Merry Christmas!

Where are we?

A fortnight before Christmas, and it's a good time to take stock.

The schedule lets Steeler fans take a breather this weekend before the team travels to San Francisco to play the 49ers, who are 10-2 and have clinched a playoff spot already. Tomorrow, San Francisco squares off against Kevin Kolb and the Arizona Cardinals, who somehow beat the Dallas Cowboys last week.

After the Baltimore Ravens beat the 49ers 16-6 on Nov. 24, Baltimore running back Ray Rice said San Francisco's defense was "the best we've played, by far."  Presumably, then, since the Ravens had already beaten the Steelers twice, Rice meant the 49ers defense was better than Pittsburgh's.

William Gay saved the day late in the game vs. Cleveland.

Maybe, maybe not. We shall find out a week from Monday. More relevant is just what kind of team the Steelers have. Really, what can we expect from week to week?  Hard to say. The Steelers have been up and down all season. Then again, so have the Ravens ... and the Steelers are the first AFC team to reach 10 wins.

Any other AFC team would love to have 10 wins -- so, yes, we Steeler fans are spoiled and have high expectations. Maybe we're cautious about getting too excited because we're too close to this team. We see the warts.

That will cost James Harrison.

The Steelers may be without Ben Roethlisberger, Maurkice Pouncey and James Harrison when they go to San Francisco. Roethlisberger may play, but his high ankle sprain will hamper him for several weeks. High ankle sprains are notoriously problematic and slow to heal. Roethlisberger probably shouldn't play for two or three weeks, but he almost certainly will play in San Francisco. 

James Harrison may not have a choice. 

Rodney Harrison, former NFL safety now serving as a commenter on the NFL Network, whom players routinely voted as the "Dirtiest Player in the NFL" ... Rodney Harrison, of all people, says James Harrison "has to be suspended" for his hit on Colt McCoy and his history of such hits.

James Harrison's handiwork.

Rodney Harrison, who admits he was "the poster boy" for dirty play and NFL fines (having paid more than $300,000 for questionable hits during his own NFL career), says nothing short of a suspension will get James Harrison's attention and make him even think twice about adjusting his style of play.

It is entirely possible the commissioner's office will agree.

To have any chance of winning the AFC North, the Steelers must win their remaining three games: 

• at San Francisco on the evening of Monday, Dec. 19
• at home vs. St. Louis on Saturday, Dec. 24, Christmas Eve
  
• at Cleveland on New Year's Day
  

Baltimore has four games:

• at home tomorrow vs. the Colts
  
• at San Diego on Sunday, Dec. 18
• at home vs. the Browns on Christmas Eve
• at Cincinnati on New Year's Day

There you have it. Maybe San Diego and/or Cincinnati knocks off the Ravens. Maybe not. No matter. The Steelers must win the rest of their games -- regular season and post-season. 

Looking Ahead

Mike Wallace, going for paydirt.

Because the Steelers allowed that last-minute 92-yard touchdown drive against the Ravens at Heinz Field on Nov. 18, they put themselves in a position where they must win out to have any chance of winning the division.

Let's assume the Steelers win their remaining three regular-season games and enter the playoffs as a wild-card. That means they would be on a seven-game winning streak entering the playoffs and would have won 12 of 13 dating back to their 17-10 loss in Houston Oct. 2.

Entering the playoffs, then, they would need four additional wins to claim the Super Bowl trophy. Those four wins on top of the seven-game winning streak entering the playoffs would make an eleven-game winning streak and 16 wins in 17 games dating back to Oct. 2. They do that, and they deserve to win the Super Bowl -- but then, they may be facing a Green Bay squad gunning for a perfect 19-0 record. This could get interesting.

Another Ugly Win

Down but not out

Charlie Batch is better than Seneca Wallace.  But we knew that already.

Was that even NFL football last night?

Ugly game last night, but we'll take the win. It was tough to watch, and not just because some of the injuries were cringe-worthy (Ben's leg, Troy's shoulder, Colt McCoy's concussion).

It was an ugly game the Steelers almost lost, except the Browns wouldn't let the Steelers give it away. Twelve penalties (including three calls on Chris Kemoeatu) and three turnovers (two in the red zone) by the Steelers -- no flow to the game whatsoever.

You could say the Steelers were terrific on defense, or you could say the Browns are terrible on offense.  The fact is, however, the Browns nearly pulled out a victory. Cleveland may well have done so, except for James Harrison's helmet-to-facemask hit that knocked Colt McCoy out of the game (temporarily) with a concussion.

McCoy says he doesn't even remember the hit, which says all you need to know about how sharp he was afterward. No wonder McCoy then committed intentional grounding and threw a  pivotal interception -- the real question is why the Browns even allowed him back in the game. Clearly, he'd sustained "concussion-like symptoms."

Well, that's on their coaching staff, and Cleveland fans must be wondering why they can't get a better backup than Seneca Wallace.

Ugly game. Big Ben held onto the ball way too long on the play he got injured. Makes you wonder how he could not have sensed the pressure that finally descended upon him.

Besides getting the win, the best thing about this game is that it's over, the Steelers won, and they have 11 days before their next game, Monday night, Dec. 19, in San Francisco.

Send in the Clowns

Ernie Green

It's Browns vs. Steelers.  That's all that needs to be said.  

Yeah, the intensity of the rivalry has been down the past few years, if only because the Browns have been so bad, but this rivalry has deep roots.   

Let’s put this in historical context:

1966: Cleveland 41, Pittsburgh 10

 Quote from Cleveland fullback Ernie Green:
“It was like running downhill.”

It's Browns vs. Steelers, at Heinz Field, on Prime Time national television.  The Steelers must win this game.

As It Should Be

So the Bengals thought they could play with the big boys, eh?  Not so fast!

All we kept hearing out of Cincinnati after they played tough but lost to the Steelers Nov. 13 was how they proved in defeat that they could play with the Steelers, Ravens and other top-tier teams in the NFL.  Apparently not.

Antonio Brown scores on a 60-yard punt return in the second quarter vs. Cincinnati.

It's December, and it's time to step up or step aside. The Steelers stepped up and, true to form, the Bengals stepped aside, where they belong. The Bengals made way too many mistakes today and deserved to lose.

The Bengals drop to 7-5, with the Texans, Rams, Cardinals and Ravens left on their schedule.  The Rams are their only road game.

Now, the Bengals are in a dogfight with the Jets,Titans, and Broncos or Raiders (all 7-5) for a wild-card playoff spot. The Bengals still have only win this season over a team with a winning record.

Afterwords

• Let's hope Antonio Brown is okay after that wicked rib shot he took from safety Reggie Nelson in the fourth quarter. Let's hope Lamarr Woodley and Ramon Foster are healthy, too.
• The radio announcers lagged the television broadcast badly -- by about 12-15 seconds each play. Nearly every play shown on TV would be over as Bill Hillgrove would be starting the play-call on radio. At times, the TV would be starting a replay even as Hillgrove was calling the play. This was as bad as we've ever seen it. Generally, we prefer listening to the radio broadcast, but this was ridiculous and totally unnecessary. Blame Janet Jackson.
• In other games, can you believe Tim Tebow? Good for him. As it stands now, the Steelers would be going to Denver for a first-round playoff game. Also, can you believe the Kansas City Chiefs beat the Chicago Bears? Good for Pittsburgh's own Tyler Palko. He threw for only 157 yards but threw no interceptions and notched his first career touchdown pass on a Hail Mary -- and won.
• Next up for the Steelers: The Browns at Heinz Field, Thursday night.  Then, an 11-day break before a trip to San Francisco Dec. 19; the Rams at Heinz Field on Christmas Eve; and at Cleveland News Year's Day.  Happy New Year!

Saturday Preview: The Bengals, Again

A.J. Green hauling in a touchdown reception.

Just three weeks ago, Joey Porter's Pit Bulls offered a Saturday Preview of the Cincinnati Bengals, and here we are again. Since that Nov. 13 game vs. the Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium, the Steelers have played one game and the Bengals two.

The Steelers enjoyed a week off before Thanksgiving and more or less took the next week off, too, narrowly squeaking by the woefully inept and injury-depleted Kansas City Chiefs last Sunday night.  The Bengals played two tough games, a narrow loss at Baltimore and a narrow win at home over Cleveland.

The Bengals are gaining confidence and will be a tough game for the Steelers tomorrow.

Following their loss to the Steelers at home on Nov. 13, the Bengals were crowing about how their defense adjusted to what the Steelers were doing on offense, and how defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer's front seven rotation kept their defense fresh and their pass rush stoked.

Antonio Brown vs. Cincinnati, Nov. 13.

Think the Steelers might use more no-huddle at Heinz Field?  It would make sense. Going no-huddle or hurry-up would limit defensive replacements in the Bengals defensive rotation. Last time, the Steelers waited until the third quarter before going no-huddle. When they finally did, the no-huddle gave them a shot of energy and led to the decisive touchdown.

Looking back, it is understandable, perhaps, that Mike Tomlin and offensive coordinator Bruce Arians were reluctant to go no-huddle on the road last Sunday at noisy Arrowhead Stadium and the week before at Paul Brown Stadium, even with its healthy contingent of fans in Black 'n Gold. This time? This time the Steelers are at home. We would like to see the no-huddle early and often.

The Bengals' Offense

In the first game, running back Cedric Benson had only 15 carries. Maybe Marvin Lewis and offensive coordinator Jay Gruden outsmarted themselves by not running the ball more. Coaches do that.

Yes, the Steelers jumped to an early 14-0 lead, which forced the Bengals had to play catch-up, but they had plenty of time. Big Ben threw a first-half iinterception that helped the Bengals stay in the game, and Cincinnati tied the score with their first drive of the third quarter, so there was indeed plenty of time for them to operate.

We might see more emphasis on the run tomorrow. As noted on this blog before the first match-up, the Bengals have three very good running backs, each of whom has had success against the Steelers.  Cedric Benson, Bernard Scott and Brian Leonard can play, and Marvin Lewis would be foolish to not use them.

On the other hand, the Bengals also have some excellent receivers, starting with first-round draft choice Adriel Jeremiah Green -- A.J. Green -- who is merely awesome. With his height, wingspan, reach, hands, speed and body control, Green evokes comparisons to Detroit's Calvin Johnson, Arizona's Larry Fitzgerald and Houston's Andre Johnson. Green already is Cincinnati's best receiver, and he's only getting better, but the Bengals have several other cats who can play, too.

Andrew Hawkins

In his Tuesday news conference, Mike Tomlin singled out 25-year-old rookie Andrew Hawkins, who had a coming-out party of sorts against the Steelers, with five catches for 56 yards. Hawkins is very quick-fast, which makes him ideal for the slot receiver position he now plays. Hawkins, a native of Johnstown , Pa., played four years at the University of Toledo and two years in the Canadian Football League. He has found a home in Cincinnati, and the Steelers will have to account for him. Too bad.

Apparently, Andrew Hawkins could have been a Steeler, at least according to his older brother, Artrell Hawkins, who played defensive back for the Steelers briefly a few years ago and helped coach the Steelers secondary this past training camp as an intern.  Artrell says the Steelers had no interest in his little (5'7") brother. They'd better take an interest in him tomorrow, and Tomlin's comments in Tuesday's news conference indicate that he has their attention.

According to Bengals.com, after that first game, "The Steelers told Artrell that Troy Polamalu went to defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau and urged him, "Get us out of this fire zone (blitz) and give me something I can sit on," because of Hawkins’s speed. Then when Green went down, that package was gone because Hawkins had to go to the slot while Caldwell went to the outside."

Other Bengals receivers pose problems, too, particularly deep threat Jerome Simpson and tight end Jermaine Grisham. Possession receiver Andre Caldwell, whom we wanted the Steelers to draft a couple years ago out of the University of Florida, has hurt the Steelers before. He has good hands, a knack for getting open and is a good blocker.

So, yes, with Andy Dalton leading the way, the Bengals have plenty of firepower on offense, and defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer is excellent at getting the most out of his squad, particularly his talented and deep front seven. The Steelers had trouble handling Cincinnati's pass rush last time, when the Bengals notched five sacks. The Steelers are going to have to do better tomorrow, but they should know what to expect. 

This game is no gimme, and make no mistake: This is a must-win game.