Bengals vs. Steelers: Cincinnati Grades, Notes and Quotes

For the first time in franchise history, the Cincinnati Bengals boast a 7-0 record after a Week 8 16-10 victory against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

In what might have been the team's ugliest game of the season, Andy Dalton and the Bengals found a way to overcome a poor performance late, putting down an AFC North rival and taking command of the division.

Cincinnati entered the final frame down four points, but timely interceptions from an exceptional defense—led by the returning Vontaze Burfict—and one key offensive drive sealed the deal.

Let's take a look at the immediate grades, notes and quotes before the team begins a quick turnaround for an encounter with the Cleveland Browns on Thursday Night Football.

Position Grades for Bengals

Don Wright/Associated Press

It was a mixed day for the Bengals from a grades standpoint.

Position	Grade
QB	C
RB	B
WR	B
TE	B
OL	D
DL	A
LB	B
DB	B
Special Teams	B
Coaching	D

Unlike the first six games of the season, Sunday wasn't a case of Dalton overcoming his opponent and those around him.

Instead, Dalton struggled in the face of consistent pressure, tossing balls that resulted in two picks and getting several of his players into rough, big-hit situations. He struggled, but it goes hand-in-hand with the putrid play of the offensive line, which let up three sacks.

Despite this, the Bengals found a way to put together a late scoring drive for the win. A.J. Green was the standout overall with 11 grabs for 118 yards and the score.

The defense is what kept the Bengals in the game. Adam Jones and the secondary helped pick off three passes and stifle a prolific passing attack, and Burfict was all over the field making an impact.

Perhaps the biggest issue of the day was coaching. Once again, a Marvin Lewis-led team struggled despite coming off of a bye week. The offensive calls were especially questionable, including a bunched route that created too much traffic in the end zone on Dalton's second interception.

Don't forget the abandonment of the run, either. Regardless, the Bengals have plenty to work on during a short week.

Vontaze Burfict Returns

Don Wright/Associated Press

Vontaze Burfict was all over the field Sunday.

Burfict returned for the Bengals Sunday right away.

Literally. Burfict made the tackle on the team's first defensive snap of the game.

This wasn't hard to see coming, but it was a sight for sore eyes. Burfict is one of the league's best linebackers, and his presence on the field helped keep the Pittsburgh ground game in check outside of one big run. It also made it harder for the Steelers to exploit mismatches.

There's no question the Cincinnati defense missed Burfict, who can cover the gaps left in the defense by the line's consistent push upfield to pressure the quarterback. Burfict just helped show what a healthy Bengals defense can do.

Rey Maualuga, Andre Smith, Carlos Dunlap Depart

No team emerges unscathed when the Bengals and Steelers collide.

For the Steelers, it was losing running back Le'Veon Bell for the game, per the team's Twitter account.

Cincinnati also suffered losses of unknown severity. Linebacker Rey Maualuga left the game with a calf issue and Vincent Rey filled his role, offensive tackle Andre Smith took a nasty hit on an interception return and left and Carlos Dunlap landed awkwardly on his shoulder and also left.

Again, this is a known part of the rivalry. The Bengals have the depth at all three positions to compensate, although on a short week ushering in new faces if the starters cannot go could cause a problem.  

Bengals Make History

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

No Bengals team has made it to 7-0 until now.

It wasn't pretty, but the Bengals now have a 7-0 record for the first time.

Sunday was another reminder that those beating their chest about how this Bengals team might be different than the others look spot on.

Take Mike Freeman, for example, "Those of you who don't want to give Bengals any credit, you're making a mistake. This is a different Bengals group."

This was evident enough after the team's comeback victory against the Seattle Seahawks, but one has to only do a simple Twitter search to see how many expected the Bengals to finish out a close game in Pittsburgh.

Now the Bengals have done something no other team in their existence has, and that might not be the last time that gets said this year if things keep going at this pace.

Marvin Lewis Adds Perspective to Team's Accomplishment

Don Wright/Associated Press

Now Marvin Lewis must keep the team motivated.

Lewis and his staff might not have put on the best performance Sunday when it came to some of the calls and decisions, but he's earned just as much a right to celebrate as anyone else.

After the victory, ESPN.com's Coley Harvey provided a look at Lewis' reaction to the 7-0 start: "Marvin Lewis asked if he can put into perspective this 3 1/2-game lead on the AFC North. He says he really can't since his team has never been here before (includes 7-0 in that)."

Even for Lewis, one of the league's longest-tenured coaches, this is new territory he'll have to lead the team through.

So far, so good with the remain-calm approach, a byproduct of one of the league's most healthy and consistent teams in terms of personnel.

Dre Kirkpatrick: "I'm on Cloud 9."

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

Dre Kirkpatrick struggled at times, but provided great context after the win.

Cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick stands as a shining example of the players buying into Lewis' approach this season when it comes to remaining calm no matter the situation.

Harvey caught up with the cornerback, who took a brief moment to celebrate before getting back to his coach's desired business-like manner: "Walked up to Dre Kirkpatrick in the Bengals' locker room. Asked him what 7-0 meant. He stands on the chair at his locker and says, 'I'm up here! I'm on Cloud 9. That's what it means.' Also reiterated importance of focusing on Cleveland quickly."

This is exactly what Lewis wants from his players. Kirkpatrick didn't have the greatest game, he lost some teammates to injury and still won while going down in franchise history.

Yet there he was after it all, eyes on the goal.

"We're the Bengals of the New."

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

A.J. Green carried the team and summed up things perfectly after.

Both Lewis and Kirkpatrick's reactions say a lot, but perhaps nobody put it better than Green. 

Green exemplified how much the team believes in the narrative around itself, per Joe Danneman of Fox 19: "Lap with A.J. Green on @700wlw on physicality: 'We're the Bengals of the new. We're going to keep punching until someone gets knocked out.'"

It's hard to argue with the culmination of this franchise's long building process over the years. Lewis and the front office have kept this group of players together for wins such as Sunday's, not to mention undefeated starts and aspirations for more. 

These Bengals look new, all right, and they have another chance to drive the point home and move to 8-0 with a win on a short turnaround.

Stats courtesy of NFL.com. All advanced metrics courtesy of Pro Football Focus.