By Magoo
The Cincinnati Bengals have the dubious distinction of having given up nearly 22 points per game this season --the worst of any playoff team this year. Their defense is ranked 28th in total defense (yards allowed), once again, the worst of any team in the playoffs. These kinds of statistics might make one wonder, how a team that has given up so many points and so much yardage, how did they ever make it into the playoffs? It also makes one assume that the Bengals offset that by having a super potent offense. True, the Bengals are among the league leaders in both points scored and total offense (total yards), but the real reason, believe it or not, --is their defense.   

It seems the Bengals have little or no fear in getting into a shootout. They run the ball fairly well, gaining an average of 119 yards per game (11th overall in the NFL), while their passing game averages 239 yards per game (5th in the NFL). Their quarterback, Carson Palmer, is near the top in almost every statistical category. The one category he leads the league in, is arguably the most important --touchdowns. His 32 TD passes leads all NFL QBs and heavily works in his favor in pointing to his second ranked passer rating in the NFL of 101.1. So how is it that the real reason the Bengals find themselves in the playoffs for the first time in 15 years is their defense?

The Bengals defense may have an obvious chinks in their armor but they also excel like no other team in the league in the giveaway/takeaway category. They lead the league with a +24. Of the 12 teams that have made the playoffs 10 of them are among the NFL leaders in this group. New England is the only playoff team with a negative result on the season with a minus 6. What's more, a close look at the Bengals defense shows that they lead the league in interceptions with 31 picks on the season --7 more than any team in the league.

The Bengals defense may be among the most porous in the league but they are defiantly the most opportunistic. The most dangerous cornerback to throw at is Deltha O'Neal. O'Neal, the 6th year player, leads the NFL in picks with 10. Going to the other side of the Bengals defense isn't the answer either. Tory James, the 10 year veteran cornerback, is ranked 11th in the league with 5 picks.

All of this suggests how the Steelers must play in order to prevail on Sunday. Run the football and avoid getting into a shootout against the pass happy Bengals. When the Steelers play winning football they seldom use the pass while employing a punishing running attack. All of this simplicity of course will require a few very important things.

On both sides of the ball the Steelers have to control the line of scrimmage. In the Steelers 27-13 win over the Bengals in the 7th week of the season they held the Bengals to 91 yards on the ground while compiling 221 of their own. The time of possession advantage in that game was a whopping 11-minute edge for the black and gold. The other very important stat. in that game was the turnover advantage. There was no advantage as each team had one.

In the Steelers loss to the Bengals... the Bengals held a 6-minute advantage in the time of possession, out gained the Steelers on the ground, and hands down won in the turnover category 4-0. Additionally the Steelers committed 7 penalties for 70 yards and gave up more (258) return yardage than they did in (222) passing yards. In that game the Bengals found themselves with good field possession almost every time they got the ball.

In short, the Steelers gave that game away with turnovers, penalties and poor special team's play. Avoiding errors and establishing a running attack as they did in their first contest will allow them to move on in the playoffs. In the Steelers last 4 games, all victories, this has been the formula.   
  
Aside the playoff experience factor there seems to be yet another point to make. Some NFL experts are suggesting the Bengals have limped into the playoffs. In their last 7 games of the season the Bengals have given up an astounding 216 points --that's nearly 31 points per game, while compiling a record of 4-3. So the Bengals defense is indeed suspect. All the Steelers need to do is avoid the turnover.