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Pittsburgh Steelers Need Not Fear the Cincinnati Bengals, But They Must Respect Them

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Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers

Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports

In many ways, the Cincinnati Bengals’ dismantling of the Denver Broncos last Monday just might be the best thing to happen to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

In the lead up to their winner-take-all showdown this week, the main storyline was expected to be the Bengals’ continuing failures in prime time. Well that narrative went out the window courtesy of a killer defensive game plan executed to perfection, a two-headed rushing attack capable of racking up yards on anyone and a maligned quarterback who simply did his job.

Now, as the jungle cats prepare to stalk into the unfriendly confines of Heinz Field, their divisional big brother must heed a timeless warning: the Bengals shouldn’t be feared, but they must be respected. Too many times this season, the Steelers have started games against lesser opponents with a lax attitude. Punctuated by boneheaded turnovers, awful secondary play and disastrous breakdowns on special teams, Pittsburgh lost games they should’ve handily won on paper. That’s part of the reason they’re in this precarious position in the first place.

Obviously, teams like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New York Jets are not made from the same fiber as the Bengals, but often it’s the team mentality that plays a larger role. Had Cincy put forth another performance akin to flaming garbage under the bright lights in Week 16, many Steelers may have mentally prepared for a match with the “Pussycats” or “Bungles.” Instead, Cincinnati showed that – at least on that night – they were capable of throwing down with the big bullies of the AFC, and that suits the Steelers just fine.

So the respect is there, but what does it mean to not fear them? In short, the Steelers could learn from the Bengals’ defense last week. Knowing full well the threat of Peyton Manning’s outside targets, the front seven chose to bring continuous pressure while keeping faith in their secondary. On offense, persistence was the order of the day, and it was rewarded with some barnstorming runs that ultimately sealed the win.

The Steelers need to just play their game, and do so at an elevated level. Succeed, and a first-round home game awaits. Fail, and you are Andrew Luck’s reluctant guest in the house that Peyton built.

Jonathon Natsis covers the NFL and the Pittsburgh Steelers for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @JohnHollywood92, ‘like’ him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google+.

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