Short week but not a daunting opponent

Pitt looks to defeat (not tie) the Bengals

Okay Pittsburgh faithful admit it you're scared and sweating profusely over the up coming tussle with the Bengals. Yeah I hear you, I couldn't type that without laughing either.

All though it is true that any NFL team is capable of beating any other NFL team. So they have to prepare to win and win in a fashion that a better team should.

First I would like to make a shout out to my boy Ben Roethlisberger. OVERTIME is only one extra quarter! I know you and your buddy Donovan McNabb aren't expected to know that so I am just giving you a heads up since the Bengals are all excited about ties recently. For them that is like a win.

Seriously though although I was happy to see the offense put up some positive yards I would like to see Ben throw less than 40 times. Honestly I have always desired Ben to throw more in the neighborhood of 25 to 30 times tops. At a 8 yard per attempt that is a nice solid 240 passing yard game.

Against the Cincinnati traveling circus he should be able to spread the wealth around like Ben the QB is capable of. I want to read the stats Friday and see Ben 17 for 25 and 227 yards, 2 TD's and NO INT'S. No sacks would be great also. Actually I would love to see the Big Boy avoid too much contact period.

Since I am posting my wish list let me put in my official request form for the running backs. I would like 23 carries of Willie Parker for 118 yards and a side order of 14 Mewelde Moore carries for 74 yards. I don't thing that is an unreasonable request is it?

The offense as a whole is still somewhat of an anchor holding the Pittsburgh ship in the Bay of contenders. To get out of that Bay into the Sea of Champions the offense needs to step it and step it right now! With 6 games left it's time to raise the stakes at climb to a peak heading into the playoffs. A 25th ranked offense and a 23rd ranked rushing offense is not going to cut it if the Super Bowl is in our immediate future.

I am confident that the defense will remind the Bengals why they are a laughing stock and out a hurt on their QB Harvard Boy Fitzpatrick. At this point we are ranked #1 across the board in NFL defense! 'Nough said on that subject.

> For great Pittsburgh Steelers apparel & jerseys online look to Pro Football Fans and check out the 2008 NFL scores!

Steelers 28 Bengals 6

Injuries

Marvel Smith	T	Back	Did Not Participate In Practice	Out
Deshea Townsend	CB	Hamstring	Did Not Participate In Practice	Out
Bryant McFadden	CB	Forearm	Limited Participation in Practice	Out
Matt Spaeth	TE	Wrist	Limited Participation in Practice	Questionable

Bengals injuries are irrelevant!

by Andy Natalie
ProFootball-fans.com Pittsburgh Steelers Correspondent