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Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cincinnati Bengals Pick & Prediction DEC 21TH 2020
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cincinnati Bengals Recap DEC 21TH 2020
Devlin Hodges replaced Mason Rudolph at quarterback in the second half Sunday and rallied the visiting Pittsburgh Steelers to a 16-10 victory, keeping the Cincinnati Bengals winless on the season.
Hodges was 5 of 11 for 118 yards and hit James Washington on a 79-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter with his second throw of the game as the Steelers (6-5) extended their winning streak over the Bengals to 10 consecutive, including playoffs, going back to 2015.
Chris Boswell kicked a 47-yard field goal with 12:04 remaining to break a 10-10 tie and added a 26-yard kick with 3:21 remaining.
The Steelers' defense was able to seal the victory with a pair of fumble recoveries.
Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick recovered a fumble by Bengals wide receiver Tyler Boyd at the Steelers' 6-yard line with 8:59 remaining. Linebacker Bud Dupree sealed the victory when he sacked Bengals quarterback Ryan Finley and recovered the ensuing fumble at the Bengals 21-yard line with 3:10 remaining.
Finley was 12 of 26 for 192 yards for the Bengals, while Boyd caught five passes for 101 yards. The Bengals (0-11) are off to their worst start in franchise history.
Rudolph was 8 of 16 for 85 yards and an interception in his first game since the Cleveland Browns' Myles Garrett hit him in the head with his own helmet. That incident came in a Nov. 14 defeat to the Browns that ended the Steelers' four-game winning streak.
The teams combined for 266 yards in total offense and 10 points in a sluggish first half. After a scoreless first quarter, the Steelers broke through first on Boswell's 26-yard field goal with 3:24 remaining until halftime.
The Bengals came right back with their best drive of the day, with the bulk of the yards coming on back-to-back passes from Finley to Boyd.
The first came on a 47-yard pass, with Boyd making a one-handed catch to put Cincinnati on the 15-yard line. It was the longest completion of Finley's brief career. Boyd then caught a 15-yard TD pass from Finley as the Bengals carried a 7-3 lead into halftime.
The consecutive passes accounted for 62 of Finley's 108 yards passing in the first half.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have lost two straight games and yet have clinched a playoff spot. Now they have a chance to wrap up the AFC North title.
That can happen if Cleveland loses Sunday night against the Giants, so it could be decided before the Steelers play Monday night against the Bengals in Cincinnati. A Steelers' win also gives them the title.
Either way, there are a couple things Pittsburgh (11-2) wants to work on against Cincinnati (2-10-1), which has lost five straight games, including a 36-10 decision Nov. 15 against the Steelers.
A key area for Pittsburgh is opening up the offense, something offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner said has been difficult to work on with three games in a 12-day span that ended with Sunday night's 26-15 loss at Buffalo.
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Questions have swirled around veteran quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and whether he is reaching the end of his career after the Steelers have come to rely on the passing game but almost exclusively without throwing downfield.
Roethlisberger, who is 38 and had reconstructive elbow surgery last year, dismissed the notion that he is no longer effective, and Cincinnati coach Zac Taylor believes him.
"It's a Hall of Fame quarterback who is in full command of the system, so you really have to be on top of your game from a communication standpoint," Taylor said.
Pittsburgh hopes to give Roethlisberger a chance to air things out more Monday against the Bengals.
"Having this week where we actually get back to a semblance of having a real week, we worked on that," Fichtner said, calling the longer passes "an area of emphasis."
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"We know we have to get back to that. We know that in any one given year since I've been here, the opportunity to throw the ball past the sticks in possession downs is critical to us."
Pittsburgh -- which scored at least 20 points the first 10 games but has not reached that threshold the past three -- also has been hurt by dropped passes, particularly the past three weeks.
"If you're going to throw the football, you have to catch the football," Fichtner said.
Both teams have had injury problems that have affected consistency -- specifically linebackers and offensive linemen for Pittsburgh, the defensive front and offensive line for Cincinnati.
This week, the Bengals also are faced with a question at quarterback. Brandon Allen, who has made three starts in a row, did not practice Thursday because of a knee problem, although Taylor said Allen is "doing better" and is an option to play.
If not, second-year pro Ryan Finley is expected to face Pittsburgh.
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It's just another situation that pits Taylor's innate optimism against the reality of coaching a two-win team in late December.
"It continues to evolve every week ... and put your staff and players in position to be successful," Taylor said.
For Pittsburgh, cornerback Joe Haden, who missed the Buffalo game because of a concussion, was a full participant Thursday at practice, but running back James Conner (quadriceps) and offensive lineman Kevin Dotson (shoulder) did not practice.
--Field Level Media
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Pittsburgh Steelers
Cincinnati Bengals
Player | Position | Lineup |
---|---|---|
Marcus Allen | primary: Right Inside Linebacker | Starter |
Tyson Alualu | primary: Nose Tackle | Starter |
David DeCastro | primary: Right Guard | Starter |
Terrell Edmunds | primary: Strong Safety | Starter |
Minkah Fitzpatrick | primary: Free Safety | Starter |
Joe Haden | primary: Left Cornerback | Starter |
J.C. Hassenauer | primary: Left Guard | Starter |
Cameron Heyward | primary: Defensive Tackle | Starter |
Diontae Johnson | primary: Wide Receiver | Starter |
Vance McDonald | primary: Tight End | Starter |
Steven Nelson | primary: Right Cornerback | Starter |
Chukwuma Okorafor | primary: Right Tackle | Starter |
Maurkice Pouncey | primary: Center | Starter |
Ben Roethlisberger | primary: Quarterback | Starter |
JuJu Smith-Schuster | primary: Wide Receiver | Starter |
Benny Snell Jr. | primary: Runningback | Starter |
Stephon Tuitt | primary: Defensive End | Starter |
Alejandro Villanueva | primary: Left Tackle | Starter |
James Washington | primary: Wide Receiver | Starter |
T.J. Watt | primary: Left Outside Linebacker | Starter |
Alex Highsmith | primary: Right Outside Linebacker | Starter |
Avery Williamson | primary: Left Inside Linebacker | Starter |
Olasunkanmi Adeniyi | primary: Linebacker | Substitution |
Chris Boswell | primary: Kicker | Substitution |
Kameron Canaday | primary: Long Snapper | Substitution |
Ulysees Gilbert III | primary: Linebacker | Substitution |
Mike Hilton | primary: Cornerback | Substitution |
Justin Layne | primary: Cornerback | Substitution |
Jaylen Samuels | primary: Runningback | Substitution |
Cameron Sutton | primary: Cornerback | Substitution |
Henry Mondeaux | primary: Defensive Tackle | Substitution |
Derwin Gray | primary: Offensive Tackle | Substitution |
Jordan Dangerfield | primary: Safety | Substitution |
Derek Watt | primary: Fullback | Substitution |
Chris Wormley | primary: Nose Tackle | Substitution |
Eric Ebron | primary: Tight End | Substitution |
Chase Claypool | primary: Wide Receiver | Substitution |
Anthony McFarland Jr. | primary: Runningback | Substitution |
Carlos Davis | primary: Defensive Tackle | Substitution |
James Pierre | primary: Cornerback | Substitution |
Ray-Ray McCloud | primary: Wide Receiver | Substitution |
Sean Davis | primary: Safety | Substitution |
Jayrone Elliott | primary: Linebacker | Substitution |
Jerald Hawkins | primary: Offensive Tackle | Substitution |
Jordan Berry | primary: Punter | Substitution |
Tegray Scales | primary: Linebacker | Substitution |
Isaiah Buggs | primary: Defensive End | Not active |
James Conner | primary: Runningback | Not active |
Mason Rudolph | primary: Quarterback | Did not play |
Kevin Dotson | primary: Offensive Linesman | Not active |
Antoine Brooks Jr. | primary: Defensive Back | Not active |
Joshua Dobbs | primary: Quarterback | Not active |
Cassius Marsh Sr. | primary: Defensive End | Not active |
Danny Isidora | primary: Offensive Linesman | Did not play |
Player | Position | Lineup |
---|---|---|
Jessie Bates III | primary: Safety | Starter |
Giovani Bernard | primary: Halfback | Starter |
Cethan Carter | primary: Tight End | Starter |
Ryan Finley | primary: Quarterback | Starter |
A.J. Green | primary: Wide Receiver | Starter |
Bobby Hart | primary: Right Tackle | Starter |
Trey Hopkins | primary: Center | Starter |
Sam Hubbard | primary: Left Defensive End | Starter |
William Jackson III | primary: Cornerback | Starter |
Fred Johnson | primary: Left Tackle | Starter |
Carl Lawson | primary: Right Defensive End | Starter |
Darius Phillips | primary: Cornerback | Starter |
Germaine Pratt | primary: Linebacker | Starter |
Drew Sample | primary: Tight End | Starter |
Xavier Su'a-Filo | primary: Left Guard | Starter |
Vonn Bell | primary: Safety | Starter |
Mackensie Alexander | primary: Cornerback | Starter |
Josh Bynes | primary: Linebacker | Starter |
Tee Higgins | primary: Wide Receiver | Starter |
Mike Daniels | primary: Nose Tackle | Starter |
Christian Covington | primary: Defensive Tackle | Starter |
Quinton Spain | primary: Right Guard | Starter |
Tyler Boyd | primary: Wide Receiver | Substitution |
Alex Erickson | primary: Wide Receiver | Substitution |
Jordan Evans | primary: Linebacker | Substitution |
Clark Harris | primary: Long Snapper | Substitution |
Trayvon Henderson | primary: Safety | Substitution |
Kevin Huber | primary: Punter | Substitution |
Michael Jordan | primary: Guard | Substitution |
Stanley Morgan Jr. | primary: Wide Receiver | Substitution |
Billy Price | primary: Center | Substitution |
Mason Schreck | primary: Tight End | Substitution |
Shawn Williams | primary: Defensive Back | Substitution |
Trayveon Williams | primary: Halfback | Substitution |
Brandon Wilson | primary: Safety | Substitution |
LeShaun Sims | primary: Cornerback | Substitution |
Akeem Davis-Gaither | primary: Linebacker | Substitution |
Khalid Kareem | primary: Defensive End | Substitution |
Hakeem Adeniji | primary: Offensive Tackle | Substitution |
Markus Bailey | primary: Linebacker | Substitution |
Mike Thomas | primary: Wide Receiver | Substitution |
Samaje Perine | primary: Halfback | Substitution |
Amani Bledsoe | primary: Defensive End | Substitution |
Austin Seibert | primary: Kicker | Substitution |
Xavier Williams | primary: Defensive Tackle | Substitution |
Margus Hunt | primary: Defensive Tackle | Substitution |
Randy Bullock | primary: Kicker | Not active |
Logan Wilson | primary: Linebacker | Not active |
Brandon Allen | primary: Quarterback | Not active |
Keaton Sutherland | primary: Guard | Not active |
Alex Redmond | primary: Guard | Not active |
Jalen Davis | primary: Cornerback | Did not play |
B.J. Finney | primary: Guard | Not active |
Kevin Hogan | primary: Quarterback | Did not play |
Pittsburgh Steelers
Cincinnati Bengals
- Match Start
- Period 1
-
MIN 5
- scoring-play
- Field Goal
- 34 Yards
- FG Kicker: Austin Seibert
- Period 2
-
MIN 4
- scoring-play
- Touchdown
- Pass
- 14 Yards
- Passer: Ryan Finley
- Pass Receiver: Giovani Bernard
- Conv Kicker: Austin Seibert
-
MIN 12
- scoring-play
- Touchdown
- Rush
- 4 Yards
- Conv Kicker: Austin Seibert
- Rusher: Giovani Bernard
- Period 3
-
MIN 5
- scoring-play
- Field Goal
- 25 Yards
- FG Kicker: Chris Boswell
-
MIN 12
- scoring-play
- Touchdown
- Pass
- 23 Yards
- Pass Receiver: Diontae Johnson
- Conv Kicker: Chris Boswell
- Passer: Ben Roethlisberger
- Period 4
-
MIN 0
- scoring-play
- Field Goal
- 33 Yards
- FG Kicker: Austin Seibert
-
MIN 5
- scoring-play
- Touchdown
- Rush
- 1 Yards
- Rusher: Benny Snell Jr.
- Conv Kicker: Chris Boswell
-
MIN 11
- scoring-play
- Touchdown
- Rush
- 23 Yards
- Rusher: Ryan Finley
- Conv Kicker: Austin Seibert
- Match End
GAMES
Last 10
- Cleveland L 48 - 37
- @Cleveland L 22 - 24
- Indianapolis W 24 - 28
- @Cincinnati L 17 - 27
- @Buffalo L 15 - 26
- Washington L 23 - 17
- Baltimore W 14 - 19
- @Jacksonville W 27 - 3
- Cincinnati W 10 - 36
- @Dallas W 24 - 19
- Baltimore L 38 - 3
- @Houston W 37 - 31
- Pittsburgh W 17 - 27
- Dallas L 30 - 7
- @Miami L 7 - 19
- N.Y. Giants L 19 - 17
- @Washington L 9 - 20
- @Pittsburgh L 10 - 36
- Tennessee W 20 - 31
- Cleveland L 37 - 34
Last Meetings
American Football Conference
AFC East | W | L | D | PRC | GB | HOME | AWAY | PA | ST | L10 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Buffalo Bills | 13 | 3 | 0 | .813 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7-1 | 6-2 | 9-0-1 |
Miami Dolphins | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5-3 | 5-3 | 7-0-3 |
New England Patriots | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 6.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5-3 | 2-6 | 5-0-5 |
New York Jets | 2 | 14 | 0 | .125 | 11.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1-7 | 1-7 | 2-0-8 |
AFC North | W | L | D | PRC | GB | HOME | AWAY | PA | ST | L10 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pittsburgh Steelers | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7-1 | 5-3 | 6-0-4 |
Cleveland Browns | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 6-2 | 5-3 | 7-0-3 |
Baltimore Ravens | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5-3 | 6-2 | 6-0-4 |
Cincinnati Bengals | 4 | 11 | 1 | .267 | 7.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3-5 | 1-6 | 3-1-7 |
AFC South | W | L | D | PRC | GB | HOME | AWAY | PA | ST | L10 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Indianapolis Colts | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 6-2 | 5-3 | 7-0-3 |
Tennessee Titans | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5-3 | 6-2 | 6-0-4 |
Houston Texans | 4 | 12 | 0 | .250 | 7.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2-6 | 2-6 | 3-0-7 |
Jacksonville Jaguars | 1 | 15 | 0 | .063 | 10.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1-7 | 0-8 | 1-0-10 |
AFC West | W | L | D | PRC | GB | HOME | AWAY | PA | ST | L10 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kansas City Chiefs | 14 | 2 | 0 | .875 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 6-2 | 8-0 | 9-0-1 |
Las Vegas Raiders | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 6.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2-6 | 6-2 | 5-0-5 |
Los Angeles Chargers | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 7.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 4-4 | 3-5 | 5-0-5 |
Denver Broncos | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 9.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2-6 | 3-5 | 3-0-7 |
National Football Conference
NFC East | W | L | D | PRC | GB | HOME | AWAY | PA | ST | L10 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Washington Football Team | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3-5 | 4-4 | 6-0-4 |
New York Giants | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3-5 | 3-5 | 5-0-5 |
Dallas Cowboys | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 4-4 | 2-6 | 4-0-6 |
Philadelphia Eagles | 4 | 11 | 1 | .267 | 2.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3-4 | 1-7 | 3-1-7 |
NFC North | W | L | D | PRC | GB | HOME | AWAY | PA | ST | L10 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Green Bay Packers | 13 | 3 | 0 | .813 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7-1 | 6-2 | 8-0-2 |
Chicago Bears | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 5.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3-5 | 5-3 | 3-0-7 |
Minnesota Vikings | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 6.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3-5 | 4-4 | 6-0-4 |
Detroit Lions | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 8.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1-7 | 4-4 | 2-0-8 |
NFC South | W | L | D | PRC | GB | HOME | AWAY | PA | ST | L10 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
New Orleans Saints | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 6-2 | 6-2 | 8-0-2 |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5-3 | 6-2 | 7-0-3 |
Carolina Panthers | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 7.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2-6 | 3-5 | 2-0-8 |
Atlanta Falcons | 4 | 12 | 0 | .250 | 8.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2-6 | 2-6 | 3-0-7 |
NFC West | W | L | D | PRC | GB | HOME | AWAY | PA | ST | L10 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Seattle Seahawks | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7-1 | 5-3 | 7-0-3 |
Los Angeles Rams | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 6-2 | 4-4 | 6-0-4 |
Arizona Cardinals | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 4.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 4-4 | 4-4 | 4-0-6 |
San Francisco 49ers | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 6.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1-7 | 5-3 | 3-0-7 |
Last Injuries
Trends
Cincinnati Trends
- TrendOver is 5-0-1 in Bengals last 6 games as a favorite.Hit %100.00% (6)O/U5|0Push1W/L
- TrendUnder is 6-2 in Bengals last 8 games as a favorite of 10.5 or greater.Hit %75.00% (8)O/U2|6Push0W/L
- TrendUnder is 4-0-1 in Bengals last 5 games as an underdog.Hit %100.00% (5)O/U0|4Push1W/L
- TrendUnder is 4-1 in Bengals last 5 games as an underdog of 0.5-3.0.Hit %80.00% (5)O/U1|4Push0W/L
Pittsburgh Trends
- TrendUnder is 5-0-1 in Steelers last 6 games as a favorite.Hit %100.00% (6)O/U5|0Push1W/L
- TrendUnder is 17-4 in Steelers last 21 games as a favorite of 10.5 or greater.Hit %81.00% (21)O/U2|6Push0W/L
- TrendUnder is 8-3 in Steelers last 11 games as a road underdog of 3.5-10.0.Hit %72.70% (11)O/U3|8Push0W/L
- TrendUnder is 5-1-1 in Steelers last 7 games as a road underdog.Hit %83.30% (7)O/U1|5Push1W/L
Meetings Trends
- TrendUnder is 4-0-1 in the last 5 meetings.Hit %100.00% (5)O/U0|4Push1W/L
- TrendUnder is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings in Cincinnati.Hit %80.00% (5)O/U1|4Push0W/L
- TrendSteelers are 21-7-1 ATS in their last 29 meetings.Hit %75.00% (29)O/UPush1W/L21|7
- TrendSteelers are 16-3-2 ATS in their last 21 meetings in Cincinnati.Hit %84.20% (21)O/UPush2W/L16|3