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SEPTEMBER 16, 2013
TIME: 8:40 p.m. Monday
PLACE: Paul Brown Stadium (Synthetic)
LOCAL RADIO: Play-by-play Dan Hoard and analyst Dave Lapham led by ESPN AM 1530 and WEBN FM 102.7 on the 25-station Bengals radio network.
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NATIONAL RADIO:** Westwood One with Kevin Harlan play-by-play, Boomer Esiason analyst, Steve Tasker sideline reporter.
TV: ESPN team of Mike Tirico play-by-play, Jon Gruden analyst, Lisa Salters sideline reporter. Simulcast on Channel 5 in Cincinnati.
INJURIES
CIN: Pro Bowl left tackle Andrew Whitworth (knee) returned to a limited practice after three weeks on the shelf and is listed as questionable. Backup CB Brandon Ghee (concussion) didn't practice Friday and Saturday after working Thursday and is out. Backup OL Mike Pollak (knee) and backup S and special teams aceJeromy Miles (hamstring) didn't work this week and is doubtful. WLB Vontaze Burfict (thigh) went full Friday after being limited Thursday.
PIT: K Shaun Suisham (hamstring) went through a full practice Friday and Saturday after getting hurt in last Sunday's warmups and is probable. TE Heath Miller (knee) was limited but out. Starting CB Cortez Allen (ankle) and RB Le'Veon Bell (foot) didn't work this week and are out. Backup CB Curtis Brown (illness) next in line for Allen, was listed as doubtful Saturday after going limited.
» Complete Injury Report
THE SERIES
Steelers lead the regular season series 52-33 and postseason series 1-0; 26-16 in Cincinnati, 12-2 at PBS
NOTEWORTHY
» It's the earliest the Bengals have played the Steelers in the 11 seasons of head coach Marvin Lewis and the first time they've played Pittsburgh in the first or second game of the year since they overcame running back Ickey Woods's ACL injury on Sept. 17, 1989 in a 41-10 win at Riverfront in Week 2.
» If Bengals LT Anthony Collins makes the start, he'll be making an odd circle. His first NFL start came in his rookie year on Nov. 20, 2008 in Pittsburgh against Steelers ROLB James Harrison in a Thursday night game. In Monday night's game he'd be opposed by rookie ROLBJarvis Jones making his first NFL start replacing Harrison.
» The last time the Bengals beat the Steelers on Monday night, Boomer Esiason outpitchedBubby Brister with 231 yards, two touchdowns, and a pick in a 24-22 victory on Oct. 13, 1986 at Riverfront Stadium. Esiason calls Monday night's game as an analyst for Westwood One and then-Bengals defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau is calling signals for the Steelers.
» Another Bengals Pro Bowl quarterback is in the yard when Ken Anderson joins the coin toss. It was Anderson who provided the franchise's most memorable Monday Night moment on Nov. 17, 1975 at Riverfront when his 447 yards on 30-of-46 passing staved off Bills running back O.J. Simpson's 197 rushing yards in a 33-24 victory.
» Four players are left from the last Bengals Monday Night victory, the 27-20 goal-line stand win over the Ravens that opened the 2007 season at PBS (LERobert Geathers, LT Andrew Whitworth, DT Domata Peko, CB Leon Hall).
» Andy Dalton is looking to join Jon Kitna and Carson Palmer as the only quarterbacks to beat the Steelers at PBS.
»Shayne Graham, the most accurate kicker in Bengals history, could go if Suisham can't. His miss from 39 yards with eight seconds left against the Steelers at PBS in the 2006 finale led to an overtime loss and knocked the Bengals out of the playoffs.
» The last time the Bengals played the Steelers on Monday night, current Bengals SAM backer Harrison had a sack for the Steelers in a 27-21 Pittsburgh victory on Nov. 8, 2010 at PBS.
NFL RANKINGS
CIN: T-16th in scoring, 17th in offense (T-26th rushing, 14th passing); T-17th in scoring defense, 13th in defense (16th rushing, 14th passing), T-25th in turnover margin at minus-2.
PIT: 26th in scoring, 31st in offense (31st rushing, 27th passing); 6th in scoring defense, 3rd in defense (23rd rushing, 2nd passing), T-25th in turnover margin at minus-2.
COACHES
CIN: Marvin Lewis 79-81-1 regular season, 0-4 postseason in his 11th season; 6-15 vs. Steelers.
PIT: Mike Tomlin 68-37 in his seventh season; 9-3 vs. Lewis and Bengals.
WEATHER
The National Weather Service in Wilmington, Ohio is calling for mostly clear skies at 67 degrees with winds out of the northeast at about eight miles per hour and no chance of rain.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
» 44-35-1 - Marvin Lewis's record at PBS
» 1-10 - Lewis's record against the Steelers at PBS
» 2-1 - Lewis's September record vs. the Steelers
» 64 - Career sacks for Bengals SAM backer James Harrison
» 64 - Career sacks for Steelers OLBs (Lamar Woodley 54,Jason Worilds 10,Jarvis Jones 0, Chris Carter 0)
» 9 - Sacks for Harrison vs. the Bengals
» 6.5 - Career sacks for Bengals LE Robert Geathers vs. the Steelers
» 18 - Consecutive games Bengals haven't had 100-yard rusher vs. Steelers
» 6 - 100-yard rushing games for Steelers in last 18 games vs. Bengals
» 2 - 100-yard rushing games for Steelers vs. Bengals DC Mike Zimmer
» 26 - TD passes for Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger vs. Bengals in 19 games
» 24 - TD passes for Bengals vs. Steelers in last 19 games (Carson Palmer 17, Andy Dalton 4, Ryan Fitzpatrick 2,Jon Kitna 1)
» 31 - TD passes for Bengals QB Dalton in last 19 games
» 2 - Wins for Steelers in last 12 games, including preseason and regular season
» 3 - TDs for Bengals WR A.J. Green vs. Steelers DC Dick LeBeau
» 2 - TDs for former Bengals WR Chad Johnson vs. LeBeau
» 2 - TDs for former Bengals WR Terrell Owens vs. LeBeau
» 6 - TDs for former Bengals WR vs. T.J. Houshmandzadeh vs. LeBeau
