Sunday, October 15, 2000
Who's got the edge?
Enquirer reporter Mark Curnutte gives his analysis of how the Bengals and Steelers match up by position.
Quarterback: Steelers
Akili Smith had 29 passing yards through three quarters against Tennessee. Of 32 rated quarterbacks in the NFL, he's 31st.
Kent Graham is 0-3 as a starter and has no touchdown passes, but he's rated 18 points higher than Smith. Backup Kordell Stewart is 2-0. The best QB is this game is not a starter.
Running backs: Steelers
Corey Dillon has had one great game and one great run. Subtract his 110-yard performance against Miami and the 80-yard TD run against Tennessee, and Dillon has 97 yards on 55 attempts.
Jerome Bettis has five touchdowns and 422 yards. Since being held to eight yards in the opener against Baltimore, Bettis has run for 133, 77, 97 and 107 yards. He's consistent.
Wide receiver/tight ends: Bengals
Rookie Peter Warrick will get his five balls this week. Will he drop them? The best receiver on the field is tight end Tony McGee. Give HIM the ball.
Top pick Plaxico Burress also is struggling with four fewer catches (12) than Warrick. Watch out for leading receiver Hines Ward, 16 catches for 195 yards.
Offensive line: Steelers
The Bengals had 49 yards rushing on 19 carries minus Dillon's 80-yarder against the Titans. The line is playing better, but how it will handle Pittsburgh's 3-4 is the question.
The Steelers' 143-plus yards a game rushing are NFL's second best. Rookie Marvel Smith back at right tackle because of injury to Shar Pourdanesh.
Special teams: Steelers
Punter Daniel Pope has a 38.2-yard average and has dropped two punts inside the 20. Neil Rackers is 3 of 8 on field goals.
Punter Josh Miller has a 44.3-yard average and has dropped nine punts inside the 20. Kris Brown is 7 of 9 on field goals.
Defensive line: Steelers
Tackle Oliver Gibson, a former Steeler, leads Bengals with three sacks. Line beginning to get pressure on quarterback.
Three-linemen defense is fifth in the NFL in allowing only 84.8 yards a game rushing.
Linebackers: Even
Takeo Spikes and Steve Foley are having big years. Spikes lifts play of whoever subs for injured Brian Simmons. One week it's Armegis Spearman. Last week it was Adrian Ross.
Earl Holmes, Jason Gildon and Levon Kirkland are Nos.1, 2 and 3 in tackles, as they should be in the 3-4. Gildon has three sacks.
Defensive backs: Even
Cornerback Rodney Heath will make his second start in a row. Bengals are 14th in the NFL against the pass in yards given up, five places better than Pittsburgh, but have allowed eight TD passes.
Cornerback Dewayne Washington says Steelers let down last two years at home against Cincinnati — both Pittsburgh losses — and predicts a decisive Steelers victory. Steelers DBs have six interceptions, Bengals DBs one.
Coaching: Steelers
Dick LeBeau continues to get more out of his team than Bruce Coslet did. LeBeau's slowly rebuilding his team's self-confidence.
Despite a bad 1999 — 6-10 would be good in Cincinnati — Bill Cowher has returned to his template of run the ball and stop the run.
The winner: Steelers
The outcome will be decided up front by the Steelers' offensive and defensive lines. Bettis will run for more than 100 yards. Bengals will have to resort to passing game.
Prediction: Steelers 20, Bengals 13
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Who's got the edge?