Steelers vs. Bengals

                                                                                         

Pittsburgh -10 1/2 vs. Cincinnati

The Cincinnati Bengals have taken advantage of their two game home stand wrapped around their bye week to not lose. The Bengals lost their first eight games, but have since gone undefeated in two games against teams that thought their visit to Cincinnati would be a walk in the park.

Three weeks ago, the struggling Jacksonville Jaguars came to the Queen City to stomp the winless Bengals and get their season back on track. This did not happen and the Jaguars headed home with a 21-19 heartbreaking loss. After a bye, the Philadelphia Eagles flew into Paul Brown Stadium expecting to keep pace with the rest of their division with an easy victory over Cincinnati. But the Bengals (1-8-1) forced three interceptions and all-around poor play by Donovan McNabb to force overtime. Neither team could muster a score in the extra period. Although Shayne Graham missed a potential winning field goal late in overtime, the Bengals considered a tie a moral victory over a top team from the NFC.

They now head into a Thursday night matchup with their divisional leaders, the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field.

Meanwhile Pittsburgh scored late and held on to beat San Diego 11-10 at Heinz Field. The Steelers (7-3) avoided losing two straight for the first time this season. They were able to gain a game on the Baltimore Ravens, who were tied with Pittsburgh for first, because the Ravens lost. Still the Steelers have hit a rough patch in their season in which they have alternated wins and losses since their first win against the Bengals in Cincinnati on October 19 possibly due to nagging injuries to their quarterback and running back.

This game is particularly important to the Steelers who have a brutal schedule remaining. After Thursday, three of their five remaining games will be on the road as they travel to New England, Baltimore and Tennessee. Their home schedule is not much easier as they welcome in the Cowboys and the Browns to end the season.

Pittsburgh looks to extend their winning streak against Cincinnati to five games. The Steelers have won eight of the last ten against the Bengals, including a Wildcard round playoff game victory after the 2005 season. Cincinnati last beat Pittsburgh in 2006, also in a game played in Heinz Field.

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