I’m really starting to get the hang of these predictions. It’s almost like I’m a soothsayer, or fortune teller, or something, with how accurate I hit last week’s predictions:

• Ben didn’t get sacked (nailed it!)
• Tyrod Taylor was sacked five times (I predicted four)
• I had mentioned a career-day for Le’Veon Bell (though who would’ve thought that kind of day!)

So I felt pretty good about those, though the Steelers had in fact turned the ball over several times (I had predicted zero) and thinking the tight ends would get heavily involved, didn’t happen as planned (but Jesse James and Ladarius Green were targeted in the endzone, so it wasn’t for lack of trying).

I also predicted the Steelers would score 30, and if not for the turnovers, they would have. (Instead Pittsburgh put up 27.)

This week, I’m trying to figure this game out. Will it be high-scoring? Closer than expected?

I really have no idea!

This week’s predictions should be all over the place, but feeling good about a few things…

Dalton gets destroyed

Cincinnati’s offensive line is horrendous, and Dalton has been going down a lot.

That bodes well for a Steelers defense that has been lighting up quarterbacks over the last few games.

I expect the trend to continue on Sunday. I’m going to go with five sacks on Dalton for the day. It could be as low as 2, or as high as 7, but 5 just feels right.

The Red Rifle can move out of the pocket, but isn’t as slippery as Tyrod Taylor is.

Harrison and Dupree get a pair: each

So you’ve got five sacks, eh? Well, who is going to do all that “hitting of the quarterback” you say?

Look no further than James Harrison and Bud Dupree.

Harrison, who never came out of the game against Buffalo, is the franchise sack leader, and has had a sack in 3 of his last 4 games.

Dupree returned to play all but one down last week, and had 2.5 sacks.

I expect each to have a pair of sacks Sunday.

Ben back on track

After throwing three picks, I assume Ben Roethlisberger will throw more touchdowns than interceptions this Sunday.

Game flow may dictate they pound the ball in the run game like last week, and control the clock. But the Steelers started out pass happy last Sunday, and I think the passing game could get them up early, so they run more late.

Either way, Ben has at least 2 TD’s.

Someone gets fined

When hasn’t a Bengals and Steelers game come with controversy?

In the last game, neither Le’Veon Bell or Vontaze Burfict played, as both were serving suspensions.

With both returning, and not exactly exchanging Christmas cards, I could see some real “heat” on the field once again.

That could be the smoke coming from Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis‘ hot seat, as Cincy went from contender over the last few seasons, to pretender overnight!

Regardless, look for someone to do something stupid in this game. (Let’s just hope it doesn’t result in an injury.)

Green grounded again

A.J. Green has been a Steelers killer, but only caught two passes in their September match-up.

Green is nursing an injury which has kept him out of competition recently, and while expected to suit up on Sunday, I could see the Bengals coaching staff shutting him down if he’s ineffective.

For that reason, combined with a surging Steelers secondary featuring Artie Burns and Ross Cockrell, I think Green won’t do much in this game.

I’d love to say he won’t catch a single pass, but that’s incredibly bold to say about a Pro Bowl receiver. My honest-to-goodness guess is no more than 5 catches, and less than 60 yards for A.J.

Gay breaks record

His pick six was called back last week, but I have visions of William Gay repeating his pick six performance in Cincy again: breaking Rod Woodson‘s franchise mark for most interceptions returned for a touchdown.

Write this one down: it’s a lock! 😉