Steelers keep AFC North up for grabs, Bengals lose Dalton

The Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday for the first of four consecutive victories needed to qualify for the AFC playoffs.

Witnessing the Sunday afternoon Bengals game against the Pittsburgh Steelers was hard to say the least.

Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback William Gay (22) celebrates after scoring a touchdown on an interception off Cincinnati Bengals quarterback AJ McCarron (not shown) in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2015, in Cincinnati.

According to multiple reports, the injury will not require surgery although a timetable for Dalton’s return is speculation at this point.

After the game, Dupree said sitting out the rest of the Steelers’ (8-5) 33-20 win over the Cincinnati Bengals (10-3) was precautionary and that he’ll be all right.

Among the negatives for McCarron coming out of college were his arm strength, decision-making, athleticism and the fact that he played at Alabama. The fifth-round pick in 2014 missed his rookie season with a sore passing shoulder, but played well enough during the preseason to win the job as Dalton’s backup. So to win their next three games, the Bengals will need to hold onto the rock.

The expected AFC North bloodbath Sunday between Cincinnati and Pittsburgh devolved into a shoving match during warm-ups before the game even started.

Like Brady then, McCarron is a second-year player and he says he’s ready.

Safety Mike Mitchell and Bud Dupree both left the game with injuries, but coach Mike Tomlin said both should be OK. Those January struggles have the Steelers wanting to face their rivals in the playoffs, regardless of where the game would be played.

We do know one thing: If the Bengals want to continue their magical season they will have to do it with McCarron at the helm.

Ben Roethlisberger set the offensive tone early, going eight-for-eight on the opening drive that built a lead the Steelers never relinquished. “He won’t play this week and it will be up to Andy and the doctors each and every week as we do it”. “We’ve just got to move forward and handle our business”.

So far we only have most of one game’s worth of action to judge McCarron, and that came in Sunday’s loss to the Steelers.

After the game against the 49ers (4-9), the Bengals play at Denver in a game that will go a long way in determining the playoff seeding. Another name in the discussion with the Bengals is also Christian Ponder, Dalton’s 2011 draft classmate. The Steelers were able to convert 8-of-14 third-down opportunities and that included three in the first possession of the game.

“I just told him to be smart”, Moats said.

As for allowing the Steelers to remain relevant in the AFC playoff picture, Dunlap said the Bengals can’t be concerned with that or the possibility that there could be a rematch in one month in the same venue.