Dalton gets cast removed, but starter for playoff game still unclear

However, there is now a glimmer of hope that Dalton will be able to return to action in the near future…if the Bengals are still in the playoffs, that is. The team’s statement win came in Pittsburgh on December 4, 2005 as the Bengals defeated Pittsburgh 38-31 to effectively claim the AFC North crown. The table is set for what should be an exciting match up.

While being unsure of who will start at QB in a few days for a major game isn’t ideal, it will definitely keep the Steelers defense on their toes, forcing them to be ready for either opponent.

Although Pittsburgh stumbled badly in Week 16 with its loss at the Ravens, it got another chance when the moment proved too big for the Jets in Buffalo.

The Pittsburgh Steelers earned the AFC’s No. 6 seed for the NFL Playoffs. The Bengals feature an entirely new roster with no remaining veterans from the 2005 team.

The injury to Steelers running back DeAngelo Williams puts the focus right on Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and a stellar receiving corps led by wide receiver Antonio Brown.

In the coaching realm, the Bengals are still in the Marvin Lewis era.

If anyone knows what the Pittsburgh Steelers organization is about, it’s coach Bill Cowher. With all the changes that have occurred, the one constant is the pure disdain between these two teams. During the regular season, they split the series.

However, that record is also indicative of a football team that failed to raise their levels of play when the play of Dalton suffered.

Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton’s recovery from a fractured right thumb took a step forward on Monday.

Dalton ran a couple of plays early in practice on Tuesday and threw a pass – with his left hand – before raising his arm in celebration and heading back to the sideline to continue his conditioning work.

McCarron, in his second-year out of Alabama, relieved Dalton for the final three quarters against the Steelers and then started the final three games of the regular season.

In the win, both offense and defense made some big plays, and now it’s your time to vote on your selection for the play of the week. That includes the Steelers’ 31-17 playoff win in the 2005 season.

If they get to the Super Bowl, it doesn’t matter which team it is. Yet they play the perceived weakest of the division champions, so no one is counting out Aaron Rodgers and company. Beating The Narrative remains a hard challenge for the Bengals, and the Steelers and Saturday night stand in the way of that opportunity.