RUSHING TO A DECISION
Bengals, Steelers led by their backs
CINCINNATI — Sunday night should be one of those throwback kind of games for the NFL. Bengals vs. Steelers. December in Pittsburgh. The forecast isn’t calling for any snow (at this point) but temperatures are expected to be in the upper 20s for a game that will decide the winner of the AFC North Division.
Both teams can throw the ball; Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green caught 11 passes for 224 yards and an 81yard touchdown against the Steelers three weeks ago, while Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is nearing 5,000 yards passing and wide receiver Antonio Brown is leading the NFL in catching everything. But this game is going to be about the ground.
This game is going to be about Jeremy Hill and Le’Veon Bell. Two of the most productive running backs in the NFL are the focal points of their respective offenses.
“I love it,” said Bell during a conference call with Cincinnati media Wednesday. “The situation we’re in, both teams love running the ball. Like you said, it’s AFC North football. If you’re in this [division] you’ve got to be prepared to run the ball, you’ve got to be prepared to stop the run. If you’re not able to stop the run, a lot of the games you’re probably not going to like the outcome of it. If you’re able to run the ball, you’re going to like the outcome of games.”
The Bengals are ranked fifth in the NFL in rushing, averaging 135.4 yards per game and have gained more than 200 yards on the ground in backtoback games for the first time since 2003 when they did so three games in a row in wins against Houston, Kansas City and San Diego.
Hill has rushed for 148 and 147 yards in the last two games against Cleveland and Denver. He leads all rookies with 1,024 yards and nine rushing touchdowns and is 106 yards shy of surpassing Corey Dillon’s franchise rookie record of 1,129 yards in 1997.
“We are really starting to hit our stride I think especially in the run game,” Hill said. “Everybody is doing their job and doing their part up front. You are really starting to see that our numbers are showing it. Guys are getting downfield and getting to the next level. It’s been a team effort everybody working together and doing their thing.”
Bell has produced 907 yards of total offense and scored eight touchdowns in the last five games. In Pittsburgh’s 4221 win against the Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on Dec. 7, Bell rushed for 185 yards and two touchdowns and caught six more passes for 50 yards and one touchdown.
“We’re going to do whatever is required for us to win,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. “We don’t make any bones about that. We don’t subscribe to any particular personality. We try to be a balanced group that takes what the defense gives us, and if that includes that then yes. If it doesn’t we’ll move on to something else.”
Sunday’s winner is guaranteed to host its firstround playoff game. The loser will travel to Indianapolis for its playoff opener.