Nasty Fun Ahead: Bengals vs. Steelers

It's Steelers week in Cincinnati. Catch up on the latest Bengals player news in this feature from Scout.com.

It's Steelers Week in Cincinnati.

And though Bengals coach Marvin Lewis tries to discount the game to just another on within the AFC North division, his players know it's special.

Pittsburgh is the Bengals' primary rival. The Steelers lost Sunday night in Denver, 31-28, to fall to 4-2. The Bengals won Sunday to improve to 2-4. A victory Sunday at Paul Brown Stadium would pull the Bengals to within one game of the Steelers.

The Bengals have lost six in a row to Paul Brown Stadium to the Steelers and are 0-5 at home under Lewis against Pittsburgh.

At Heinz Field, Lewis' Bengals are 3-1.

Is the rivalry nasty or fun?

"It's both," Bengals defensive tackle John Thornton said Monday. Players were off Tuesday. "Here it's (nastier) because we haven't won. There it's fun because we always win up there. We have to change that around."

The Steelers are one of the NFL's most physical teams. They traditionally have a strong defense and prefer to run the ball offensively.

"We really have to put those big-boy pads on this week, so to speak," Thornton said. "It's not going to be a finesse game. It's not going to be a team throwing it around."

The head coach is trying to diminish the importance of the Steelers game, saying Monday, in essence, it's important because it's a division match - similar to playing Cleveland or Baltimore.

The Bengals are 1-1 in the AFC North.

"We have to approach it just like another football game. But it's a division game. It's at home," Lewis said. "They're leading the division. That being said, that's where the intensity level is. Those things are important."

PLAYER NOTES

-- QB Carson Palmer was helped by the Bengals' strong run offense in the victory over the Jets. He dropped back to pass just 22 times (one sack) and the 21 passes he threw were the fewest in any of the six games. Still, he went for a touchdown and 226 yards. The run game was helped because the team did not use the no-huddle offense for the first time since it was installed in 2005.

-- RB Rudi Johnson missed two of the past three games with a hamstring injury and has not talked to reporters while out. He was on the sideline Sunday for the Jets game.

-- RB Kenny Watson is expected to get another start, a fourth in a row, against the Steelers, following his 130-yard, three-touchdown showing against the Jets.

-- TE Reggie Kelly played a major role in the 177-yard rushing effort Sunday against the Jets. He is a solid blocker and probably a better receiver than he's given credit for.

-- WR Chad Johnson was double-covered Sunday by the Jets, and though he had just three receptions, he made them count for 102 yards. Coach Marvin Lewis praised the blocking by Johnson and fellow wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh on the edge for success in the run game.

-- WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh caught his eighth touchdown against the Jets, just the sixth game. He leads the Bengals with 51 receptions.

-- LB Ahmad Brooks, who has missed four games with a groin injury, remains the player with the longest road back to the lineup, coach Marvin Lewis said this week.
-- LB Rashad Jeanty (calf), the projected strong-side starter, made his 2007 debut against the Jets on special teams. His role could expand to defense against the Steelers.

-- CB Johnathan Joseph had his first career interception and touchdown against the Jets. He has estimated he dropped between eight and 10 would-be interceptions as a rookie in 2006.

-- S Chinedum Ndukwe is the only Bengals player with two sacks. He nailed Chad Pennington on a blitz Sunday.

-- WR Glenn Holt continues to expand his role offensively. He is filling in for Tab Perry (injured reserve list) as the No. 1 kickoff return man and No. 3 wide receiver. Holt has 11 receptions and a 10.9-yard average.

-- WR Antonio Chatman now has played in three games, matching his total for 2006, and has five receptions for a 9.4-yard average. But he missed another game against the Jets. He could be back for the Steelers.

-- LT Levi Jones was happy to get another start against the Jets, after being pulled the week before at Kansas City. He was penalized for two false starts against the Jets but settled down, as did the whole team, for a second-half rally. Jones blocked well on the back side, allowing Kenny Watson to run for a career high 130 yards.