Steelers prepping to roll with backups Toussaint and Todman

The fact that McCarron did not attempt to whitewash the situation shows a level of maturity that should allow the inexperienced quarterback to focus on managing the game, instead of trying to win it on his own.

They can’t win in primetime. The Steelers finished the season with the NFL’s third-worst passing defense, so they can be beat through the air.

While the Bengals haven’t said officially if backup quarterback AJ McCarron will make a fourth career start against Pittsburgh, the team sent the first-year signal caller to the Bengals’ weekly quarterback news conference, a big indicator of who will be taking snaps under center. It was enough to give the Steelers an emotional edge. But how wide is that gap?

“The Steelers quarterback has been spotted in the downtown Cincinnati area”, the spoof warning says. The No. 1 and No. 2 seeds in each conference get the weekend off. It’s been a very very long time since the Cincinnati Bengals have done the same. Todman spent his first three years in the league with Jacksonville and has never played in the postseason.

STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES – Teams met one other time in playoffs, first-round game at Paul Brown Stadium during 2005 season.

He likely gives von Oelhoffen a run for his money as the most hated Steeler in Bengals fandom, and not just for his vicious blindside hit on linebacker Keith Rivers in 2008 that broke Rivers’ jaw. Bengals lost wild-card game 26-10 at Indianapolis Colts, Jan. 4, 2015. Bengals: QB Andy Dalton 255-386 for 3,250 yards, 25 TD, 7 INT; RB Jeremy Hill 223-794, 11 TD; WR A.J. Green 86-1,297, 10 TD. The Bengals aren’t going to shut out the Steelers or anything, but they should feel good about at least limiting Roethlisberger and his crew.

Huber’s season was cut short with a broken jaw and cracked vertebrae in his back.

As it pertains to preventing Brown from being the one to move them, the Bengals’ hopes will rest on the shoulders of cornerbacks Adam Jones and Dre Kirkpatrick, two players who relish the opportunity of continuing to keep Brown in relative check.

Chiefs (-3¹/₂) over TEXANS; Under 40: Usually when you’re looking at teams that have won 10 in a row heading into the postseason, you are focusing on the quarterback. This could be fatal against Bengals pass defense that has 21 interceptions including four in two games against Roethlisberger.

In the Wild Game 10 years ago, Roethlisberger threw for 208 yards, three TDs and no picks.

Anderson suffered a severe neck sprain when Gary flung him to the turf, knocking the signal-caller out of the game. “There’s been one or two customers that have been disappointed”, Jackson said. So the entire Steelers offense was on the same field for only less than a half this season.

Considered one of the greatest defensive minds in NFL history, LeBeau was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010. Three surprise teams are playing this weekend: the Steelers, Chiefs, and Texans.

The Steelers and Bengals are set to play at 8:15 ET on Saturday.

The 0-6 playoff record? If the Steelers get into McCarron’s head, then Lewis will be sent home again still winless in the post-season.

It’s all about the bling, baby.

Kirkpatrick attributes much of Brown’s success over the years to his relationship with Roethlisberger.

Pittsburgh has won six Super Bowls, most recently in February 2009.