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Every single team in the AFC has been losing some close ball games and for that the Wild Card has been completely wide open.
Just exactly which teams will rise to the occasion and who will fold?
We thought the Steelers would be the one team to take advantage since they are one of the more experienced, clutch teams in football.
Plus, Pittsburgh has that potential future Hall of Fame quarterback Ben Roethlisberger with a coaching staff that has always been among the league’s best.
Everybody would also love to know whether or not Cincy is the same old ‘Bungals’ or if they are the new and improved Bengals.
Enter the star that is drawing comparisons to Calvin Johnson’s 2011 season. Yes, that would be Adriel Jeremiah or as everybody else knows as A.J. Green.
The former juggling club machine has now turned himself into a human highlight reel against defensive backs that have been constantly fooled by Green’s killer speed and instincts.
Andy Dalton has been slinging it often up for grabs with the confidence that Green will break away from oncoming traffic. Ryan Clark and Ike Taylor are a pair of veterans that will be tested since the Bengals vertical passing game is as effective as any team in the NFL.
Of course it would be a lot better if the ‘Lawfirm’ improved his production since he has been ineffective for the majority of the season and fumbling was certainly one of his strengths. Now he has been a liability, but he could put together one of his better games of the entire season.
The fact for you to chew on all weekend would be how the Bengals failed to defeat the Ravens or Steelers last season and yet they still appeared in the playoffs as a wild card squad.
Newsflash: They have ZERO chance to make the playoffs this season if they do the same and this game mine as well be considered their biggest game since the Carson Palmer era.
Many fans will never forget Carson Palmer getting his knees taken out by Steelers defensive lineman Kimo Von Oelhoffen in the 2005 postseason.
The Bengals had high hopes of going to the Super Bowl and Andy Dalton could be the next star to lead the franchise towards their first consecutive postseason births since 1981-1982 (would also be just the second time ever in franchise history).
Big Ben may have the fastest group of receivers in the AFC (Antonio Brown, Emmanuel Sanders, Mike Wallace), but they will be without Rashard Mendenhall and Isaac Redman.
The former Yellow Jacket Jonathan Dwyer will instead start and while he should find some running room, the Bengals will put together their best performance of the season against a Steelers squad that has been failing miserably at allowing the big plays this season.
Network: NBC
Time: 8:30 p.m. Eastern
Experts Pick: Steelers by 1
Danny V’s Pick: Bengals 24, Steelers 22
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