 |
 VS.  |
 |
PREVIEW
SEPTEMBER 27, 2009
TIME: 4:15 p.m., Sunday
PLACE: Paul Brown Stadium, FieldTurf
TV: CBS team of play-by-play man Jim Nantz and analyst Phil Simms live on Channel 12 in Cincinnati, Channel 7 in Dayton, Ohio, and Channel 27 in Lexington, KY.
RADIO: Play-by-play man Brad Johansen and analyst Dave Lapham on 1530-AM (Homer) and 102.7-FM WEBN on flagships of the 25-station Bengals radio network. Play-by-play man Kevin Kugler and analyst Mark Malone on Westwood One.
INJURIES
CIN: CB David Jones (foot) returned to the field this week and was limited in practice but is listed as out. RT Andre Smith (foot) out; LG Nate Livings (knee) returned to limited work this week and is questionable. RB Cedric Benson (ankle) and CB Johnathan Joseph (ankle) are probable. DL Jon Fanene missed Thursday and Friday with the flu and DE Michael Johnson missed Friday with the flu. Both are listed as questionable.
PIT: S Troy Polamalu (knee) out; Backup S Tyrone Carter (thigh) was limited. OLB LaMarr Woodley and inside backer Lawrence Timmons returned to practice Thursday.
THE SERIES
Steelers lead, 48-30; 22-17 in Cincinnati; 9-1 in PBS
NOTEWORTHY
» The last time the Bengals beat the Steelers at Paul Brown Stadium, the game went overtime on Dec. 30, 2001, when Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau was the Bengals head coach.
» The Bengals, 0-2-1, haven't won in OT since.
» On that day current Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin was finishing his first season as an NFL assistant while the secondary coach for the Buccaneers.
» Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis was finishing his last season as the Ravens defensive coordinator.
» Only two Bengals are left from that day, wide receiver Chad Ochocinco and long snapper Brad St. Louis. There are five Steelers: Wide receiver Hines Ward, defensive end Aaron Smith, nose tackle Casey Hampton, defensive tackle Chris Hoke and cornerback Deshea Townsend.
» Ochocinco had two catches for 25 yards that day, but he combined with the other wide receivers for 384 yards, the most ever by Cincinnati wide receivers in a game. Ward caught three passes for 42 yards.
» Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has never lost at PBS. Not counting the 2006 Wild Card game, he is 6-2 against Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer.
» The last time the Bengals had a 100-yard rusher against the Steelers at PBS, Corey Dillon had 128 yards on 23 carries in a 2000 loss. The last time the Bengals had a 100-yard rusher against the Steelers was during a 2004 loss at Heinz on Rudi Johnson's 123 yards on 24 carries.
» Steelers quarterbacks coach Ken Anderson is the Bengals' all-time leading passer and is author of the third-most accurate passing game in history. He hit 20 of 22 passes against Pittsburgh at Riverfront Stadium for 90.9 percent on Nov. 10, 1974.
NFL RANKINGS
CIN: Tied for 20th in scoring, 21st in offense (12th rushing, 23rd passing); 11th in defense (11th rushing, 16th passing), tied for 26th in turnover margin at minus three.
PIT: 29th in scoring, 16th in offense (28th rushing, tied for seventh passing); Ninth in defense (tied for seventh rushing, 19th passing), tied for 26th in turnover margin at minus 3.
COACHES
CIN: Marvin Lewis 47-50-1 regular season, 0-1 postseason in his seventh season, 3-10 vs. Steelers, 0-4 vs. Mike Tomlin.
PIT: Mike Tomlin 26-12 in his third season. 4-0 vs. Lewis. 4-0 vs. Bengals.
THE WEATHERNo rain in Sunday's forecast under partly sunny skies. The National Weather Service in Wilmington, Ohio says winds could gust up near 20 miles per hour, but for most of the game are expected to be about 14 miles per hour out of the south and west. Temperature at kickoff is going to be 76 degrees and normal humidity with dewpoints in the mid 50s.
