NFL Breakdown - Steelers Offense vs Bengals Defense

Heath Miller Continues To Have
A Career Year...

The Pittsburgh Steelers are certainly a team that has had its ups and downs this season, especially on the offensive side of the ball.  The team started off slinging the ball west coast style, and then when Big Ben was injured, turned into a more pounding attack that only relied on the pass when absolutely necessary.  Now the offense looks like it is searching for an identity.  That identity needs to be found as soon as possible as the game vs the Bengals on Sunday is a do-or-die situation.  Win or essentially kiss your playoff hopes and dreams goodbye.  Here are the 5 storylines heading into the matchup that pits the Steelers offense vs the Bengals defense.

- Balance is the Key - The Steelers first reached "balance" when they beat the Bengals 24-17 in Cincinnati on Sunday Night Football earlier this season.  That game was Jonathan Dwyer's official coming out party, and that is something the Steelers need to get back to.  The Steelers pounded the rock in the 2nd half of that game vs the Bengals, and because of that Cincinnati was never able to get the football back in time to tie the game.  If the Steelers can successfully run the football, and mix in the passing game instead of RELYING on the passing game, they can certainly be successful in their attempt to win and get into the playoffs.

- Protect the Football - I don't know how many times I can watch this Steelers team choke away game after game with stupid turnovers.  Whether it was Ben's lateral and INT vs the Chargers, or Antonio Brown's fumble in Dallas last Sunday.  The mistakes need to stop...and they need to stop sooner than later.  If the Steelers play a turnover / mistake free football game, I don't think there are too many teams that can stop the Black n' Gold, but when they start coughing up the football, and throwing INTs...then it becomes a concern and that leads to LOSSES.  The Steelers need to play smarter, and protecting the football is job #1 in that category.

- Dial Up The Deep Ball Again - I don't know if you heard what Cowboys' CB Carr said after he made the game clinching INT in the game last Sunday, but essentially he said he knew what was coming due to his familiarity with Todd Haley's offense from Kansas City.  That could all be B.S. but it also could mean that its time the Steelers start forcing the coverage deep like they used to.  The Steelers have thrown the ball deep in the past few games (with minimal success)  but that doesn't mean they should stop.  By sending players like Mike Wallace and Antonio Brown deep, it forces the CBs and Safeties to back off of the line of scrimmage and that can open up things for players like Heath Miller and RBs from the backfield.  Plus, when you send players deep, good things happen...Pass Interference or a game changing play that can turn the tide.  Time to dial up the deep ball...

- Start Fast - I talked about how this is important vs Dallas last Sunday, and I can't say that it happened.  The Steelers were sluggish to start and weren't clicking on offense.  The Steelers historically have been a very good team at coming out of the gates and putting together a decent drive.  The drive might not end in points, but it will certainly flip the field position.  The Steelers need to have a good start to the game on Sunday and put some points on the board to force the Bengals into playing from behind.  3rd down efficiency hasn't been the same since Big Ben got hurt, and its time they get back to where they were before the injury...

- Show Resiliency - I, for one, have been waiting for this team to show the resiliency that we all expect on a week in and week out basis.  The resiliency to overcome a mistake or two and still come out with a victory.  I remember writing about how "good teams win the ugly games" and the Steelers haven't won an ugly game in a long time.  At this point and time, I could care less how the Steelers win as long as they win.  They could win the game 5-3 for all I care...as long as the Steelers get a seat at the dance in 3 weeks I feel they can be a team that can still get hot...especially as they continue to get healthy.  Its time for Mike Tomlin to get his team fired up for a huge game at HOME...Here we Go Steelers!