The Pittsburgh Steelers may trail the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC North, but they have a solid chance to make up important ground on Sunday as they'll play their rivals in the first of two games this year. Cincinnati sits atop the AFC North with an 8-3-1 record, getting a healthy boost after they won in Week 13 and all three of their division rivals fell.
Steelers vs. Bengals 2014: AFC North showdown set for Sunday
The Cincinnati Bengals will try and increase their lead in the AFC North as they host the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.
It was a wasted opportunity for the Steelers, Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns, as all three teams were sitting at 7-4, just a half-game back of the Bengals. Pittsburgh, however, fell to a losing team in the New Orleans Saints, 35-32. But more than the rest of the teams in their division, the Steelers control their fate when it comes to potentially unseating the Bengals. They've got this game on Sunday, and then the Bengals again in Week 17.
Beating the Steelers here is very important for the Bengals. They also play the strong Browns and the Denver Broncos, one of the best teams in the league, in-between the two Pittsburgh games. Pittsburgh has to deal with the Atlanta Falcons and the Kansas City Chiefs.
Digits
Despite the fact that they trail in the division, the Steelers show pretty well on paper. Ben Roethlisberger leads the league's fourth-ranked passing attack, as they throw for 299.3 passing yards per game. Roethlisberger is having a great year, with a 66.7 completion percentage and 26 touchdowns against eight interceptions. But the Steelers are no slouches at running the football, either.
Le'Veon Bell may need to carry the Steelers to victory in this game, as the Bengals happen to be pretty decent at defending the pass. Cincinnati is ranked No. 14 in the league at defending the pass, but 25th in the NFL when it comes to stopping the run. They allow 125.1 rushing yards per game, while Bell is second in the NFL with 1,046 yards.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Steelers will be a tall task for the Bengals to handle. They rank in the middle of the league in passing yards allowed and 10th in the league at stopping the run. Cincinnati's offense is up to the task when it comes to running the ball, as they average 124.5 rushing yards per game, but Andy Dalton leads just the 24th-ranked passing attack in the league.
Who to Watch
Le’Veon Bell: Bell has been great this season. He’s carried the ball 216 times for 1,046 yards and three touchdowns. He’s also added 65 receptions for 643 yards and two touchdowns, so he’s a threat in two different ways. Most teams have not found an answer for him and Cincinnati’s struggling run defense will have its hands full. Bell will likely be counted on early and often to carry Pittsburgh’s offense.
A.J. Green: Having missed a few games due to injury, Green is lagging behind where he was a season ago. He has just 45 receptions for 686 yards and five touchdowns on the season. But he's been on a hot streak of late, with 127 yards against the New Orleans Saints on Nov. 16 and 121 yards against the Houston Texans in Week 12. Unfortunately, he's dealing with a minor injury, but he's expected to play the game. He's worth watching as he'll be up against Ike Taylor, and that's a matchup Green should be able to handle.
The Venue
Bengals fans always fill up Paul Brown Stadium, which opened in 2000. The stadium is generally packed, but the Steelers also show well on the road wherever they go. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Cincinnati’s home-field advantage lessened by an awful lot of yellow in the crowd on Sunday.
How to Watch
Where: Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati
When: 1 p.m. ET
TV: CBS
Announcers: Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts, Jenny Dell
Online streaming: Verizon NFL Mobile | NFL Sunday Ticket
Odds
The Bengals are 3-points favorites at home over the Steelers, with an over/under of 47, per OddsShark.
Preliminary Judgment
The SB Nation experts are conflicted on this matchup. Ryan Van Bibber, Stephen White, PFT Commenter and the OddsShark Computer pick the Steelers, and Joel Thorman, David Fucillo, Danny Kelly and Matt Ufford pick the Bengals. The full Week 14 picks can be found here.
Further Reading
For more on the Steelers, check out Behind the Steel Curtain.
To keep up on the Bengals, head over to Cincy Jungle.
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