Bengals vs. Steelers: Keys to Fight for AFC North Survival

The Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers are set to face off this Sunday in what could easily be one of the most crucial games of the entire NFL season.

7-4 Cincinnati desperately needs the divisional win in order to avoid falling out of playoff contention, while Pittsburgh could potentially surpass first-place Baltimore for the lead in the AFC North should it come out on top.

Here are the keys to Sunday's rivalry matchup.

Can Cedric Benson Keep Up the Momentum?

Running back Cedric Benson hasn't performed as the Bengals hoped he would this season, and his struggles were painfully evident in Cincinnati's Week 10 meeting with Pittsburgh.

In the rivals' last meeting, Benson rushed for just 56 yards on 15 carries and failed to find the end zone, forcing the Bengals to rely on their passing game against Pittsburgh's tenacious pass rush.

Fortunately, he will be coming into Sunday's contest riding high after a 106-yard, one-touchdown performance last week against Cleveland.

It won't be easy against Pitt's stout defense, but if Benson can keep things rolling this weekend he could take a major load off Andy Dalton and the rest of the Bengals offense.

Can Dalton Find His Touch?

Rookie quarterback Andy Dalton has had an awfully productive season for the Bengals to this point, but his Week 10 performance against the Steelers was less than impressive.

While he did manage to rack up two passing touchdowns, he also turned the ball over twice and completed just 50 percent of his passes.

Luckily for the Bengals, Dalton should be more familiar with Pittsburgh's defense this time around, and A.J. Green, who was injured in the two teams' first matchup, should be available for all four quarters unlike Week 10.

Will the Bengals' Pass Protection Hold Strong?

While Cincinnati had a tough time opening up holes for Cedric Benson and the rest of the Bengal backs in Week 10, it actually did a nice job of protecting Andy Dalton in passing situations.

Few NFL teams rush the passer as well as Pittsburgh, but Andrew Whitworth and the Bengals offensive line did not allow a single sack in their first meeting with the Steelers.

The line have to perform well once again on Sunday if the Bengals hope to pull out the W.

Can the Cincy Secondary Step It Up?

After losing starting cornerback Leon Hall early in their first matchup with Pittsburgh, the Bengals' secondary essentially collapsed, giving up 223 passing yards and allowing Ben Roethlisberger to connect with nine different Steeler receivers.

Hall's absence has been painfully obvious over the past two weeks, as Cincinnati has been burned by the likes of Cleveland and Baltimore through the air, and something will have to change if it's going to slow down Pittsburgh's array of talented receivers.

Can Pittsburgh Keep Big Ben on His Feet?

While the Bengals didn't allow a single sack against the Steelers in Week 10, Pittsburgh's offensive line wasn't nearly as efficient.

Cincinnati got to Ben Roethlisberger at will, sacking him five times and recording 13 total quarterback hits.

The Cincy D-line is easily one of the NFL's most underrated units, and it'll be hunting down Big Ben once again this week.

Pittsburgh's ability—or inability—to protect Roethlisberger could be a critical factor come Sunday.

Will Mendenhall Produce?

Pittsburgh running back Rashard Mendenhall managed to score two touchdowns against Cincinnati's physical front seven in Week 10, but he recorded just 44 yards on 16 carries.

While it's hard to argue with his red-zone production, Pitt will need more out of its No. 1 back this week in order to balance out its offensive attack.

The Steelers topped the Bengals the first time around despite Mendenhall's struggles, but they may not be so lucky if he has another rough outing this week.

Who Will Contain Green?

Cincinnati's A.J. Green caught a 36-yard touchdown over two Steeler defenders in Week 10, but came down awkwardly on the grab, hyperextending his knee and missing the remainder of the contest.

This week, however, Pittsburgh could very well have to deal with Green for all four quarters, and considering the success the rookie wideout has enjoyed this season that could be a serious issue.

The Pittsburgh secondary will have its hands full all day long on Sunday, so it'll have to be up for the challenge.

Is Polamalu Good to Go?

Green could pose an even bigger issue for Pittsburgh if safety Troy Polamalu isn't available for the Steelers come Sunday.

After taking a blow to the head in Monday night's matchup with Kansas City, Polamalu's status is in question.

The Steelers are cautiously optimistic that he'll be ready to go, but if things change, Pittsburgh will certainly miss Polamalu's leadership and sheer playmaking ability.