3 reasons the Bengals can beat the Steelers
It?s unlikely, but the Cincinnati Bengals could take down the Pittsburgh Steelers in their Monday night showdown. The Steelers are the better team, the better primetime team and they?ve beaten the Bengals even when Cincinnati had the better roster. So what are the reasons the Bengals could come away victorious and keep their playoff hopes alive?
It?s unlikely, but the Cincinnati Bengals could take down the Pittsburgh Steelers in their Monday night showdown. The Steelers are the better team, the better primetime team and they?ve beaten the Bengals even when Cincinnati had the better roster. So what are the reasons the Bengals could come away victorious and keep their playoff hopes alive?
- Andy Dalton has finally settled down and has started to limit his mistakes. Since Bill Lazor took over as offensive coordinator, the Bengals quarterback has 18 touchdowns and just four interceptions. More importantly, he?s stopped making wildly inaccurate throws in recent games and had his best game throwing the ball downfield a couple weeks ago in Denver. If he continues to play under control and not unravel under the pressure of playing in primetime against a team that has his number, his teammates might be able to do the rest.
- Joe Mixon and the running game finally looked good. Fans know Mixon has been doing his part, but the Bengals? offensive line actually got push upfront last week against the Cleveland Browns, a very good team against the run. This offered hope that the new parts on the line may be jelling, as they looked more in sync, allowing Mixon to top 100 yards rushing for the first time in his short career.
- Cincinnati?s secondary covers Antonio Brown as well as possible. Previously, Adam Jones was the man to shut down the Steelers? All-Pro wide receiver.
But those duties appear to have been handed down to William Jackson III, who kept Brown to zero catches on four targets in the Bengals? first matchup against the Steelers this year.
