CINCINNATI BENGALS One Paul Brown Stadium Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 (513) 621-3550 administrative offices (513) 621-3570 administrative fax (513) 621-TDTD (8383) ticket office www.bengals.com WEEKLY NEWS RELEASE OCT. 9, 2018 WEEK 6, GAME 6 PITTSBURGH STEELERS (2-2-1) SUNDAY, OCT. 14 AT PAUL BROWN STADIUM AT NEXT WEEK: WEEK 7, GAME 7 CINCINNATI BENGALS (4-1) SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL, OCT. 21 AT KANSAS CITY GAME NOTES Kickoff: 1 p.m. Eastern. mark, surpassing the 22 logged by former Bengals QB Boomer Esiason (1984- 92, ’97). Since 2011, the year the Bengals drafted him, Dalton has the second Television: The game will air on CBS-TV. In the Bengals’ home region, most game-winning drives in the league, trailing only Detroit Lions QB Matthew it will be carried by WKRC-TV (Ch. 12) in Cincinnati, WHIO-TV (Ch. 7) in Dayton Stafford, who has 30 in the same eight-season span (see “Ice-water Andy” on and on WKYT-TV (Ch. 27) in Lexington. Broadcasters are Ian Eagle (play-by- page 5). With three game-winning drives in the Bengals’ first five games, Dalton play), Dan Fouts (analyst) and Evan Washburn (sideline reporter). needs three more in the final 11 contests to set a new team record for most in a season. The current record of five was set by former QB Jeff Blake in 1996, and Radio: The game will air on the Bengals Radio Network, led by Cincinnati then tied by former QB Carson Palmer in ’09. flagship stations WLW-AM (700), WCKY-AM (ESPN 1530; all sports) and “Finding ways to win the game, whatever it takes — that’s what we look for,” WEBN-FM (102.7). Broadcasters are Dan Hoard (play-by-play) and Dave Dalton said. “But this one (the Dolphins game) is hard to put on me and the Lapham (analyst). offense, (considering) the way the defense played at the end.” Cincinnati had entered the Miami game ranked 29th in the NFL in net yards Setting the scene: The 4-1 Cincinnati Bengals this week look to allowed per game (419.3) and 32nd in third-down efficiency (35 of 61; 57.4 build on their strong start to the 2018 season and solidify their hold on first place percent), but the Bengals’ defense was stout overall against the Dolphins. Miami in the AFC North Division. But to do so, they will have to beat the Pittsburgh gained just 297 yards and converted only four of 13 third downs (30.8 percent). Steelers, a team which has proven to be a longtime nemesis for Cincinnati, and The Dolphins’ offense scored just 10 points — one of Miami’s TDs was a punt a team which, for many Bengals fans, is their most-loathed divisional rival. return — and never ran a play from scrimmage in the red zone. There is no denying that Pittsburgh, which enters Sunday’s game at Paul The Bengals’ defense was especially strong on the defensive line, which Brown Stadium with a 2-2-1 record, has proven itself worthy of being the object harassed Dolphins QB Ryan Tannehill repeatedly — particularly in the fourth of Cincinnati fans’ frustrations. Not only that, but the Steelers, who own a 62-35 quarter — and was responsible for 14 of the team’s 24 fourth-quarter points. DE all-time series lead over the Bengals, have been remarkably consistent in doing Michael Johnson returned a Tannehill interception 22 yards for a touchdown with so over a span of more than 25 years. The Steelers are winners of six straight 11:43 left to tie the game 17-17. Then, after Dalton led the drive that put the meetings, as well as nine of the last 10, and 14 of the last 17, and 19 of the last Bengals ahead 20-17, DE Sam Hubbard recovered a Tannehill fumble and 24, and 29 of the last 39, and — going all the way back to 1991 — 42 of the last returned it 19 yards for a TD with 2:37 left to put the game out of reach for Miami. 56. At no point during that 27-season stretch from 1991-2017 have the Bengals It was the first time in Bengals history that two Bengals defensive linemen scored won more than two consecutive meetings. The spell includes Steelers wins in the a touchdown in the same game, and it was the first time that two defensive teams’ only two postseason battles, in 2005 and ’15, both home playoff games linemen scored in the same quarter of an NFL game since Dec. 10, 1989 when for the Bengals. Keith Millard and Tim Newton each scored TDs for Minnesota. Of course, none of those past particulars will matter when the two teams Bengals DT Geno Atkins recorded two sacks against the Dolphins, and DE meet this weekend, and history will play no role in the outcome of Sunday’s Carlos Dunlap added another. Atkins enters the Steelers game tied for the NFL important matchup. What may matter, perhaps, is the fact that Cincinnati lead in sacks with six, while Dunlap enters the contest tied for 11th with four. seemingly has the wind at its back after consecutive come-from-behind wins the Also against the Dolphins last week, WR A.J. Green had his first game of the past two weeks, in addition to the momentum of its 4-1 start. 2018 season with 100 or more yards receiving, with 112 on six catches. It was Two weeks ago, the Bengals won a thrilling 37-36 road contest at Atlanta his 32nd career game with 100 or more yards receiving, setting a new mark for when QB Andy Dalton led a 16-play, 75 yard drive in the game’s final four most in team history. The previous mark of 31 had been established by former minutes that ended with a 13-yard touchdown pass to WR A.J. Green with seven WR Chad Johnson (2001-10). seconds left. Last week at home, Cincinnati rallied from a 17-0 deficit, scoring 27 Green enters the Steelers game with 26 receptions for 409 yards and five unanswered points, including 24 in the fourth quarter, for a 27-17 win over the touchdowns, while WR Tyler Boyd enters the contest with 30 catches for 393 Miami Dolphins. yards and two TDs. The pair currently are on pace this season to record The come-from-behind victory over the Dolphins was just the eighth time in receiving yardage totals of 1309 and 1258, respectively. If they both record 1000 Bengals history that the team rallied from a deficit of 17 or more points to win. It or more yards receiving this season, it would be just the third time in team history also was just the fourth time in team history that the Bengals scored 24 or more that two receivers have done so in the same season. The other two instances points in the fourth quarter of a game (see “A comeback for the record book” on were recorded by Johnson and former WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh, who did it page 4). together twice, in 2006 and ’07 (in ’06, Johnson had 1369 and Houshmandzadeh “The momentum shifted in the fourth quarter,” Dalton said. “For us to score had 1081; in ’07, Johnson had 1440 and Houshmandzadeh had 1143). 24 points in that fourth quarter was huge. If you look at just the final score, you’re not going to know the tale of this game. But that’s the biggest thing: If you can The series: The Steelers lead 62-35 overall and 30-19 as the visiting win the fourth quarter, you’re always going to give yourself a chance.” team. The series includes two postseason games, both Steelers wins in Wild The Dolphins game was the third contest this season in which Dalton has led Card round contests at Paul Brown Stadium, after the 2005 and ’15 seasons. a game-winning drive. He led the Bengals on a nine-play, 67-yard march that The Bengals have played more games against the Steelers (97) than any resulted in a 20-yard field goal and a 20-17 lead with 3:30 left. It was his 23rd other foe. Cleveland is second in that category at 89, and Tennessee (formerly career game-winning drive, which is defined as a drive that results in an Houston Oilers) is third at 75. offensive score in the fourth quarter or overtime that is responsible for putting the A complete recap of the Bengals-Steelers series appears on page 186 of the team ahead to stay (PATs included). Dalton’s total of 23 sets a new franchise 2018 Bengals Media Guide. — 1 — (Game notes, continued) Bengals-Steelers connections: Bengals Head Coach Marvin Lewis grew up in McDonald, Pa., near Pittsburgh. Lewis’ first NFL coaching job Team bests from the series: was with the Steelers as LBs coach from 1992-95 under head coach Bill Cowher. Bengals — MOST POINTS: 42, in a 42-7 win at Riverfront Stadium in He also coached at the University of Pittsburgh from 1990-91 ... Steelers head 1988. LARGEST VICTORY MARGIN: 35, from the 1988 home win. FEWEST coach Mike Tomlin was defensive backs coach for the University of Cincinnati POINTS ALLOWED: 3, in a 27-3 win at Riverfront in 1990. from 1999-2000 ... Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger is from Findlay, Ohio Steelers — MOST POINTS: 49, in a 49-31 victory at Riverfront Stadium (Findlay High School), and played at Miami (Ohio) University ... Bengals WR in 1995.