Time to Remind Cincy Who They Are

As a testament to the knee-jerk analysis that pervades the first few weeks of each NFL season, the Bengals are the overwhelming favorites among prognosticators to defeat the Steelers on Sunday in Paul Brown. Granted, their team had a fine game on the road against Green Bay, which also doesn't negate the fact that they played a mostly crappy game at home in Week 1 against Denver. And this is still mostly the same unit that has lost five straight to the Steelers, whether or not Pittsburgh effectively gave away its last game. That frustrating loss could provide them just a soupcon of motivation, so's you know.

Antwan Odom will be much discussed coming in, and why not? The guy has had an amazing first two games. It's been reported that he put on a staggering 30 pounds of muscle in the offseason (can we get a drug test?). That said, the Bengals pass rush has had only one sack per game come from someone other than Odom. Someone may say, "Well, the Steelers are averaging one sack per game anyway, so that's a wash." Sure, but opposing offenses are designing plays that ensure that their QBs don't hold the ball longer than a second and a half. Receiver screens, quick outs, slants - anything to keep them from seven-step drops. Naturally, the Bengals will try to emulate that, so it's imperative that LeBeau get a little more aggressive with the corners in this game. Granted, the Bengals receivers have considerably more potential at downfield big plays than those the Bears have, but unless the Steelers show that they're willing to press, teams are going to continue doing that all season long.

I wouldn't be surprised if Hines didn't put up another huge game against the Bengals - dude has 14 touchdowns in 19 games against Cincy since 2000, compared to the three Ocho has against Pittsburgh in his entire career. For however as much as the Bungles front seven has improved, their secondary is still highly suspect. Leon Hall can be beaten with regularity and Roy Williams will be out of position at least a few times in any game. The pass protection has been fairly solid so far this season. Even if it takes a little help from backs and a tight end, they can neutralize Odom. If the run blocking rises along with them, the Steelers win this going away.

For those thinking that Carson can destroy the Steelers without Polamalu, remember that the last time they met the Steelers with Troy sitting out, Carson put up the fabulous line of 17/44 with no TDs. And that's when they actually had Houshmandzadeh. This is a game where the Steelers can stomp out the upstart hopes of some one-game stalwarts in Cincy. And to restore their early season swagger, they're going to have to.