Sunday, October 07, 2001
'New' Bengals put to the test
By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer
From the moment Bengals players left the field Sunday in San Diego, they talked about rebounding from the loss for today's game at Pittsburgh.
The 2001 Bengals are a new team, they said, a mentally stronger team, more resilient, poised and professional in the mold of head coach Dick LeBeau.
Their ability to live up to their claims will be the major factor in whether the Bengals will win the first game at Heinz Field.
The Bengals also will have to neutralize tailback Jerome Bettis, make underachieving quarterback Kordell Stewart beat them and get a perfect game from kicker Neil Rackers.
EMOTIONAL RESCUE: The difference between Games 1-2 and Game 3 was how the Bengals dealt with, as LeBeau says, “in-game adversity.”
The Bengals trailed in both the New England and Baltimore games, yet found ways to come back stronger and play better. They came out in the third quarter in both and ran up a 27-0 total scoring edge.
At San Diego, after tying the game at 7 late in the first half, the Bengals were dominated in the third quarter (14-0) the way they had dominated.
Today, can the defense force a field goal if Bengals quarterback Jon Kitna throws his fourth interception in the past two weeks deep in Cincinnati territory? Will the offense be able to mount a drive in response to a Steelers score? How will the Bengals deal with the emotional energy of the 64,450 fans at Heinz Field?
“It is going to be a crazy atmosphere there,” Kitna said. “Their fans are going to be into it. Their players are probably going to be more jacked up than normal. Once it comes down to it, you have to play the game.”
DON'T RIDE THE BUS: If the Bengals can get a lead and keep Bettis in check, they'll force Stewart to win the game. He has a go-to receiver in Hines Ward — 16 receptions for 161 yards — but Stewart has thrown for just 288 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions.
Pittsburgh is 29th in the NFL in passing at 131 yards a game, 22 fewer yards than the 28th-ranked Bengals.
“We've got to be more efficient and more consistent throwing the ball,” Steelers coach Bill Cowher said. “We've got to try to stretch the field.”
Stewart did have recent success against the Bengals. He had three touchdown passes for 182 yards and a 125.4 passer rating Nov. 26 in Cincinnati.
IT'S UP, IT'S ... Rackers was 0-for-3 on field goals against Baltimore, but the rest of the team compensated.
Today's game will be close. Every scoring opportunity matters. Rackers, who's 3-for-6 in field goals this season, has to make every kick.
Gone is the artificial turf of Three Rivers Stadium. Last season, Rackers was 2-of-3 on turf, 10-of-18 on grass. Artificial turf is generally easier to kick on because the footing is surer.
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'New' Bengals put to the test
