Where: Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati (synthetic, outdoors)
When: Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET (NBC)
Spread: Bengals by 1.5.
Forecast: A sunny, 67-degree day is forecast to give way to temperatures in the 50s during the game; 0 percent chance of precipitation.
Records: Steelers (Overall: 2-3, AFC North 0-0); Bengals (Overall: 3-3, AFC North 1-2).
Past results: The Steelers, who lead this once-stout division matchup by a 51-32 advantage, have won eight of the 10 meetings under Mike Tomlin and four in a row. Even worse, they fill Paul Brown Stadium with fans in black and gold and all but own the Bengals’ home: the Steelers have won nine of the past 10 games played in Cincinnati, regular season and playoffs.
What matters: Which team is reeling less than the other? The Bengals have lost back-to-back games, including last weekend by double digits at previously winless Cleveland. Meantime, the Steelers have lost four consecutive road games dating back to the Denver playoff loss last January. . . and the three defeats this regular season came against teams with a combined 3-11 record against the rest of the NFL (Denver, Oakland, Tennessee). While few AFC teams have separated themselves from the pack, particularly with critical defensive injuries to Baltimore, here come two 2011 playoff teams limping into a Sunday night affair that represents the first move in a potential crawl to a North Division second-place finish. Strangely, the Bengals are playing their fourth divisional game of 2012 -- they’re done with Cleveland already -- and the Steelers are playing their first.
Who matters: Better put, who’s left? Franchise QB Ben Roethlisberger stepped on a teammate and hurt his ankle in Thursday’s practice. Running backs Rashard Mendenhall (Achilles) and Isaac Redman (ankle) were practice absentees late into the week, meaning third-teamer Baron Batch might start or carry a sizeable workload. Pro Bowl center Maurkice Pouncey (knee) and tackle Marcus Gilbert (ankle) are expected to both miss Sunday, meaning backup Doug Legursky and rookie Mike Adams would replace them. In short, the offense that must carry these modern-day Steelers will be roughly one-third comprised of backups Sunday in Cincinnati. And don’t even ask about the Troy Polamalu-less offense that, due to his calf tear, has been reduced to suspect at best.
Key matchups: The way cornerback Ike Taylor has fared thus far, second-year receiver A.J. Green looks like a horrendous mismatch. Compared to his five-game opening stretch last season when opposing quarterbacks passed in Taylor’s direction just 14 times, completing three, Taylor already has yielded 14 completions and a 54-percent completion rate. Ancient Matt Hasselbeck proved in the last-second Titans victory 10 days earlier that QBs apparently consider Taylor an option with three alternatives, two of them good: incompletion, completion or pass-interference penalty. Another key is, Pittsburgh’s patchwork offensive line must contend with a stiff Cincinnati defensive front that historically has given the Steelers fits. The Steelers haven’t been able to muster much of a running game this season, and, man, do they need one now.
Injuries of note: Polamalu’s absence not only alters the dramatic, game-changing ability of the Steelers’ defense, it carries a statistical precedence -- they’re 11-12 without him. In his debut against the Eagles a fortnight ago after January ACL surgery, Mendenhall registered the best Steelers rushing day this season, so if he cannot play it’s an offensive hit. Without his backup, Redman, the Steelers’ running game is down to a third-team, first-year back in Batch. And that offensive line is missing a first-rounder and two-time Pro Bowler at center, Pouncey, and a second-rounder at tackle, Gilbert. Such injuries hurt.
Inside stuff: Even though he lasted only 19 snaps in the four games since the opener, Polamalu’s injury isn’t the sole reason for the change in the defense’s face. The offseason departures of defensive end Aaron Smith and inside linebacker James Farrior revealed cracks and inexperienced areas that just aren’t as solid without them. Yes, the defense has aged. But the youth hasn’t come anywhere close to replacing the level of play lost. Linebackers Lawrence Timmons and LaMarr Woodley haven’t bloomed into stars that their $100-plus million contracts beckon.
Connections: Bengals coach Marvin Lewis is from suburban Pittsburgh, having played at the same Fort Cherry High as longtime NFL coach Marty Schottenheimer. Two of his assistants, brothers Jonathan and Jay Hayes, played against him at South Fayette High. Lewis also coached with the Steelers from 1992-95. Oh, yeah, and that Dick LeBeau guy used to work in Cincinnati: He coached the Bengals from 1980-1991 and 1997-2002, including 2000-02 as their head coach.
Stats you should know: That 0-3 Steelers road record this season pretty much trumps the other numbers. Except one: With two interceptions, the Steelers are on pace to record their franchise fewest such takeaways in a regular season -- a 12-, 14- or 16-game season. . . Tomlin possesses an 8-7 record in Sunday night games.
Record watch: Heath Miller needs two more touchdowns to equal Elbie Nickel’s 37, highest for a Steelers tight end. Linebacker James Harrison with one more sack ties Joey Porter for second in that Steelers category, with 60.
Looking ahead: The Steelers return home to Heinz Field in a week, but they may well face their biggest defensive challenge in years -- Redskins quarterback Robert Griffith III. The Bengals have a bye.
Prediction: Steelers 31, Bengals 30
Follow Steelers reporter Chuck Finder on Twitter @CBSSteelers and @cfinder.
