CINCINNATI -- The Bengals have had just three losing seasons since Marvin Lewis became their head coach in 2003. And Lewis owns a 123-111-3 record during that span, making him the winningest coach in franchise history.
But he just can't seem to consistently beat the Steelers, especially with Ben Roethlisberger at quarterback.
The Steelers are 16-3 at Paul Brown Stadium since it opened, and they're 20-7 overall against the Bengals when Ben starts, a Roethlisberger record surpassed only by his 22-2 against the Browns.
Needless to say, the Bengals were probably one of the happiest teams in the league when Roethlisberger mentioned the possibility of retirement in the offseason, only to disappoint them again.
One of those 20 victories by the Steelers over the Bengals with Roethlisberger at quarterback came earlier this season when Pittsburgh scored the final 15 points of the game -- all on Chris Boswell field goals -- to break a 14-14 second quarter tie. The 29 points were the most the Steelers had scored until they exploded for 71 in their past two games.
The Steelers went just 1 for 6 in the red zone in that game but have converted 8 of their past 14.
“They are doing a good job of finishing their drives off," said Lewis. "Guys have settled in. The young receiver (JuJu Smith-Schuster) has been a factor in games. He was just starting to be when we first played them. (Jesse) James at tight end has become a big focus. He has really converted a lot of third downs as people work to take other guys away.”
The Bengals have the NFL's fifth-ranked pass defense, allowing 204 yards per game, and have given up only 12 touchdown passes, matching the Steelers and Vikings for the fourth-fewest allowed. But there's nothing like a prime-time game to bring out the best in the Steelers, who have won their past 10 night games.
"All your peers are watching, all your family is watching, your friends, people all over the world," Roethlisberger said. "So it's fun when you put on a good show."
Roethlisberger has certainly done that of late.
He has completed just under 71 percent of his passes over his past 10 quarters, throwing for 714 yards with 10 touchdowns and two interceptions. He enters Monday night's game needing 238 yards to become the eighth player in league history with 50,000 career passing yards.
The Steelers had been relying on the running of Le'Veon Bell to carry them early in the season, but Roethlisberger has thrown the ball 45 times in each of the past two games, showing the offense can be dynamic in both phases.
"I think it’s just a matter of us continuing to grow, sticking with what we know," Todd Haley said. "It gives us a chance to succeed. Some games we’re going to throw it more. Some games we’re going to run it more. And we’re glad we have the capabilities to do both, and I think we’ve shown we have the capabilities to do both. So now as we move down the backstretch we’ve got to just continue to get better."
THE ESSENTIALS
• Who: Steelers (9-2) vs. Bengals (5-6)
• When: 8:32 p.m.
• Where: Paul Brown Stadium
• TV: ESPN
• Radio: 102.5 WDVE, ESPN Pittsburgh
• Satellite: SiriusXM Channel 83 (Internet 806)
• Forecast: Flurries, 40, wind 10 WNW
• Lots open: 3:30 p.m.
• Will call open: 4:30 p.m.
• Gates open: 6:30 p.m.
• Boxscore: NFL Game Center
• Media notes: Steelers | Bengals
• Odds: MyBookie.AG
THE INJURY REPORT
Steelers: WR Antonio Brown (toe, questionable but expected to play), CB Joe Haden (fibula, out), TE Vance McDonald (ankle, out), S Mike Mitchell (ankle, doubtful).
Bengals: LB Vinny Rey (hamstring, out), LB Nick Vigil (ankle, out), S Shawn Williams (hamstring, out), DE Michael Johnson (back, questionable).
THE KEY VARIABLE
Cincinnati linebacker Vontaze Burfict hasn't had the impact he has had in previous seasons -- both pre- and post-whistle.
Burfict was suspended for the first three games of this season for a preseason hit that was deemed illegal, and he has been penalized multiple times this season for various infractions. But he hasn't drawn another suspension and has avoided fines.
That hasn't stopped the Bengals' players from complaining that Burfict is a marked man, going as far as to say that officials have unfairly targeted him.
Lewis told reporters earlier this month that was not the case.
"Officials have a job to do, and I've explained this to Vontaze, and he understands that," Lewis said. "They have a job to do and they are going to separate players, and players are in a situation where they are there. That's not what this is about, where the NFL should be. So, get back to the huddle and get going, and that's the most important thing. We don't need to jaw with anyone after the play, any of the players, so that's important."
The Steelers, of course, have a long history with Burfict, including earlier this season when he kicked fullback Roosevelt Nix in the head following a play as they both lay on the field. He was fined for the play.
David DeCastro has had some well-publicized battles with Burfict in the past, but doesn't see them as a big deal. This, despite the fact Burfict has been fined more than $1 million in his career.
"I think you guys are going to build it up more than it is," DeCastro said. "It's part of the game, in terms of the emotions and how things happen. You see it across the league. People want to see it. It's part of football. It's aggressive, it's violent and you're asking guys to run into each other full speed with their helmets. I mean, come on. It takes a different breed of people to do that. We're not all sane. So you just play the game and you enjoy it, you enjoy that kind of competition, battle, if you will, and the whole rivalry."
THE MAIN MATCHUP
Bell has played six career games against the Bengals and has 534 yards rushing despite being knocked out early in back-to-back games in 2014 and 2015 with knee injuries on hits by Reggie Nelson and Burfict. Bell had just 65 yards on 18 carries in those two games.
In a 29-14 win over the Bengals earlier this season, Bell had 134 yards on 35 carries, adding three catches for 58 yards.
Following the game, Cincinnati rookie running back Joe Mixon expressed some envy, especially after Mixon failed to get a carry in the second half of that game after twice being beaten by Vince Williams for sacks early in the third quarter.
"I feel like I can do way more than (Bell) did," Mixon told reporters after that game. "I only had seven carries. I can't showcase nothing if I don't get the ball. There's nothing else I can say."
Bell took offense at the statement and ripped the Bengals rookie on Twitter the next week saying Mixon was trying to copy his style, both in terms of fashion and running the ball. The two had words on Twitter, including these posts from Bell:
now u wear an arm sleeve on your left arm AND went to the mismatch gloves too?! lol just change your number from 28 to 26 while your at it..
— Le'Veon Bell (@L_Bell26) October 29, 2017
for someone who feels they can do “way more” than I can, sure seems like u wanna be me! tryin to mimic my run style, my 1st down celebration
— Le'Veon Bell (@L_Bell26) October 29, 2017
Bell, who leads the NFL in rushing, and Mixon, who is coming off his first career 100-yard game last week against Cleveland, will be on the same field together again for the first time since they had their back-and-forth social media battle.
"The week we played them last time, he had said certain things that he's way better than me and things like that," Bell said. "The week after that, he's trying to wear everything I'm wearing. That's the only thing that's kind of confusing to me. I'm kind of confused by the whole thing. It is what it is. He's his own player, I'm my own player. We'll go out there and do our thing."
Running backs don't get to play against each other on the field, but you can bet Bell and Mixon will be watching each other closely.
The Steelers are fully prepared to see a lot more of Mixon in this game, especially after he ran for 114 yards on 23 carries last week against Cleveland.
"He's definitely running hard," said linebacker Bud Dupree of Mixon. "He knows the plays. You can see that. We've got to limit his impact."
Since allowing 232 yards rushing in an October loss to the Jaguars, the Steelers are giving up just over 62 yards rushing per game. They don't want Mixon to be the player who somehow figures out how to solve their rush defense.
But with the defense having given up a number of big plays in recent weeks, the Steelers could be forced to pay extra attention to Cincinnati's receivers -- including A.J. Green, one of the best in the league -- perhaps opening things up for the running game.
"I think he’s gotten better at running the ball and we have to do a good job and stop the running game," said Steelers defensive coordinator Keith Butler. "It’s the same formula that we’ve talked about. Stop the run and get them in passing situations and try to put pressure on (the quarterback)."
THE QUOTES
"He’s the head coach. He's allowed to look to whatever game he wants to. We’re the ones playing the game. I know coaches look ahead sometimes. They kind of get the game plan for the team you are playing that week. If they have extra time, they go to next week’s game plan and try to do some stuff. I know Coach Randy (Fichtner) does that and other coaches will do that, too, just to try and get maybe a heads up, a little leg up on the competition if you will. As the head coach, he’s obviously entitled to look at, to think about, to prepare for whatever he wants to get himself ready to go. But for us and the players, we are singularly focused on the Bengals." -- Roethlisberger, on Tomlin last week talking about the Patriots game Dec. 17 being the "elephant in the room"
"There are a lot of good defensive linemen who do a lot of good things besides sacks. They get tackles for a loss, passes defensed, pressure. There are different elements to being a good defensive lineman besides sacks. But that’s what a lot of people get recognized for." -- Cameron Heyward, on whether he is being recognized for his nine sacks
“Every time we play (the Steelers), it’s been a good game. It comes down to the fourth quarter. It’s been tough games, hard-fought games. That’s why we hear about it. They’re a really good team. We’ve had our share of being on top in this division. That’s why there’s so much put into it, because obviously it’s a divisional game, too. There’s a lot of importance surrounding it in this city, around this area, when we play them.” -- Andy Dalton
THE TEN DATA POINTS
• Brown needs eight receiving yards to move past Marvin Harrison (6,322) for the most in a four-year span in NFL history.
• Cincinnati's Carl Lawson leads all rookies with seven sacks this season and is part of a deep and talented rotation the Bengals use on their defensive line. The Steelers' T.J. Watt is tied for second with Cleveland's Myles Garrett with five.
• The Steelers are the only team in the NFL allowing fewer than 100 rushing (96.0) and 200 passing (193.4) yards per game.
• Cincinnati has an NFL-worst 176 first downs this season, 99 fewer than league-leader New England. The Steelers have allowed the fewest first downs (174) in the NFL.
• Bell and Brown rank first and second in the AFC in first downs made. Bell has accounted for 74, while Brown has 56.
• The Steelers are 10-2 in Monday night games under Tomlin, including 6-2 on the road. One of those losses was a 20-10 defeat at Cincinnati in 2013. The Steelers have won 10 consecutive games in prime time.
• Cincinnati's red zone defense leads the league, allowing touchdowns just 39.5 percent of the time. But the Bengals have given up 38 red zone trips. Only six teams have allowed more.
• Chris Boswell needs four points for his second 100-point season in three years. Boswell had 113 points in his first season with the Steelers in 2015 and 99 last year.
• Steelers punter Jordan Berry's 43.2 yards-per-kick average is tied for last in the NFL with New England's Ryan Allen. But Berry has placed 19 kicks inside the 20 with just two touchbacks.
• Shazier needs 13 tackles to reach 100 for the first time in his career. He is sixth in the league in tackles with 87.
THE SNEAKY FANTASY PLAY
I give you Brandon LaFell.
The Steelers will be paying a ton of attention to Green, one of the league's most dangerous receivers, and that should allow LaFell to see plenty of one-on-one coverage. At 6-3, 210 pounds, he's a matchup issue for the Steelers on the outside. He's not a big-play threat, necessarily -- averaging 10.1 yards per catch this season -- but he did score in the previous meeting against the Steelers and has been a little more involved in downfield plays in recent weeks. He caught a 37-yard pass against Tennessee three weeks ago and had a 29-yard reception against Denver two weeks ago.
LaFell isn't going to go bonkers and catch 10 passes for 95 yards, as he did against the Titans, but I could see four receptions for 45 yards and a score in this one.
THE MULTIMEDIA
Christopher Carter and DK on the Java:
Carter's video Classroom on the Bengals:
Our DK Sports Radio preview show:
THE STAFF PICKS
Our football coverage team offers predictions:
Dale Lolley: The Steelers have won their past four against the Bengals and are 20-7 against them when Ben Roethlisberger starts. And the Bengals have been pretty good over that period. Cincinnati's season is on the line, and it's a rare Monday night game at Paul Brown Stadium. I don't think the Bengals are a great team, but I don't think they're bad, either. The offensive line isn't good and that causes a lot of their issues, but the defense is solid and they have offensive playmakers. Something just tells me the Steelers are due for a loss after a six-game winning streak -- they aren't going to go 14-2 -- so I'm going to go with the home team here in a close one. Bengals, 24-23
Dejan Kovacevic: The Steelers are never happier than when they beat the Bengals. No matter how often it happens -- and that's a lot -- and no matter the scope of the game, against Cincinnati or anyone else, there's nothing they relish like this. So please, let's not waste any energy worrying about whether they're looking ahead to the Patriots. They don't hate the Patriots. They hate these guys, at least in the sporting sense. That said, A.J. Green being hobbled will afford the Steelers a chance to tee off on Andy Dalton. Which they will enjoy almost as much as the outcome. Steelers, 26-16
Chris Carter: The Steelers are in a position to lock up the AFC North with wins over the Bengals and Ravens these next two weeks. And that will happen Monday on the ground. Every time Le'Veon Bell has played the Bengals since his second year in the NFL, he has either blown up the game and gone for over 100 total yards or gotten injured. I think the former happens in a big way for the Steelers and you start to see him take over December like he did last year. Look for the defense to give up a couple scores but generate turnovers that put the game away late. Steelers, 27-17
Matt Sunday: At the beginning of the season, I watched the Bengals struggle as much as the Browns and wondered if the Steelers could sweep the North. After taking the first three games it’s certainly possible, but there is a problem — the Steelers play the Bengals and Ravens before they see the Patriots. By all accounts, the Bengals should be handled by the Steelers, but it’s obvious the team from Pittsburgh is looking ahead a couple of weeks. Still, I like the chances of the Steelers continuing their offensive success and winning this one. Steelers, 24-17
