Today’s game
Cincinnati Bengals (9-4) at Pittsburgh Steelers (5-8), 8:25 p.m., Ch. 2, 5, 700-AM, 1530-AM, 102.7-FM, 104.7-FM
For the Cincinnati Bengals, the only thing rarer than beating the Pittsburgh Steelers the last 10 years has been running on them.
Over a span of 18 games from 2004-2012, the Bengals rushed for 73.2 yards per contest against Pittsburgh while going 5-13. They failed to top 100 yards in 15 of those 18 games, including a dismal 14-yard effort last December at Heinz Field.
The Bengals overcame it with some great defense of their own to beat the Steelers 13-10 and clinch a playoff berth. And tonight on national television they return to the scene of that triumph nearly a year to the day with a lot more confidence in their running game.
“I think we’ve really hit our stride,” rookie running back Giovani Bernard said. “Everybody is starting to get a glimpse of what we can do together. It’s just going to continue.”
With Pro Bowl left tackle Andrew Whitworth sliding to left guard and Anthony Collins playing tackle, the newly aligned line helped the Bengals rush for 164 yards two weeks ago in San Diego, and they put up another 155 last week against Indianapolis. If they can top 150 tonight, which they haven’t done against Pittsburgh in 13 years, it would mark the first time they’ve topped 150 in three consecutive games since 1988.
“We’re clicking pretty good right now,” running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis said. “The last couple of weeks have been good for us. We’ve been able to get a running game going and have our passing game make plays for us as well.”
The Week 2 win against Pittsburgh on Monday Night Football was the first glance of what the rushing attack could be with the addition of Bernard, the first running back taken in April’s draft.
Not only did he score the first two touchdowns of his NFL career (one rushing, one receiving), Bernard teamed with Green-Ellis to finish off the 20-10 victory in smashmouth fashion as the Bengals rushed 29 times for 102 yards in the second half.
It also was a sign of things to come for the Pittsburgh defense, which enters tonight's game ranked 24th in run defense, allowing 120.2 yards per game, including 181 last week against Miami.
The Bengals are 14th in rushing offense at 115.8 yards per game, but over the last five games the average has swelled to 141.6.
“They are running the ball well,” Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin said. “The growth and development and understanding of what they have in their young runner (Bernard) has been a big part of that, along with his inclusion in the passing game.”
The passing game as a whole has flourished when the Bengals have been able to run the ball, as was the case last week against the Colts when quarterback Andy Dalton threw for 280 yards and three touchdowns and won AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors.
Conversely, Dalton’s struggles have come when the Bengals are unable to run the ball effectively.
“When you’re just throwing it over and over again, teams start to bring more and more pressure and just tee off on you,” Whitworth said. “We’re creating that scenario where it’s hard (for defenses) to know which one you want to do. Even though people say throwing is the new generation, running the football will always be the hammer in the sense that it can eliminate many defensive game plans.”
A win alone tonight will not send Cincinnati running into the playoffs, but if Miami loses or ties against New England, the Bengals would clinch a third consecutive postseason berth. And a win coupled with a Baltimore loss or tie Monday night at Detroit would make the Bengals AFC North Division champions.
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