With Antonio Chatman ending his season on Injured Reserve, and Chris Henry playing so terribly since his Mike Brown early Christmas resurrection, what's left of the Bengals passing game beyond Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh? Glenn Holt and Andre Caldwell (who just recovered from his own injury); Jerome Simpson is still hurt, and unlikely to play Thursday. On the practice squad ranks are Mario Urrutia and Maurice Purify.

Three's a company? It's a freaking party. With Levi Jones and Andrew Whitworth declared "out", the Bengals will turn to Anthony Collins at left tackle and Scott Kooistra at left guard. Kooistra is out also. Seriously? Thursday night, the Bengals will have two guys starting on the left side of the offensive line that's never started. Inexperienced be damned, says Nate Livings, expected to start at left guard. "I've been playing this game all my life. It's what I do. Ever since I was nine, 10 years old. To me, it's no different than that," said Livings before Wednesday's practice. "I think that's where people go wrong. They put too much (emphasis on inexperience). Yes, it's the NFL. But it's my job. I come to work every day and that's how I look at it."

What's the tally on injury? Chris Crocker looks to get a start after Chinedum Ndukwe was declared out, one of nine players out. Three offensive linemen, three players on their way to IR (if you include Carson Palmer), and two defensive ends, Eric Henderson and Antwan Odom. Starting cornerback Johnathan Joseph also missed practices this week and is listed as questionable.

STATUS

TUESDAY: Not including Antonio Chatman and Carson Palmer, declared out already, the Bengals had eight players sit out practice for various elements on Tuesday; three linemen and two starting defensive backs, more notable. Levi Jones and Andrew Whitworth figure to be out, meaning Anthony Collins will make his first start alongside Scott Kooistra, if his presence on the injury report with a "knee" is only for rest.

Practices

DNP - Did Not Practice
LP - Limited Participation in Practice
FP - Full Participation in Practice

You don't know a blitz, until you experience a Dick LeBeau blitz. So Dick LeBeau was a terrible head football coach for the Bengals, though we have a hard time displacing a coach like him, whose success as a coach is well-known in the thrones of Steelers lore because we believe that Mike Brown could put God on the sidelines and the Bengals would still hover around .500.

During LeBeau's first run as Bengals defensive coordinator, around the time he introduced the Fire Zone defense, the Bengals went to a Super Bowl and won two AFC Central championships. Unlike his defense with Pittsburgh, the Bengals weren't particular ranked well amongst the league's best scoring defenses (only one top-ten ranking), and overall was midpack, save for scat successes here and there between 1984-1991.

As a defensive coordinator from 1997 into 2000 when he was named head coach, the Bengals defense never came close to replicating the Steelers defensive successes; his best season in 2000 was 21st scoring and 22nd overall; though a measure of improvement began and ended in 2001.

There's no apology in football. As much as I hate that Keith Rivers is out for the season, I wouldn't expect Hines Ward, or any NFL player to apologize for a hit that the league viewed as clean. Apparently a helmet that incorporates Concussion Reduction Technology, a polycarbonate shell, and systems, space-technology padding, rusting and all that jazz, doesn't prevent broken jaws. Though it was a shock to learn that Keith Rivers isn't a "real player", conjured up by magic potions and fantasy football drafts.

The bigger issue is that players, media and fans glorify the cutback block, an unskilled maneuver praying on a guy running at full speed, not aware of a predatory blocker. Impressive is when a big running back hits the hole, gets laid out while in the air horizontally. The over-hyped hits tend to land players in IR, or have their careers ended. With players being faster and water-pills bigger than ever before.

Man to man, face to face. Those are the greatest hits in football. That's how "real players" hit.

The differences between T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Hines Ward are small.
C Trent on Digger Bujnoch.
Curnutte's scouting report | preview.
Opportunity for Nate Livings and Anthony Collins.

Game: Cincinnati Bengals (1-8-1) @ Pittsburgh Steelers (7-3)
Series Leader: Steelers, 46-30
Streak: Steelers won the past four.
Coaches vs. Opponent: Lewis: 3-9. Tomlin: 3-0
Broadcast: NFLN (8:00 PM ET): Bob Papa, Cris Collinsworth. Westwood One Radio: Ian Eagle, Boomer Esiason, Hub Arkush (Field reporter). SIRIUS: 124 (WW1), 126 (Cin.), 127 (Pit.). XM: 124 (WW1), 102 (Cin.), 103 (Pit.).
SB Nation: Behind the Steel Curtain
NFL.com: Game Center
Weather: Temperature 33, light winds and light snow showers [Weather.com]
Uniform: White
Television Coverage: NFL Network or inside the cities the game is played.
Site: We plan on being here.

Bengals

• Team has won five of the past seven games against AFC teams in November.
• Ryan Fitzpatrick has recorded a 60% completion rate in each of his six starts.
• In Fitzpatrick's last two starts, he's thrown for three touchdowns and only one interception (88.9 passer rating). Has 103 yards rushing in his past three games.
• When he rushes twenty times or more in a game, Cedric Benson averages 76.6 yards rushing.
• With six receptions, T.J. Houshmandzadeh will have at least six receptions in nine straight games. Since 2007, Houshmandzadeh leads the NFL with 185 receptions.
• Chad Johnson has three touchdown receptions in his past four games.
• With a reception, Chad Johnson will have at least one reception in 103 straight games.
• The Bengals are 22-6-1 (any guesses on when the "one" happened?) when the defense picks off two pass or more.
• Dhani Jones leads the team with 96 tackles.
• Glenn Holt is still first in the AFC with 933 kickoff return yards.

Steelers

• With a win, the Steelers will have beaten the Bengals in five straight games -- first time since September 19, 1993.
• In 2008, the Steelers are 6-1 against AFC clubs.
• Ben Roethlisberger is 25-8 when playing at home with 6,998 yards passing, 47 touchdowns and 33 interceptions (90.7 passer rating). Including the playoffs, the Steelers are 29-2 when Roethlisberger has a passer rating of 100 or better.
• Willie Parker looks to have 100 yards rushing at home for the third straight game.
• As a starter against the Bengals, Parker averages 113.7 yards rushing.
• Hines Ward, averaging 118 yards receiving in his past two games, looks to have a 100-hundred receiving performance for the first time since 2002. He has five touchdowns in the past three games against the Bengals.
• Santonio Holmes is averaging 100 yards receiving in his past three games against the Bengals.
• Steelers lead the AFC with 36 sacks.
• LaMarr Woodley has 8.5 sacks in his past seven games and James Harrison has nine in his past seven and ranks 2nd in the NFL with 12.

Team Rankings

Carson Palmer (just FYI since he's not playing)

Ryan Fitzpatrick

Cedric Benson

Kenny Watson

Chris Perry

Chad Johnson

T.J. Houshmandzadeh

Team served best if youth learns under fire during dismal season.

Levi Jones, while healthy is a good left tackle, should get healthy now and let Anthony Collins finish the season.

If you think about it, the Bengals will have Anthony Collins next season, a guard/tackle combination in Andrew Whitworth and then Levi Jones. That's for certain. Stacy Andrews could easily bail into free agency once his contract expires this season, and the health of Jones is a growing concern (OK, it's a super-big concern). What's the mainstream thought of whom the Bengals are going to draft? An offensive tackle: Michael Oher, Andre Smith (if he comes out), Phil Loadholt, Alex Boone.

Where would Jones go?

Even with the terrifying prospect that Anthony Collins will make his first career start against Pittsburgh's James Harrison, there's a lot to look forward to. He is, after all, the future of the team's younger generation of offensive linemen. Now would be a great time to accumulate reps, allowing him the chance to finish the season so Levi Jones can focus on getting 100% healed for 2009. One would have to assume that Jones' qualification to sticking with the team would be getting healthy; provided what we're seeing is a result of health issues. That's ala Bengals, playing the character "Rudi Johnson", presented by Levi Jones. In preparation of Andrews leaving, keep Jones and draft a lineman. In preparation of Jones leaving (ala Willie Anderson), sign Andrews and draft a lineman. I prefer the latter, but expect the former.

Now that's a bunch of pesky "ifs", similar to how we approached running backs this off-season. Remember we were told that Rudi Johnson looked great. Then he got hurt, was shopped, forced to wait, later cut, checked out motor city gig, and signed a deal. Of course, Chris Perry's season was critical, make-or-break, instead he sucked, sucked some more, then watched Cedric Benson sign, start, while Perry brooded. Essentially, we hoped for the best and were answered with the worst (ala, Cincinnati Bengals, American government).

So the obvious answer to all this, based on the history of happy-pray time, is to build your offensive line with youth as quickly as you can, extending beyond this season's introduction of Collins. You don't have to cut Jones, like you didn't have to cut Willie Anderson. Get Anthony Collins in there, let him learn the game under fire, and let Jones focus on his rehab. Find a way to get Stacy Andrews signed long-term and you have a much improved offensive line. There's always that one guy lurking with comments of "what if he's terrible." And that guy would be wise to ask.

For a time, Collins could be terrible, learning to play in the NFL will be a lesson on how advanced the game is played. Remember, this should be his senior year at Kansas, so he could very well be terrible to start. He'll grow into the game with time, eventually becoming a foundation of the team's youth movement. But he needs the reps, as many as possible.

One of the benefits of being a computer guy, professionally, is that I can make several changes within the system that affects my coworkers. Suffice it to say, we have several Steelers fans. All good people in truth, and their love to rip me and my team is a source of good pleasantry for them. So I aimed to return the favor.

I made a few firewall modifications, forcing a redirection of a requested URL. If our users type in steelers.com, or any modification of that, this screen comes up.

Click on screen for enlarged picture.

They love it when I do that.

Everything in Philadelphia is now mine, says the Cincinnati Bengals fan amused of what our little ol' team was able to accomplish -- chaos, disorder, challenged, confusion, suspicion, and paranoia. After being blown out by the Texans (the TEXANS?!) and having the score run up on them against Pittsburgh (we're hoping that a Bengals player will find these pages, print them up on a lockerroom wall for some added motivation), the Bengals said enough was enough. Instead of just defeating (and tying) teams, they purged the lands, plundering loot while putting huts to flame, and cattle destroyed by the golden fastball of Ryan Fitzpatrick's arm.

Excuses for why the Bengals won't win.

• Played a 75-minute football game on Sunday, only getting three days rest before Thursday night game.
• Two starting offensive linemen hurt.
• Only four likely receivers.
• Eric Ghiaciuc.

More, more, more

Thursday's Bengals / Steelers game could be competitive?

Frostee Rucker comes one foot short of a touchdown.

T.J. Houshmandzadeh is the hottest (most productive, you juveniles) player in the AFC North.

Any bets on which Bengals defensive player enacts payback after Hines Ward broke Keith Rivers' jaw in the last meeting?

Apparently Rototimes didn't know that tearing your plantar fasciitis means that you're almost recovered.

The defense is a bright spot.

Anthony, your first assignment is James Harrison. Enjoy.

If he starts, Anthony Collins' first task is to stop James Harrison from doing this.

If there's ever a scenario that exists out there, such as making your first start against one of the league's best defensive players, Thursday night would define it. With 12 sacks this season, Steelers outside linebacker James Harrison will be salivating at the thought of pushing a rookie tackle around, making his first NFL start if neither Levi Jones or Andrew Whitworth can heal significantly enough through Thursday afternoon. Note: If Jones or Whitworth can't go.

Rather than expecting him to match-up one-on-one with Harrison, the Bengals would likely send help his way with Kenny Watson (either fully blocking, or chipping into a route in the flats), Daniel Coats and/or Reggie Kelly. At the same time, this could present opportunities for LaMarr Woodley (10 sacks) and Lawrence Timmons (4), along with a three-man rush and additional blitzes from Larry Foote and James Farrior. A focus on protecting Collins might work against the Bengals, creating mismatches for the Steelers to overload the right side.

All things considered, James Harrison has 24.5 career sacks, with his first two career sacks against the Bengals during the week-seven run-the-score-up blowout on October 19 this year. The way the Bengals have held Harrison in check by a healthier and younger Levi Jones, (not by much on both accounts), save for one game, there could be optimism there.

You force us to make bad conclusions. Levi Jones made this blogger characteristically jump to a the conclusion that he was pulled from Sunday's game because of poor performance, rather than, as Marvin Lewis said, struggle "a little bit with his leg." We believed Jones was hinting that he was pulled because of his performance, giggling a bit when Lewis was speaking during the post-game press conference. "What do you think," he replied either hinting at being pulled for performance, or us not believing it was injury related.

On Monday, Lewis was evasive when asked if Jones (and Whitworth) would be ready to play on Thursday. "I don't need to make that determination now. It's a short week. We'll see." And people wonder how we make our own conclusions. Therefore, my subsequent conclusion is that Jones will start at left tackle, while the team keeps his injury status quiet, like adding his name on the injury report under full practice. Anthony Collins couldn't play, to give room for our second-to-newest center, Andrew Crummey; not that it matters. Lewis is pretty content with having Kooistra as the team's third guard, and likely starting guard if Whitworth can't go.

When tearing plantar fasciitis is a good thing. Where the beer goes in, and where it comes out is about the summation of my basic understanding of the human body. Dealing with a foot injury that apparently got fixed during an NFL game, Chinedum Ndukwe tore the plantar fasciitis in the first quarter. Rashad Jeanty dealt with the same thing a "few weeks ago" and now you see he's playing. Ndukwe is still uncertain, dealing with the soreness of having a body part torn, which is apparently how they roll in the NFL. Either way, he's better off now with the torn plantar fasciitis.

Another placed on IR. Livings is back. UC center signed. Included with Andrew Whitworth's undetermined recovery, the Bengals choose to pull Nate Livings from the team's practice squad, and sign UC center Glenn Bujnoch to replace him. Abdul Hodge suffered an "arm injury" and was placed on Injured Reserve to make room for Livings.

Bengals press release (per C Trent)

Signed G Nate Livings to the roster from the Bengals practice squad. Livings (6-5, 335; Louisiana State) is classified a first-year NFL player. He has been on the practice squad for Games 1-10 after playing in all four Bengals preseason games. He was also on the Bengals practice squad for the full 2006 season and for Games 1-15 of 2007. He was signed to the roster in ’07 for the final regular season game, but was inactive for that contest.

Placed LB Abdul Hodge on the Reserve/Injured list. Hodge suffered an arm injury in yesterday’s game against Philadelphia at Paul Brown Stadium. Hodge played in six games (Games 5-10) after being signed from the Bengals practice squad and had four special teams tackles.

Signed rookie C Digger Bujnoch to the practice squad. Bujnoch (6-5, 285) is a Cincinnati native, a product of Elder High School and the University of Cincinnati. He is the son of Glenn Bujnoch, who played G for the Bengals from 1976-82. Digger Bujnoch entered the NFL on May 1 of this year as a college free agent signee of the N.Y. Giants. He played in all four Giants preseason games, but suffered a knee injury in the preseason finale and was waived/injured on Aug. 30. He reverted to the Giants’ Reserve/Injured list on Aug. 31. He was waived from the Reserve/Injured list with an injury settlement on Sept. 5.

Call 'em Digger, for he is center. Mr. Digger Bujnoch, son of former Bengals guard Glenn Bujnoch (1976-1982), joined the team's practice squad Monday afternoon. Reshirted in 2003, Digger became a tight end in 2004 to help out with injuries. Then he started the rest of his career at right tackle, partially injured throughout his career.

He suffered a knee injury with the Giants this preseason, waived a week later after receiving a settlement. Sports Illustrated wrote up draft analysis on him.

POSITIVES: Hard-working small-area tackle who projects to guard at the next level. Quick in all aspects of his game, makes terrific use of angles and body positioning, and attacks assignments. Stays square, effectively places his hands into defenders, and keeps his feet moving. Plays with a good degree of intelligence and keeps his head on a swivel.

NEGATIVES: Struggles to adjust and beaten by quick opponents. Lacks a dominant base and does not get much movement run-blocking.

ANALYSIS: Bujnoch has been a productive and mostly durable prospect in college, yet he must improve his playing strength for any chance at the next level.

The NFL is the NFL because gamblers make is so. One of the reasons why the NFL is priceless is the emphasis being placed regarding a potential touchdown with time expiring that would have increased the points in which the Steelers beat the Chargers. If it's a touchdown, the Steelers win by eight points (or seven, if a PAT isn't attempted). If it's not a touchdown, the Steelers win by one point. In the end, the bigger argument of the touchdown, non-touchdown, is playoff seeding. Yet it's one of the headlines you woke up to this morning, with a shiny Peter King smile. "$100 million was bet on this game alone, with $66 million of that bet on the Steelers. The Steelers were four-point favorites. Instead of winning 17-10 or 18-10, the Steelers won 11-10. Thus they didn't cover, much to the angst of gamblers around the United States."

King isn't supporting the argument, instead addressing the conspiracy theorists. I realize there's a lot of money involved here, but touchdown or not, the Steelers win the game. Yet, controversy, some going as far as saying the game was fixed. The NFL is priceless, people that observe the sport, but with the love for the greatest sport in the world.

Then again, I've always been a dreamer, enjoying antique movies where the good guy wins, makes out with the hot girl, and the the villain is less a threat than a Stormtropper locking his blaster at any member of the Skywalker/Solo clan.

Victims of the Bengals.

Donovan

Peterson

Bengals aren't just spoilers. They'll completely wreck your team. The Bengals really screwed things up in Philadelphia. Defending Donovan | Sharing Blame | Rarity | Chokers | Irrelevant. In the matter of two weeks, the Bengals forced End of Era talk in Philadelphia and the odd circumstances involving middle linebacker Mike Peterson's celebration of a sack, which earned him two go-homes during practice, deactivated the following week with a $10,000 fine, and now backup linebacker / special teams contributor. Fans are turning on Peterson.

Thank you, the lords of almighty payback. Even though the Bengals are, well, the Bengals, no one-sentence recap required, a death of chivalry and thus Bengals agnosticism becomes of us.

To like cats, one must show equality. As tremendously pleasant as it has been to watch the Bengals, joining you crazy cats every Sunday afternoon with chicken sandwiches being washed down with (several) two liters of Mountain Dew, it's been as enjoyable watching the University of Cincinnati Bearcats impose their will through the Big East, using five quarterbacks randomly, though not by choice, rather chance.

With the Cincinnati Bengals being 1-8-1, playing sound technique on how to tie football games, not put pressure on a quarterback, or how to call a third-down play in overtime at midfield with seven yards to go, the Bearcats are starting to receive some Queen City loving. Pitt game is almost sold out, some love Kelly's aggression, even if he's calling fans out; even the New York Times is taking notice.

Now that the masses have spoken, decidedly 61% supporting, this site to add some Bearcats talk, hoping to get the locals that haven't gotten on board with the Bearcats. Worry not, however, my nervous friends, for I will still write up 10 posts per day about our precious Bengals, but I've longed to cheer for good football for a long time now.

Steelers defense is good. Because we say so. Stuffing the Chargers to 210 yards total isn't just an accomplishment, it's dominance, considering the suddenly-stale LaDainian Tomlinson was only held to 57 yards rushing, and Philip Rivers suffered his third two-interception game this season; two in a row.

Scoring 11 points with 410 yards total offense has offensive-minded folk like me wondering; only 11 points against the league's 19th best scoring defense that allows twice the points that the Steelers scored? Maybe it was the weather. Though, the Steelers weren't given a chance to complete a 16-yard pass with two minutes left in the game to increase a 21-point lead to 28 in the fourth quarter, so they weren't able to add to their 11 points, referee screw up included.

Yes, it's Steelers week and all I can hope for is a workman like effort by the Bengals showing a little professional pride. Looking at you, Chad. Steelers fans are consumed after last night's loss, which bodes well with our chart of Bengals victims during this final stretch of the season playing under the nickname of "wreckers" if Pittsburgh players are on a similar neural track. Refs hating Steelers | Tired of apologizes. I want to know what's going on with the Steelers offense.

One can not argue, however, the Steelers ability to get to the quarterback. Four times this season, the defense sacked the opposing quarterback five times. James Harrison (12) and LeMarr Woodley (10) have combined eight games where one or the other recorded multiple sacks in one game. With Andrew Whitworth sprinting his healing process, and Levi Jones playing awful, the Bengals will have to really pull it together to compete in this one.

Even though home games are sold out, Bengals emails about Stub Hub deals still infiltrate. Stub Hub, a secondary ticketing provider for the Cincinnati Bengals, delivered an electronic newsletter trying to sell the three remaining home games this season. Not that it's unusual to receive these things, especially if you made the mistake of supply your email address thinking you're getting press releases and all that jazz when in reality the newsletters are simply articles on Bengals.com that are released, in most cases, days ago.

The opening sentence is "it's a fan's market", seemed really highlighted. Fans are generally looking for cheaper prices for their tickets, to avoid paying costly tickets and concessions, and based on the economy, boycotts and nagging wives, many have stopped going entirely. Stub Hub typically buys tickets in bulk, hoping to sell with a little charge to increase their revenues. Fans are bulking at the Bengals, while Stub Hub is making a final campaign to use words like "it's a fans market" to sell their over-purchased tickets. Classic.

The Bengals rush defense has performed well in successive weeks, allowing the Jaguars and Eagles only 68 yards rushing a piece. Evenly splitting the season into two five-game campaigns, the Bengals rush defense has doubled their efforts, cutting the yardage allowed in half.

You'll note the obvious trend of lowering the opposing team's rushing efforts, limiting three of the past five teams to less than 100 yards rushing.

It might be somewhat surprising to see that the Bengals defense has only allowed two 100-yard rushers all season (Mewelde Moore, Chris Johnson). Though you'll also note that the Bengals have played various offenses that incorporate a two-back system, like the Cowboys, Titans, Giants, and Jaguars. Based on a different perspective, you could combine the yardage of the top two running backs for the Giants, Cowboys, Titans and Ravens to make the argument that the Bengals have allowed over 100 yards to the opposing team's two leading rushers for that game, which inflates to five games. Again, that depends on your perspective.

I listed the opposing team's leading rusher for the game we played them, and if a second running back got significant chances (through that point of the season), I listed those as well.

Even though the Bengals defense broke a string of nine-straight games allowing a rushing touchdown, touchdowns continue to be a problem. Most aspects against the rush are improving though. So why the improvement? It's not like the Bengals are playing with significant leads, forcing opposing offenses to throw the ball late in the game.

Pat Sims played his first game against the Jets (the first game of the second five-game stretch). Brandon Johnson, who is receiving additional playing time after Rivers' injury and Darryl Blackstock's suspension, has recorded five tackles or more in his past four games, and two seven-tackle efforts against the Steelers and Eagles. Johnathan Joseph (15 tackles against the Jaguars) and Leon Hall are playing tremendous against the run, crashing downhill to protect the edges.

It also seems generally that the Bengals players are playing tougher against the run, filling gaps with bodies and safeties crashing the line of scrimmage, avoiding blocks and making shoe-string tackles. I think the improved effort against the run should be encouraging for fans, if they keep this pace, heading into next season. With a few adjustments (pass coverage, general line blocking, pass rushing), and a returning Carson Palmer, the Bengals should be better than 1-8-1 this time next season.