), who have had trouble this season protecting Ben Roethlisberger.
Due to various injuries on the offensive line, Pittsburgh's blocking has been substandard, with Roethlisberger absorbing 39 sacks - tied for third most in the NFL. The Bengals took the two-time Super Bowl winner down twice in a 20-10 home win Sept. 16.
Bernard scored twice for Cincinnati in that one, while Roethlisberger went 20 of 37 with a touchdown and an interception to post his second-worst rating (73.1) of 2013.
"We didn't win the first game against these guys," said Pittsburgh receiver Jerricho Cotchery. "We are going to be up for the challenge. Guys are going to be ready to play."
The Steelers are coming off a pair of losses in which the most memorable moments involved crossing the sideline.
They fell to the Ravens 22-20 on Thanksgiving in a game best remembered for coach Mike Tomlin overstepping the sideline, entering the field of play and interfering with Baltimore kick returner Jacoby Jones - a gaffe which cost Tomlin a $100,000 fine.
Last Sunday, wide receiver Antonio Brown also overstepped the sideline, but he left the field of play when he narrowly stepped out of bounds on a last-second reception that would have won the game. Instead, the Steelers lost to the Dolphins 34-28.
The frustrating losses, and the unlikely chances of them making the playoffs, haven't distracted the Steelers as they prepare for a chance to play spoiler.
According to Tomlin, the team is "putting together a plan that is geared toward defeating the Cincinnati Bengals."
Roethlisberger has played well of late despite the team's struggles. In the last four games, the quarterback has completed 63.0 percent of his passes, throwing 11 touchdowns and, more importantly, no interceptions. He has a 14-6 career record against the Bengals.
"We know what's at stake," said Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell. "Guys just have to be ready. We have to be ready for it."
History doesn't matter much to the Bengals, who hold a two-game lead over Baltimore in the division and have a lot left to play for in the coming weeks. Beyond their third straight playoff berth and a division crown, a first-round bye is also within reach.
"We've just got to take care of our business and we'll be all right," Bengals cornerback Adam Jones told the team's official web site. "If we just win out we'll be OK. That's all we've got to do: win out and let everything else take care of itself."
Game Notes: |
| | Last Updated: 5/16/2024 11:46:31 PM EST. |
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