Healthy Steelers defense looks to dominate Bengals

By Neal Coolong  |   Thursday, October 16, 2008  |  Comments( 3 )

Pittsburgh Steelers
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The Steelers are already among the NFL's best defensive teams.

Going into Week 7 against the offensively challenged Bengals, they look to be even better. Defensive end Brett Keisel should return to the starting lineup for the first time in three games after recovering from a calf strain suffered early in the team's 10-6 win at Cleveland in Week 2.

The Steelers may even get Pro Bowl nose tackle Casey Hampton back from a knee injury that kept him out of Pittsburgh's Week 5 win over Jacksonville.

Commentary: Shoring up their thin defensive line is all the Steelers needed to do during their bye week. Now healthy, Cincinnati's beleaguered running game, ranked 31st through six games, faces a team giving up a paltry 66.8 yards per contest (second in the league).

It won't help the Bengals that quarterback Carson Palmer will miss his second straight game (third this year) with an elbow strain. Recent contests in the NFL (see: St. Louis-Washington, Cleveland-New York) strongly suggest no opponent is to be taken lightly, and the animosity between these two clubs is usually enough to keep every game at least somewhat competitive. But the Bengals don't seem to have the horses to pull the sled, and considering the Steelers are coming out of a bye week and haven't lost at Paul Brown Stadium since 2001 (seven straight wins), this has all the makings of a blowout.

Fan Pulse: The consensus of fans posting at Steelers Fever is that it's a divisional and conference game, so it's a must-win for the Steelers.

Fantasy Football Impact: Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward had four touchdowns in two wins against Cincinnati last season. It's likely he'll provide much of the same against a weak Bengals pass defense.

Injury Watch: Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is nearly fully recovered from a shoulder injury he suffered in Week 1. Running back Willie Parker will return to the starting lineup after missing the team's past two games with a sprained knee. Left tackle Marvel Smith missed practice Tuesday because of back spasms. Max Starks will replace him if he cannot play.
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About Neal Coolong

Neal Coolong is a freelance sports writer with contributions to Scout.com, AOL and Steelers Live. He lives with his fiance in St. Paul, Minn., and saves every dime (that she knows about) for their wedding next June. He's already made the prediction that the Steelers 2007 draft class will be one ...
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