THE BOTTOM LINE
The thing about a game between the orange-and-black and the black-and-gold is it always seems to be black-and-white.
For years the Bengals have fallen victim to the Steelers great offensive lines and been buried in a slew of 100-yard rush games. But this year, while Pittsburgh re-tools up front, the investments the Bengals have poured into their defensive line are paying off in allowing 3.4 yards per carry.
And, in the past three years in the NFL, no one has gotten to the quarterback more and created as much havoc when they get there than the Steelers. As the Bengals try to figure out how to protect Burrow (nine sacks and 16 hits in the first two games), they are offering new matchups in protection they hope re-set the rivalry.
As intriguing as 10-year right tackle Riley Reiff's battle with Watt would have been, it doesn't beat what is shaping up to be rookie right guard Jackson Carman's first NFL start against the Steelers' brilliant defensive tackle Cam Heyward. Carman won't go if Xavier Su'a-Filo (knee) can, but Su'a-Filo is listed as doubtful after not practicing this week.
If there is anything that has defined the Steelers' domination of the Bengals during the previous decade, it wasn't Ben, Le'Veon Bell and Antonio Brown. It was the Bengals' inability to find an answer for the Steelers defensive tackles, Heyward and Stephon Tuitt. Tuitt is on injured reserve and due to come off next week. Heyward is very healthy and brings in 9.5 sacks in 19 games against the Bengals.
But also remember this. The last time Bengals offensive line coach Frank Pollack came into Heinz with running back Joe Mixon in the wide zone, Mixon clicked off a 105-yard game in just 13 carries.
The Steelers also have a force at running back in first-round pick Najee Harris, a 230-pound load who looks to be a worthy heir to the 100-yard backs that have bedeviled the Bengals in the rivalry.
But when has a Bengals defensive line gone into a Steelers game with enough momentum like this to get an edge on the Steelers offensive line? Maybe back in the day with Geno, Dunlap and Mike Johnson, but it was more like a push against the Pittsburgh Pro Bowlers.
But now the Steelers are re-building and the Bengals have been massive up front. Edge Trey Hendrickson and nose tackle D.J. Reader have never played the Steelers so there are no ghosts for them. Unblockable three technique Larry Ogunjobi has a sack of Ben, but that was when he was with the Browns.
The Bengals secondary also brings a different degree to the rivalry. Slot cornerback Mike Hilton just came over and has that Steeler toughness and savvy that he's transfused to his mates in what has been a productive spring and summer in the defensive backfield. And strong safety Vonn Bell is coming off his BellWeather hit on Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster in the Monday Night win back in December that seemed to re-arrange the series DNA.
It sure feels like a crossroads game.
"Media" - Google News
September 26, 2021 at 04:28PM
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Media Roundtable: Bengals-Steelers In A Game of Preserve And Protect - Bengals.com
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