Bengals vs. Steelers: Full Cincinnati Game Preview

The Cincinnati Bengals come out of the bye week to face their biggest test to date, a Week 8 road encounter with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

It might not sound like much at surface level given the team's historic 6-0 start, but it's easy to forget these Steelers swept the Bengals last year and have managed to survive a roulette of quarterback changes after Ben Roethlisberger's injury.

Week 8, of course, figures to mark the return of Big Ben just in time.

Within, let's take a look at everything to know about the pivotal AFC North encounter, what one could consider a prove-it game for both teams.

Viewing Info

Location: Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Date: Sunday, November 1

Time: 1 p.m. ET

TV: CBS

Week 6 Results and Recap

Bill Wippert/Associated Press

AFC North Standings

Team	W	L
Bengals	6	0
Steelers	4	3
Browns	2	5
Ravens	1	6

For those who forgot thanks to the bye week, the Bengals looked solid in a Week 6 victory against the Buffalo Bills, 34-21.

There, Andy Dalton tossed three scores, and Giovani Bernard added one on the ground. Marvin Jones, Tyler Eifert and Jeremy Hill all found pay dirt through the air, yet another example of how diversified the Cincinnati offense can be against a defense capable of shutting down No. 1 options.

Things were more concerning on the defensive side of things, where the unit allowed backup EJ Manuel to throw a touchdown and LeSean McCoy to rush for 90 yards and a score on just 17 carries.

Still, Cincinnati hit the road and took down a rather potent opponent, winning a game it was supposed to. It's hard to complain, especially with the bottom two teams in the division tanking and a chance to still take down the Steelers twice, starting this week.

News and Notes

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

Vontaze Burfict Watch

It's that time again.

One of the Bengals' biggest weaknesses so far this season has been the subpar athleticism of the defense's linebackers, which opposing offenses have targeted all season. It's something that will improve in drastic fashion when Vontaze Burfict is able to take the field.

As Fox 19's Joe Danneman captured, though, things remain vague when it comes to Burfict: "Marvin Lewis on if Vontaze Burfict comes back this week: 'We'll see...he continues to be in rehab until he's not.'"

In other words, it might not be the best idea to expect Burfict this week, which is bad news. Pittsburgh won't hesitate to take advantage.

Expecting Big Ben

A major theme around the Bengals this year happens to be confidence, so it shouldn't come as a shock that some within the organization want a shot at Roethlisberger.

ESPN.com's Coley Harvey captured the thoughts of defensive coordinator Paul Guenther on the matter:

"

Asked Monday if he believed Ben Roethlisberger would play this week, Bengals DC Paul Guenther welcomed the prospect of playing the injured Steelers QB. "I wouldn't want it any other way. We're going to have to beat the Steelers with Ben Roethlisberger at QB at some point this season to get where we want to go. So why not Sunday?"

"

In reality, it might be best for the Bengals to get an encounter with Big Ben out of the way. For one, he might not be 100 percent as is. Two, it would remove much of the surprise the team might encounter by playing him later in the season.

Either way, the Bengals want Big Ben. And it sounds like they'll get him.

Big Ben's Status

By most accounts, it sounds like the Steelers will have their starting quarterback back under center this week.

"We don't have any reservations or limitations about his ability," coach Mike Tomlin said, per ESPN.com's Jeremy Fowler. "As I sit here today, we're comfortable where he is in his overall ability. We're going to need him, obviously."

In fact, the full interview suggests he probably could have went last week, but the Steelers wanted to wait for what is a much more important game this week.

In other words, the Bengals might get Big Ben as close to 100 percent as he can be. Considering the Steelers looked good without him, the Bengals have to hope their pressure can ground him.

Latest Injury News

Al Behrman/Associated Press

Player	Position	Status
Leon Hall	CB	LP
Andrew Whitworth	OT	DNP

DNP: Did not practice

LP: Limited in practice

FP: Full practice

Courtesy of Bengals.com.

Not much to see here, folks. As expected, the Bengals are mostly healthy out of a bye week, with Leon Hall and Andrew Whitworth only putting in limited work early in the week due to their veteran status.

Key Matchups

Gary Landers/Associated Press

Bengals Interior Line vs. Pittsburgh Rush

So far, Cincinnati has done a superb job of protecting Dalton this season, permitting just six sacks. It's a large part of the reason the timing of the offense has been where it needs to be and Dalton continues to take good care of the football.

With any luck, the Bengals spent the bye week figuring out how to contain Cameron Heyward (three sacks) and others on a Steelers defense that has already generated 19 sacks.

Given the fact center Russell Bodine has struggled in true tests this year, the Bengals will need to figure out a way to get the ball out quick to prevent an interior collapse. Even then, the interior linemen will need to have one of the best games of the season to keep Dalton's jersey clean.

Cincinnati Defensive Line vs. Big Ben

It's the same old thing when it comes to the Bengals and Roethlisberger: The defense cannot afford to get a hand on him and let him slip away.

Healthy or not, folks know Big Ben will make plays with his feet. Perhaps no one in the league is better at escaping pressure and pushing the ball downfield, especially if the defense comes on a blitz and leaves an area uncovered based on the timing of the rush.

With Geno Atkins looking back to his old self and Carlos Dunlap and Michael Johnson playing well on the edges, in theory this shouldn't be a problem. But it's the top matchup to watch, as Big Ben has torched the Bengals in the past no matter how talented the defensive trenches have looked.

Matchup X-Factors

Bill Wippert/Associated Press

Steelers' X-Factor of the Week: Martavis Bryant

What, expecting Antonio Brown?

When it comes down to it, Pittsburgh wideout Martavis Bryant might be the most dangerous player on the field Sunday. Bryant returned from suspension two weeks ago, and in a pair of games since, he totaled three touchdowns on just nine catches.

It's a frightening situation for a Bengals defense that has allowed chunk play after chunk play this season through the air, whether it's miscommunications, blown coverages or something else to blame.

With the defense focused on Le'Veon Bell in the backfield, containing Big Ben and Brown on the outside, not to mention Heath Miller, the Steelers might be able to hit a few big plays to Bryant down the field. One or two might decide the game outright.

Bengals' X-Factor of the Week: Jeremy Hill

It's time for the Bengals to get back to the ground-and-pound.

Make no mistake, the Bengals can hurt the Steelers through the air, especially with tight end Tyler Eifert and a third or fourth option such as Marvin Jones. But on the road in the face of a good rush, the Bengals are better served keeping things reliable on the ground.

A Hill re-emergence would also help keep what can be an elite offense with Big Ben under center at bay. Cincinnati hasn't made a secret of wanting to get back to its ball-controlling ways, and this looks like the time to do it.

If Hill can't rediscover what made his rookie year so special, the Bengals might be forced into an uncomfortable shootout in hostile territory.

Prediction: Cincinnati 27, Pittsburgh 23

Gary Wiepert/Associated Press

The Pittsburgh defense has, in a word, looked exploitable. 

Pittsburgh's secondary simply doesn't have the talent to run with the depth of Cincinnati's weapons, which means the proper game plan from offensive coordinator Hue Jackson, a quick-twitch attack that neutralizes the Pittsburgh rush, will work wonders on the road and open things up on the ground.

Make no mistake, Pittsburgh will be able to keep this one close because despite its health, the Cincinnati defense just hasn't looked great this year. Big Ben's going to wreak havoc when he breaks free, but that doesn't mean he'll be able to keep pace with a balanced Cincinnati attack.

Look for the Bengals to get back to the ground game and control this one for most of regulation.

Prediction: Cincinnati 27, Pittsburgh 23

Stats courtesy of NFL.com and are accurate as of October 28. All advanced metrics courtesy of Pro Football Focus.