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| Will Burfict control his emotions today? |
If the Bengals win this game? The experts will talk about a 3-game winning streak and how Who Dey is alive...
If the Bengals lose this game?
Start planning vacation.
The Steelers have found their groove, after Le'Veon Bell hit Buffalo for 230+ last week in a win.
Pittsburgh sits atop the Division at 8-5, & with a win will stay on top of the AFC North.
The Bengals are 5-7-1 & need every win, especially against the divisional opponents, to have any type of chance at a playoff berth. 8-7-1 could still get them the divisional title, depending on how things play out.
Cincinnati could still win the division, but they will have to (1) Beat the Steelers today, (2) beat the Ravens next time they meet & (3) hope for some losses from the Steelers and Ravens as well.
After falling to 3-7-1, the Bengals have also found a rhythm, as Tyler Eifert, Jeremy Hill, and Andy Dalton have stepped up. Eifert was hurt starting the season, but seems to have found his stride.
Dalton will need to step it up another level to get this team to the playoffs.
And quite franky, it's time.
Dalton, has to show that he is the unquestioned leader of the offense. Now.
Book it.
Where you say?
Will depend on the end of this season and how Dalton plays.
Too many times you see the confused look on Dalton's face, primarily after the losses. But it's time for him to carry the load, as opposed to riding the stars coat tails.
Dalton has had some very good seasons to date, Pro Bowl seasons to be exact - but in order to push himself into the "Elite Status" he so desperately wants, he needs to rally his troops and get them to a playoff berth, starting with a win today.
Star WR A.J. Green will play today, coming back from his injury, and that should help Dalton tremendously.
The defense have been playing well all season, and they are expecting that this will be a war. Flat out.
Which brings it back to the O.
Can Dalton get it done today on the biggest stage of the season?
The blood between these 2 teams is already on boil, so let's get ready to rumble.
Last year these two teams had the wildest game to date as Big Ben drove his squad the length of the field in less than 2 min to snatch a playoff win from the Bengals and continue the running joke of Marvin Lewis' inability to win a playoff game, as the Bengals slid to 0-7 under his helm.
To me? The QB must make it happen today.
Can Dalton lead his troops to a "Playoff Atmosphere" type of win and keep the momentum rolling?
Or will Big Ben continue to haunt both Ohio teams as he has done so many times in his career?
Should be a great one today.
Playoff atmosphere, 2 playoff type teams, history and tradition, horrible weather, and a real dislike for each other.
Top 10 Story lines of Bengals - Steelers game today
(1) Will Le'Veon Bell make it out of game healthy?
(2) Will there be a real team fight on the field?
(3) How much can AJ Green play?
(4) Can Bengals stop Antonio Brown?
(5) Will Bengals O-Line handle business today?
(6) Can Bengals get to Big Ben before it's too late?
(7) Will new Bengals kicker produce results?
(8) Can Marvin push the right buttons today?
(9) Will Burfict and Adam "PacMan" Jones be able to control their energy today?
(10) Can Dalton come through in the clutch?
