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Out of more than 100 experts making picks on the game not a single one has CIN straight up. In the words of Myron Cope...hmm...haa.
CIN Offense:
CIN Defense:
Not sure what to expect from the Steelers this week. Sure, this should be a W but offensively they might try to get the run game going once again which could keep the score down especially if the weather is bad. Hopefully we see some creativity in playcalling as well. Then again, the Steelers just might go with what got them where they are, get the game over with and get back home.
CIN Offense:
- Allen hasn't practiced, so it's looking a lot like R Finley is getting the nod at QB this week. Finley is, uh, not a good QB. But small sample size so can't completely dismiss the guy. And the Steelers defense sometimes has weird outings against unknown QBs. Even if Allen does go, I don't see a huge difference here.
- Finley should be red meat against this Steelers defense; the OL is prone to giving up sacks, ranking 31st in sacks allowed with 46 total.... red meat I tell ya.
- CIN is god-awful in the passing game; in the last 5 wks they rank #32 in explosive pass plays. In contrast the run offense has had some success over this span, ranking #22 with 9 explosive rushes.
- Surprisingly in the last five weeks CIN ranks #5 in passing ratio, 66%/34%. This is probably because they faced PIT and WAS and basically had no rush attack in those games.
- They pass because CIN is woeful running the football. Not PIT woeful but close. Their successful run rate over the league avg is -6.1% in the last month (PIT is -9.4%). Really comes back to OL kinda like what we see every week.
- CIN is terrible in the RZ in the last month which is why they are 30th in pts/gm.
CIN Defense:
- CIN defense is very gifting; allowing explosive plays in both running and passing, ranking #32 and #31. Statistically they've tightened up in the last month but that's probably because of playing bad NYG and DAL offenses.
- Good news for Roethlisberger, CIN is not a sack machine, having 15 total on the year.
- CIN defense against the run is bottom of the NFL; also hint to Fichntner, CIN defense is weakest against the run on outside rushes. Please take advantage.
- CIN defense allows an avg passer rating of 97.3. Roethlisberger had 4 TDs in the last game against CIN, expect that he will take advantage again.
- DJ and JJSS had big games against CIN last time, hopefully more of the same. It would be great if they could work on deep passing game this week to iron out bugs.
Not sure what to expect from the Steelers this week. Sure, this should be a W but offensively they might try to get the run game going once again which could keep the score down especially if the weather is bad. Hopefully we see some creativity in playcalling as well. Then again, the Steelers just might go with what got them where they are, get the game over with and get back home.
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