Hopes were dashed October 23, as the 5-1 Bengals became 5-2 in front of the biggest crowd ever at Paul Brown Stadium. Thought to have been a good matchup, the game proved that the now 4-2 Steelers are the team to contend with come time for the playoffs.Coach Bill Cowher’s run/pass/rush strategy, which has led the Steelers to 20 victories in the Pittsburgh’s last 27 encounters with the Bengals, once again has proven that the orange and stripes need a little more experience before taking on the defending champs.
The point gap of 27-13 was largely attributed to the two interceptions handed over by Carson Palmer in the Third Quarter, both of which came in less than a four-minute period. However, in consideration of the entire game, the Bengals just lost to a fundamentally more stable team, who ran a great game against the Bengals’ shortcomings.
Now 5-2, the Bengals still hold the division lead as they go against the Packers on the Oct. 30 and the Ravens on Nov. 6. Nov. 13 is Bye Week for the Bengals, giving time for the second ranked Steelers to catch up before they meet again in Pittsburgh on the Dec. 4.
Bengals fans, all is not lost as a playoff season may still yet be in the works, so don’t retire those striped jerseys just yet!
Who Dey!