Steelers QB Roethlisberger on Bengals: ‘We’ll be ready’

-Preparing to face the NFL’s second-ranked offense is hard enough. Cam Newton threw five touchdowns to lead the Panthers to a wild 41-38 shootout win over the Saints at the Superdome.

Obviously the Patriots have to win against the Texans next week, a game that will be on Sunday Night Football.

Buffalo Bills at Philadelphia Eagles: A road upset of the Patriots has the Eagles in contention in the putrid NFC East, snapping a three-game losing streak that featured lopsided losses to the Bucs and Lions. The Broncos will play host to the Bengals on December 28 in a game that could decide home field in the AFC. Quarterback Alex Smith simply does not make mistakes and Spencer Ware and Charcandrick West have filled in admirably for the injured Charles.

Steelers tight end Heath Miller could return after sitting out last week with sore ribs, while cornerback William Gay still needs to get through the NFL’s concussion protocol.

It was the second time in as many games the Bengals delivered a blow to Bell that ended his season. The Patriots also have two unknowns in recent acquisitions of Damaris Johnson and Trey Williams.

The Vikings lost a pair of defensive starters when linebacker Anthony Barr (groin) and safety Harrison Smith (hamstring) both left Sunday’s 38-7 loss to the Seahawks in the first half. For argument’s sake, let’s assume the Broncos win the next four games, as do the Pats. 2011, 2013 and 2014 were the years Brown took a punt back to the house to help the Steelers beat their AFC North rivals.

Yet after a two-week stretch in which they play Cincinnati and Denver (the latter being at home), Pittsburgh draws Baltimore and Cleveland, who both stink.

Dalton’s link with exciting wide receiver A.J. Green is something to behold, with Green having passed the 1,000 yard mark on the season already, while Tyler Eifert has scored 12 times. Brown has approached double-digit targets several times this year. “As a competitor, you enjoy that opportunity…going down there to play Cincinnati, a divisional opponent, just always adds a little extra something to it”. It’s a special moment, a special day. The personal stuff is all good. Those guys know I have confidence in all of them. “It’s a must-win for us”.

No one from the Steelers has stepped onto the Cincinnati team bus to challenge Vontaze Burfict or Reggie Nelson to a fight.

Giants receiver Odell Beckham Jr. has giant hands made of glue. That shows the Steelers are unafraid to test a defense at any time. I wasn’t surprised at all he played well… In their last 14 road games against the Bengals, the Steelers are 12-2 SU and 11-2-1 ATS including a 3-1 SU and ATS record as a road underdog.

Eli Manning threw a costly red-zone interception in the fourth quarter but benefits from the presence of one of the game’s most productive receivers in Odell Beckham Jr., who has racked up double-digit targets in four consecutive games and has racked up over 100 yards in five straight.

Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton caught the Browns’ defense confused and scrambling at the goal line and rushed through the line of scrimmage almost untouched on the way to a three-yard touchdown and 7-0 lead with 3:45 to play in the first quarter.

The 49ers tied their game with the Bears on a 44-yard run by quarterback Blaine Gabbert.