More Steelers On KDKA.com
Nov 20, 2008 8:30 am US/Eastern
Steelers Set To Battle Bengals At Heinz Field
PITTSBURGH (AP) ―
-
-
Hines Ward #86 of the Pittsburgh Steelers attempts to catch a pass during the NFL game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on Oct. 19, 2008 in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Andy Lyons/Getty Images
The NFL didn't do Bengals quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick any favors by acknowledging an officiating error cost the Pittsburgh Steelers' defense a touchdown on Sunday.
Fitzpatrick, sacked seven times during a 38-10 loss to Pittsburgh last month, says the NFL's No. 1 defense is designed to so overwhelm a quarterback that he worries about every step he takes, every pass he throws, every read he makes.
"That's their game, they try to make sure you're uncomfortable back there," Fitzpatrick said. "And with their rush, and how hard they come sometimes, it's uncomfortable."
About as uncomfortable as Fitzpatrick must feel going into Thursday night's AFC North game between the first-place Steelers (7-3) and the last-as-usual Bengals (1-8-1).
Fitzpatrick won't have his left tackle. Or his left guard. He was sacked eight times Sunday by Philadelphia.
On top of all that, he'll stare down a defense that figures to be downright angry after losing Troy Polamalu's fumble return touchdown because of confused officials.
That mistake cost bettors millions because the Steelers didn't cover the spread while beating San Diego 11-10. Fitzpatrick's worry is finding the cover to operate in the NFL's lowest-ranked offense against a defense that has allowed the fewest rushing, passing and overall yards.
No defense has finished a season atop all three categories since the 1991 Eagles.
"I think at this point that is a fair assessment," coach Mike Tomlin said when asked if Pittsburgh's defense could be labeled as a great one. "But it is an incomplete body of work. Great defenses are made in November, December and January and, hopefully, late January. Those are the true great ones."
Playoff positioning can be lost in November, as the Steelers learned a year ago this week when they lost to a one-win Jets team. Partly because of that loss, they were forced to play a wild-card game against Jacksonville they ended up losing.
With a difficult stretch against the Giants, Redskins, Colts and Chargers over, the Steelers said they can't relax - even against the Bengals - with the Patriots, Cowboys, Ravens and Titans coming up.
"They don't have anything to lose, and that makes them dangerous," linebacker James Farrior said. "They're going to pull out all the stops. This is probably one of those games where everything goes."
Still, this can't be a good situation for the quarterback of a one-win team who is down to his second and third wave of defenders.
Bengals left tackle Levi Jones (back) and left guard Andrew Whitworth (ankle) are out, which means rookie tackle Anthony Collins will make his first NFL start alongside guard Nate Livings, a practice squad player most of the last 2½ years.
"Big challenge this week for our guys up front, across the board," coach Marvin Lewis said. "That's going to be important for our offensive group, that we do a better job in protection than we did in the earlier game and give our quarterback an opportunity and let the guys down the field work."
It will be cold, too, with a game time temperature of around 30 and a chance of snow flurries, and that won't make it any easier for Fitzpatrick to throw to Chad Ocho Cinco and T.J. Houshmandzadeh.
There's also a fatigue factor, with the Bengals having only three days off since playing four quarters and an overtime period in tying Philadelphia 13-all on Sunday.
Not that the Steelers don't have offensive worries of their own. They haven't scored a touchdown in nearly seven quarters, and they couldn't get into the end zone against San Diego despite having a 300-yard passer, a 100-yard rusher and a 100-yard receiver.
Ben Roethlisberger denies his sore shoulder kept him from throwing deep against the Chargers, who led 10-8 until Jeff Reed kicked a 32-yard field goal with 11 seconds remaining.
"Earlier in the year it was like, `Ben isn't smart enough, he's not taking the underneath stuff, he's not taking what the defense is giving him,"' said Roethlisberger, who was turnover free against San Diego after throwing eight interceptions in his previous three games. "Now I'm doing it and they're like, `Why isn't he taking chances?"'
That raises this question: Why didn't the Steelers get more out of those 410 yards they gained against San Diego?
One reason was their 115 penalty yards, which wiped out one touchdown. Also, Mewelde Moore was stopped short of the goal line on a fourth-and-inches situation, causing Tomlin to use Gary Russell as his third-down back during the second half.
That offensive inconsistency - first it was turnovers, now it's penalties - means the Steelers can't afford a letdown, despite beating the Bengals four consecutive times and 13 out of 17.
"It's November football," Farrior said. "It's getting down to the end. All games are going to be big from here on out."
(© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
Steelers Black & Gold FANatics '09
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
