Steelers vs. Bengals: Full Pittsburgh Game Preview

It's time to put up or shut up for the Pittsburgh Steelers as they head into Sunday's Week 14 showdown with the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium.

At 7-5, the Steelers are in the thick of the AFC wild-card race, while the Bengals appear to be on cruise control with the AFC North division title within reach.

Both teams are coming off convincing wins in Week 13. The Steelers blew out the Indianapolis Colts 45-10, and the Bengals routed the Cleveland Browns 37-3.

As each team appears to be firing on all cylinders, this matchup has all the makings of a knockdown, drag-out fight with much at stake. Should the Bengals win this matchup, they'll lock up the AFC North title and put themselves in the driver's seat for one of the top two AFC playoff seeds, guaranteeing a first-round bye.

However, should the Steelers win, the gap between the Bengals and Steelers will shrink significantly, putting all of the pressure on Cincinnati to close out the season with wins to secure the division title.

With the way the Steelers are playing on offense, the pressure might be mounting already for a Cincinnati franchise that seems to shrivel in big spots.

In what might be the game of the week, there might not be a bigger matchup all season than this week for both teams—outside of the playoffs, obviously.

Location: Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati

TV: CBS

Time: 1 p.m. ET

Week 13 Steelers Recap

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AFC North

1. Cincinnati Bengals (10-2)
2. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-5)
3. Baltimore Ravens (4-8)
4. Cleveland Browns (2-10)

In Week 13, the Pittsburgh Steelers put on an offensive fireworks show on Sunday Night Football, blowing out the Indianapolis Colts, 45-10, at Heinz Field for the second straight season.

Ben Roethlisberger threw for 364 yards and four scores, while Antonio Brown found the end zone three times, including an electrifying punt return for a score late in the fourth quarter capped off with an incredible celebration.

Martavis Bryant and Markus Wheaton also scored for the Steelers. Defensively, James Harrison finished with three sacks in a trademark turn-back-the-clock performance, and Brandon Boykin picked off a tipped pass by William Gay.

Cincinnati dominated Cleveland in every facet of the game on the way to a 37-3 win, as Andy Dalton threw for 220 yards and two scores. Jeremy Hill rushed for 98 yards and a score, while A.J. Green hauled in five passes for 128 yards and one score in the blowout win.

Cleveland gained just 273 total yards against Cincinnati, as Austin Davis was picked off once and fumbled once.

Baltimore made the trip down to Miami to take on the struggling Dolphins and dropped a close one, 15-13. Matt Schaub threw for 300 yards and a score, while rookie running back Javorius Allen hauled in 12 passes out of the backfield for 107 yards and a touchdown, but the Ravens offense just couldn't seem to figure out the Dolphins defense consistently enough to put points on the board.

Latest Steelers News and Notes

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Chris Boswell fined

It's not often that you see a kicker in the NFL receive a fine for a tackle made, but Steelers kicker Chris Boswell owes the league office $8,861 for an unnecessary roughness penalty for a tackle made on a kickoff against Indianapolis, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune Review's Chris Adamski.

Boswell was fined for the tackle he made on Indy's Quan Bray during a kick return in the Steelers' 45-10 win this past Sunday.

The tackle was made around the neck of Bray, causing his helmet to fall off. Although the form was bad and Boswell clearly deserved the fine, it's nice to see a kicker putting his body on the line in a meaningless part of the game. See what I did there?

Roethlisberger, Williams honored for individual performances

Behind 364 yards passing and four touchdowns, Ben Roethlisberger was named FedEx's Air Player of the Week, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune Review's Mark Kaboly. While Big Ben had great success through the air against Indianapolis, running back DeAngelo Williams was named FedEx's Ground Player of the Week thanks to 134 yards rushing in the win over the Colts. 

Latest Steelers Injury News

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For the first time in recent memory, the Pittsburgh Steelers' injury report is a relatively short one, as no players are listed as "out" or "questionable" heading into Sunday's game with the Bengals, according to the team website. 

As of right now, it appears that Heath Miller (ribs), William Gay (concussion) and Sean Spence (hamstring) will return to the lineup after missing all of last week's game (Miller, Spence) or part of it (Gay).

That's great news for a Steelers team that needs all hands on deck against arguably the best team in the AFC in the 10-2 Bengals.

For the Bengals, cornerback Adam Jones (foot) is listed as doubtful for Sunday's contest, along with rookie offensive tackle Jake Fisher (concussion). Cornerback Leon Hall (back), safety George Iloka (hamstring) and receiver Mario Alford (not injury related) are listed as questionable, which means that three key pieces to the Bengals secondary are listed as doubtful or questionable.

Not good for Cincinnati.

Guard Clint Boling (neck), tight end Tyler Eifert (neck), tight end Ryan Hewitt (knee), cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick (knee) and cornerback Josh Shaw (back) are listed as probable.

With a majority of Cincinnati's injuries focused in the secondary, Pittsburgh's passing attack could have another huge day if a few of the injured Bengals defensive backs are unable to go.

Key Matchups

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Steelers wide receivers vs. Bengals secondary

Injuries have played a huge part in this matchup before the game has even started. 

Adam Jones is listed as doubtful, while Leon Hall and George Iloka are listed as questionable.

That's not good news for a Bengals defense that will look to slow down the vaunted Steelers passing attack, led by Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown and Martavis Bryant.

With a large number of defensive backs appearing on Cincy's injury report, the Steelers receiving corps could have a field day against less-than-100 percent defensive backs.

If there was ever a perfect time for Brown and Bryant to put up their biggest games of the year, this week against the banged-up Bengals would be it. 

Steelers DL vs. Bengals OL

Despite a strong defensive showing last week against the Colts, Pittsburgh's defensive line was relatively quiet in the 45-10 win over Indianapolis. 

That has to change this week against Cincinnati if the Steelers want to knock off the Bengals and move to within two games of the AFC North division lead.

Cam Heyward, Stephon Tuitt and Steve McLendon must get back to their disruptive ways this week, as the Bengals offense comes in firing on all cylinders.

Matchup X-Factor

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Cody Wallace

Wallace isn't a great pass-blocker for Pittsburgh, but he's a ferocious run-blocker.

Cincinnati is strong up the middle, but it can be run on, allowing 109 yards per game (16th in the NFL).

If Wallace can get a push in the middle of the line against Geno Atkins, Domata Peko and middle linebacker Rey Maualuga, the Steelers' running game could flourish Sunday, taking some pressure off Ben Roethlisberger.

Really, it all starts with Wallace. He needs to set the tone in the running game early on.

Prediction: Steelers 34, Bengals 30

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Due in large part to a significantly banged-up secondary, the Bengals defense will have a tough time slowing down arguably the best passing offense in the league.

Antonio Brown, Martavis Bryant and Markus Wheaton all find the end zone for the second consecutive week, while Ben Roethlisberger throws for 300 yards once again without turning the football over.

Defensively, the Steelers defense once again forces a few turnovers, applies tons of pressure on Andy Dalton and forces the Bengals to look to the air to beat the Steelers.

Dalton throws a late pick to—guess who?—Brandon Boykin, and the Steelers move to just two games back in the AFC North division race with only three weeks to go.

Prediction: Steelers 34, Bengals 30