Normally a bye in the 4th week of the season is too early, but not for the Steelers this year. The Steelers defense still has looked pretty good, and the running game on offense hasn’t been too bad, although not as good as usual.

The big problem for the Steelers is getting Ben Roethlisberger healthy and mentally back into the game. With all the injuries (some due to his own stupidity) he looks like a gun-shy player that is scared of getting hit. His passes lack zip and accuracy. If he doesn’t turn around soon, Coach Cowher will be faced with a difficult decision. Does he stick with Roethlisberger OR go with Charlie Batch who played so well against Miami? Since Cowher is probably going to retire after the season why should he really care about Roethlisberger’s feelings? He should play the QB that he’s confident can get the job done, whichever one that is.

Ben Roethlisberger shouldn’t be playing right now.  He looks like a cross between Bubby Brister, Mark Malone and Kordell Stewart on the field.  Roethlisberger completed 18 of 39 passes for 208 yards and 3 INTERCEPTIONS!  The Steelers should have kept to the running game as Willie Parker had an outstanding game.  Parker carried the ball 31 times for 133 yards and 2 TDs.  Verron Haynes chipped in 5 carries for 24 yards and 5 catches for 33 yards.  WR Cedric Wilson finally showed up for the season catching 3 passes for 73 yards.  Heath Miller had 3 catches for 34 yards.  WR Hines Ward had a whopping 2 catches for 17 yards.

The Steelers defense actually didn’t play that bad, but the offense kept putting them on short fields.  The Bengals ran the ball 25 times for 87 yards (3.5 ypc).  The Steelers allowed the Bengals to complete 18 of 26 passes for 159 net yards passing.

This Steeler team lacks the fire of previous seasons, and they better get it back before it’s too late.

So far the Steelers have been playing clean football. The Steelers have only had 4 penalties called on them for 35 yards. The opponents have been penalized 16 times for 149 yards.

OK Guys. We took an ass wippen and now everyone is pointing fingers. Raven your right. Ben should have put his ego aside and pulled himself out. Troy was playing with one arm and didn’t belong on the field. But in a game like that one the coaches have to wake up and make decisions for these guys. You can’t let the inmates run the asylum. Cincy is not going to be any easier.  I hope everyone is awake for that one.

This should be a good football game between teams that really hate each other.  The Bengals owe the Steelers something after they took a cheap shot at Carson Palmer in the playoffs.  I’m not so sure the Steelers would have made it out of the Jungle if Palmer wasn’t injured.

The Bengals are looking great on offense so far this year.  Look for the Bengals to pound RB Rudi Johnson (241 yds., 3 TDs) at the interior of the Steelers’ defense.  Soon as they soften them up, it will be bombs away!  WRs Chad Johnson, TJ Houshmandzadeh, Chris Henry and Kelley Washington will be too much for the Steelers secondary to handle.

If Ben Roethlisberger thought last Monday was tough, wait until this week!  The Bengals have a ball-hawking secondary (3 INT) and a good pass rush (7 sacks).  The Steelers have to get back to running Willie Parker to set up the passing game.  TE Heath Miller and WR Hines Ward must step up if the Steelers are to win this game.  Ward has only 7 catches for 82 yards this season.  Heath Miller had a great game against Miami, but was nowhere to be found against Jacksonville.

I like the Cats to get their revenge at Heinz Field Sunday!