1990 Week 11 Pittsburgh at Cincinnati

you Chris were standing by at Riverfront Stadium where a sellout crowd hopes the Bengals can stop the bleeding against the resurgent Pittsburgh Steelers good evening everybody Mike Patrick along with Joe Theismann and in less than an hour we will have the battle for first place in the AFC Central between the Steelers in the Bengal a lot has been written about the resurgence of the Steelers offense and rightfully so but it has been their defense that's carried them all year long it really has Mike they have played together now for two years they've gone up against five of the top offenses in the National Football League not to mention the guys that run them for example against Warren Moon this defense intercepted four passes but that was just the beginning of the woes against the best Joe Montana comes in they pick off to his and hold him to 157 yards passing then they go down to Atlanta and get the Miller guide 110 passes without an interception goes up against the Steelers they pick three off they weren't finished with that bunch you consider Moreno Elway and ever all top quarterbacks in the National Football League they've shut down the top guns in the league done a super job the Cincinnati defense on the other hand will be facing an offense on a roll and they'll have to do it without some of their best people they really will enough when it's going to be missed the most as Dave Fulcher he's the spiritual leader he's the big play man also questionable as James Francis he leads the team in sacks so with those two out the task is going to be trying to stop what New Orleans did against him a few weeks ago that's for rush that's rushed for almost 250 yards this will be the 40th meeting between these teams in the last 20 years and the one thing they've never had to do is get the players up for it this has cut my type of football the old good old days of football down and dirty in the middle where they're gonna trap eww and run certain plays right at you none of this spread three guys out and just do that run and shoot stuff that's not real football thing coming up at 8:00 Eastern the battle for first place in the AFC Central Pittsburgh in Cincinnati let's go back to Chris limbering up top of the hour live here on ESPN from riverfront in Cincinnati [Music] it's the best of times and the worst of times it's A Tale of Two Cities linked by the Ohio River yet distinctively detached Pittsburgh and Cincinnati share an intense rivalry that plays on any stage but it's on the gridiron where the Steelers and the Bengals fan the interstate flames 1990 saw these two teams break from the gate in opposite directions the Boomer led Bengals exploded two victories in for their first five while the punch-list Steelers slumped through September without scoring an offensive touchdown but with October came a strange twist and despite the early disparity both teams find themselves locked in a first-place tie only now it's the Bengals who ponder a tenuous position while the Steelers are mounting a midseason charge first place in the AFC Central is on the line [Music] well teams headed in opposite directions the Bengals have lost three of the last four the Steelers have won four of their last five as always it's my pleasure to be working with Joe Theismann to Joe in the first four games the Pittsburgh offense was awful the last five games they've been blowing people away what turned it around a guy by the name of bubby Brister and it's the simplest of things they did they changed the way he got the place instead of sending the entire play in by signal they signal the formation in and the players bring the play in so now he knows what he wants to do he has it in his mind he's become very effective 13 touchdown passes two interceptions in his last five games the Steeler defense has been able to shut down people all year long but the Cincinnati offense hasn't needed any help shutting itself down they've been doing it themselves they really have and he can't blame him totally for one reason they haven't had their full complement of weapons McGee's been out Browns been hurt ickey woods is coming back off that knee injury Brooks has not been healthy and interestingly enough talking to Sam why should practice he had concerns about boomers wrist but now everybody is healthy in like this though it always boils down to hard hitting and if you're looking for hard hitting probably a big play is going to come somewhere out of the special teams Sam Weiss 56 and 51 in his seventh year as the Bengals head coached that includes an AFC championship and Chuck Noll one of the legends in this game working on his 200th career victory he's at 198 and Counting right now he'd love to get 199 here in Cincinnati weather conditions not bad here in Cincinnati tonight temperature in the low 40s very little wind and no chance of rain and a sellout crowd of more than 60,000 as they would like to see the Bengals get back on track and now that they have their offensive players healthy they think they have a shot at Gary Anderson will handle the kicking chores tonight stand for Jennings 36 and Eric ball 42 waiting at the goal line [Applause] and the steelers have not done a good job of covering kickoffs at or this year short kick off Jennings at the 10th reverse in James he's got a sieve Anderson to beat and Anderson the kicker shut them out [Applause] a return of 43 when you're looking to get your football team fired up you pull out all the stops and this is what Sam has done they start to reverse the Steelers no they haven't covered kicks very well so they're very aggressive down the field now the wall is set up good job by Gary Anderson just getting James to move a little bit out of bounds so the Bengals with great field position they start at the Steeler 48 yard line [Applause] Vicki woods is the single setback rooks on a wing woods will get the carry wrapped up as he got back to the line of scrimmage standard Greg Lloyd got it the Bengals going to their attack offense you know Mike in a situation like this they've just opened the game with the big play I wouldn't be surprised if you go at the strength of the Steeler defense who is Ron Woodson figure out a way maybe to isolate him maybe to go up top right away just put some more pressure on it you got it rolling your way keep it up most people have been throwing to the and that's what David Johnson Brown and McGee the White House pump fake by Esiason coin deeper Brown knocked away by Woodson and almost intercepted [Music] while they tried it and it didn't work it makes sense you know you want to go in the heart of the defense here what happens Brown does a little out move gives a little switch now Woodson he's beat right there he is beat by two steps but he has such world-class speed he gets back to the bulk boomer probably could have put the ball up a little bit quicker he and Darryl Greene two best corners for making up spaces in this game third and nine Cincinnati huddling three yards from the ball if a sneeze substitutions coming from the other team they can get to the line and snap up within two seconds Louisville with 20th time now he scrambled slides and he short of the first down at the 39 yard line this is something he has not been doing much of jokes right he told me on Saturday we sat and looked at rooms together and he said there's two things I haven't been doing I have not been getting away from the center exploding and for some reason I have not run with the football like I have in the past it's gonna change in this game and obviously he's starting out and trying to take control comes up two yards shy of the first down and its fourth and they send in the punting team no they go they'll go for it and they caught this feeling with about 14 guys on the field Vicki woods did not get the first down but penalty flags are everywhere the Steelers trying to shift personnel and the Bengals caught him [Applause] from another field referee Tom Dooley thought half the roster was on the field you take a look at this you'll see how many different people they are looking there they go off to the side now that's what the Bengals are concerned with making sure that they've got those people boomer just looks out to see how close they are they snap the ball boom they got and would set in the back [Applause] James Brooks big hole behind walk to the 20 to the 15 Rod Woodson had to make the tackle after a gain of 19 yards for James Brooks well if you want to get something going you go after an all-pro Anthony wooden Yeltsin Rodney home and doing the blocks holding blocks one blocks to brooks hits the hole like I said he's healthy not a big guy but a strong one there he comes again through the hole good blocking by ickey woods they when Cincinnati Mike has all their weapons they are an extremely formidable often I mean it where do you go you try and go up top to Eddie Brown then you try and get a screen out and now for tonight's diehards starting lineups the Bengals quarterback Boomer Esiason he's accustomed to being at the top of the quarterback ratings this season though he's down to 9th in the AFC injuries have hurt the whole offense the running game has fallen off although James Brooks is averaging four and a half yards to carry up front to tackle of tackles Anthony Munoz a superstar for 11 years and a lock for the Hall of Fame Cincinnati with its opening possession of the game after a fine kickoff return Gerald Williams was shaken up he has left the ball game for the Steeler defense in its first town Cincinnati that's a pitch front 15 what the middle tripped as he got across the ten to the nine for that Steeler defense Keith Willis is having a good year have been under sized at 263 has to rely on his quickness in his tenth year David little is finally getting some of the recognition he deserves he is leading the club and tackles for the fourth straight year the secondary has been superb so as its leader Rod Woodson his blazing speed erases mistakes and those mistakes occur far less often now this is the defense for the best giving up a touchdown in the last eight quarter they've not given up the touchdown through the air in the lamp in movement up front Brooke again another hole up the middle close quickly as he got to about the eighth up in a hurry through his free safety spot Thomas Everett 27 got in there on the first hit Donald Evans cleaned up along with hardy Nickerson tempers started to get a little heated you saw a little bit of movement by the Steeler front boomer does an excellent job with the hard count you know the old putter kind of stuff and wouldn't be surprised if he does that to make sure that the Steelers don't tee off on their offensive running through the course of this game and three from the eight yard line and the Bengals have done a sensational job when they've gotten inside Quantic to the five he has to get inside the five for the first down Donnell Evans crashed into his right end spot to make the tackle along with Greg Lloyd another decision for Sam wife no sign of Jim breech they will go for it on fourth and inches this is this is an attitude call that's all it is like this has nothing more to do but the fact that his football team has been [Applause] they need about the length of a football number 20 Craig Taylor and boomer to throw on fourth and inches time dumps are almost intercepted in the end zone and it is whoops and tips at Thomas Everett take that awesomes go on forth in a foot they throw and come up empty [Applause] we were rolling to his left there is actually empty one use when he looks in the ball is batted around a little bit Rodney Holman is there he tried to get the ball to Lin James number 80 are you see James comes in behind Woodson actually it's Brooks coming into the picture ever winds up with the ball everett gets his third interception and the Steeler defense does the job again starting at tailback and blissed her to throw on first down complete the lips but the official stop the black someone on the pittsburgh offensive line moved early that was Terry long on the right side [Applause] [Music] you don't think the pace of this game is jacked up just a movement and then plus you got bubby Brister whose motor runs at about twice the speed of sound anyway Colin signals for this offense has been spectacular in the last five games they've averaged nearly 30 courts a game they're literally blowing people away after going the first four games without scoring a touchdown it's an amazing whurling you'll get a couple stealers of course led by Brister in the last five games 13 touchdowns only two interceptions and a quarterback rating that's almost off the scale for seven years Lois lips has been an impact player not only a complete receiver but a great blocker too in Chokin on IR Terry lawn is the veteran on the line at 511 he is the shortest lineman in the NFL somebody I might have a chance of seeing over the kaisers the Jacobi's six seven as we seem to hurt him very much second [Applause] Crysta gets rid of it and do it well behind Hill who was going across the middle they awaited that troubled Cincinnati defense Tim Crum ryang kurz the line he's still a fine knows man but he's not back to the level of play before he had the broken leg Kevin Walker has been given a shot of inside linebacker and he now leads the team in tackles Lewis Phillips is an excellent man-to-man defender in the secondary that is missing both David Poulter and Eric Thomas Thomas has been out all year after tearing up Annina pickup basketball game third and 12 now and look at the difference in Brister through the first four and the last five it's been awesome and lush draw Merrill dump cuz he got to the 28 yard line and Salomon Wilcox the free safety up ended him it's a good call on third down sometimes people men should say well what Jesus third down at 14 why don't you put it up to 15 yards you backed up in your own end it's early in the ballgame you get your punter out to good field position let your defense go out and play Dan Straczynski will come on to punt number 11 in the NFL and Mitchell Price who has had a final return season as a rookie waits at his own 25 Pierzynski comes up with it floater prices the light signal for sentense makes it for 36 yard line a punt of 36 no return we are scoreless in Cincinnati second possession of the first for header is no score from the jungle [Applause] would straight-ahead gets a couple the Steelers defense has not given up much to anybody this year they have just been so tough especially against the past but the linebacking has really come along they very pleased with the addition of Greg Lloyd you just saw him get up number 95 he's the rookie linebacker out of for a three-year third-year linebacker out of Fort Valley State missed the first year and a half with knee injuries and he is a wicked hitter lower left part of your screen you see the play clock normally get down to about five to snap thirteen vova with time and airmail hood over the head of Teddy Brown and spend the problem with decison in recent weeks he'll have a man open he'll airmail it over his head or I'll skip it to him it is not the Boomer we have come to expect it and it's not the Boomer that he expects either it's interesting the way the offense is set up now he's good now he's calling the play they use different types of terminology they use cities they use months they use days of the week they all knew certain place and you see that he'll get the ball off about 10 seconds earlier than most actors 39 Esiason with time throws complete this time across a bit field for the first down Brown makes the catch a gain of 14 they have literally developed their own language for the cincinnati bangle bangle ease as it's called now Eddie Brown is a very important part of the offense and it's important for boomer to complete it this is just a simple quick go out turn around let me pop you the ball Steelers give him some cushion they play a combination van zone defense and you really gotta put pressure on what gets the line of scrimmage fight forward from maybe yard Donald Evans you may remember that name he was drafted by the Rams as a defensive end they switched him to pull back he was cut he signed with the Eagles broke his jaw there was out of football in 89 and now he is back as the defensive end came out a little winston-salem State another one of those guys that really had trouble adjusting to the big-time well and another guy he finally got up to the side and it's down because of the age of specialization has sounded he's found and hits the play second call at 8:00 in the flat to woods caught off one tackle but look at the Steelers clothes Carnell Lake hit up and shoved him back and then hardy Nickerson the linebacker got over there in a hurry Atlanta Falcons secondary Pittsburgh Steelers secondary they get such tremendous closing and support wouldn't be surprised if you try and run a little play-action you've got aggressive guys saw this the Bengals do it earlier with Woodson don't be surprised if they try and go up top through the course you eat with each quarter maybe third and five [Applause] in Pittsburgh PA result straight four-man rush aside from the time running for the first down in slid this will be an interesting mark when you first start to slide that's where they mark it not where you end up or where you're hit not where the ball ends up be right it's very important rulers signs have taken charge here he's looking left feels the pressure coming from the left side now he's desired I think I can pick it up glances out to the right to see where the sticks are now he slides in and he's safe question is did he make up yes by the length of the football when I played I had to get the butterflies out the completion was important to boomer relaxes him a little bit running the ball a little bit relaxes him a little bit Harold Greene is checked into the future not his bachelor party and the rookie from South Carolina will what a job by Thomas effort coming up from the safety spot and cut his legs out from under you know he's just a four year guy Woodson's a four year guy quote Parnell Lakes in the second year of course David Johnson now in the second day that's a secondary that's learning to play together with an attack offense that the bangles are using the Steelers have had to come up with an attack defense they've cut down a lot of the terminology they meant they say one word whatever it is that tells everybody what to do second and from the Pittsburgh dirty pool Dyson again the forming times grows too high had McGee open and missed him I think you can boomer put it as well as anybody when he talked about his play the last four weeks he's in a funk no other way to describe again you know in baseball they call it a slump there are the numbers the most outstanding is to putt touchdown productions interceptions happen the ball gets batted around pitched up in the air that happen but the falling off of his touchdown pass the Duchess needs a very outstanding number to move third and six he has shouldered the great about [Music] no breakfast jump off the wood to the 40 ever to David Johnson May to tackle for the to gain of 14 and a first now this may be the only weak link you see in the Steelers defense they do not have that dominant pass rusher well the thing is is they only rush three people whether you got a dominant pass rusher or not they're really only three people gonna look at the space and time he has to throw the ball he had every chance to pick anywhere he wanted to go to hang around to boomer threw him the ball tenth play of this Drive coming up for Cincinnati they were picked off in the end zone piss off the Turing set the Mac nice block from it but sickness by Carnell lake and the sealer safety both the strong safety Lake and the free safety Thomas Everett get up to the line of scrimmage very very quickly what happens is when you get strong supporting secondary people you want to start watch the directs see how he goes now he starts in to the middle and then cuts it all the way across the formation following his guard what they try and do is get support to commit and then go where they're not [Applause] like acted by Dyson [Applause] [Music] dives head forward to the eleven maybe half a yard shy of a first down Hill gave a little the 10-year veteran made the stop he didn't know which way to slide as a Hoover has been running so long he's forgotten how to get down do I go hit first right turn and slide on my right leg though I turn and slide on my left leg you go headfirst you lose your protection you just like anybody else they can drill you you have to slide feet first to have that you know water back I'm wearing a dress kind of protection yeah and it works too should you ask the guys that slide to see if they back off in technology we're not supposed to hit you sorry Esiason three carries 19 yard [Applause] [Music] what [Music] five yard line three or four times so far tonight ickey woods has led James Brooks for outstanding yardage and he's gotten his man every time Lake and Johnson had to stop him at the five which way and it's picked off there is a flag down again and they may have caught the Steelers with more than 11 on the Billboard hurry up offense caught us we wanted to show you something they're busy running another flight Johnson made the interception we'll check the flag remember if the Bengals try to substitute they have to give the Steelers a chance to substitute but if they don't substitute and just hurry to the line of scrimmage while they are substituted every legal motion number 87 on the offense delay of game the defense we will replay first down [Applause] we'll start all over from the 5-yard line first and goal with 206 to go in this morning this is how efficiently this offense can operate they have already gotten to what would have been teaching penalties turns out they were moving from the get-go is taken nearly seven minutes off the foot period part [Music] Nikki would [Applause] a little bit this is the new you shuffle here's what gets it done stretches the defense gets him thinking outside then really cuts it up almost loses his balance but there's nobody to heat him whines up any end zone Munoz and rhymers [Applause] a little pushing and shoving going on after the point after now the separate the player and the point is good the Bengals have taken a 7-nothing lead over the Pittsburgh Steelers we hadn't played very well against them last couple years they've been beating us up pretty good so it's time to turn us around well then this war the Bengals have launched the first salvo and leads seven nothing [Music] Woodson one of the most dangerous kick returners in football is a hadith the warm world-class speed for this guy ran that tackle riki Dixon on the stop down on special teams [Applause] and it is emotional 40 times in the last 20 years they have met the players know each other very very well they don't like each other either know that there's that old line familiarity breeds contempt now there you've seen it wrestler who was contemptuous of the new offense now he says he loves it waiting for Whirley missed four straight weeks with a sprained ankle and they indicated to us that Warren Williams would continue to start Williams's plate very very well does not have whirly speed [Applause] whirly though is somewhat of a limited bag by the knees he's an iPad played in the eye that's where he's most effective Williams gives them a little more versatility as a back as well [Applause] three-man rush and and the pass complete the lips dives for the sticks doesn't quite make it Carl Carter out of Texas Tech made the tackle Cincinnati talked about turning it up a notch their defenses but just been run over lately last two games average 212 yards rushing New Orleans rushes for 249 against them looks like they've just made their mind up if they're going to make the Steelers throw the football I'm not gonna let him run it again Carl standard number 19 factors put it very simply so they just lined up told us what they were gonna do and ran it down our throat [Applause] cuts it back first down first intend the Steelers at their own 29 yard line Kevin Walker the leading tackler number 59 got him there we talked about the Steelers you got to talk about trapping Terry long number 74 you see this is what happens the guard gets out turns up traps the linebacker gives Worley an opportunity to turn his shoulders upfield you gotta expect it back to get at least one when he's got his shoulders going north and south first first down of the game for the Steelers and we've come to the end of the first quarter in Cincinnati the Bengals on top of the Steelers 7 nothing [Music] Janani and Pittsburgh has just reported its first first down of the ballgame he was born from their own as the Bengals have domina [Applause] Crysta with all day to throw dumps it to Hajj and Hajj brought down immediately by Kevin Walker got some help from Carl's standard number 91 this is the one thing that Joe Walton has put into the offense to check down bubby Brister watch this he's gonna roll this way you see him moving this way that's Merrill Haj he's going to check down in that open area there it is right there bubby just slides to get open it's designed to pick up about seven or eight yards it replaces most screens in a lot of offenses Joe wouldn't look right if he had that cat pendulum [Applause] [Music] struggles for yard across the 42 the 41 that'll be another first down Xander and crumber I made the tackle let's be what's being signal in now is the formation the formation is being signaled in by Strom and as the player comes in he whispers the numbers in bubbies ears so you take the formation whatever it will be he gets the numbers steps in the hundred calls to play ready break and he's in his rhythm first and ten Pittsburgh [Applause] gets a couple Carl Zander made the stop again just one of those backs that people like to root for the first guy since Franco Harris delete the club in both receiving and rushing the ball that was in 1988 not a lot of speed but it gives you everything he has every ploy also mentioned that Joe Walkman was the first coach to ever really communicate with him he talked to you about whether or not he feels comfortable running around whether there's a better way to do it the contributing part of the office not just running it but involved second date blitz coming Bristol with time jump off to green the big tight end from Liberty look at this down to the 47 yard line dragging white with a McCain of nine he held out and Chuck dole said he's not going to be able to help us this year all they did was show up get six touchdown pass he P and Lawrence Taylor have really created problems with coaches trying to get players to come into training camp look at the strength he has as big as he is six five 275 pounds and he is every inch of that coming into the game he caught 13 passes six of them for tutsi another first down to the first time in Cincinnati territory and the left tackle John Jackson gets an early start Paul Starr 65 town both teams taken a little time to settle down Cincinnati looked like they were a little uneasy in the beginning Pittsburgh now is finding its rhythm a little bit but still a little uncertain this is obviously a big game for both of you especially since they will play again two weeks from now in Pittsburgh [Applause] first and 15 [Applause] rooster crows complete the sonographic [Applause] stone had always been a running back until last year they made him a wide receiver and his teammates have really been on him this year he stepped out of bounds on two short touchdown I mean he just stepped out of bounds nobody pushed him he comes out to practice and they show her feet they show him where the sideline is a look this was a Canadian leg you'd be in business Gary Anderson picks him at his XF athletic tape and drew us a sideline in front of his locker to show me he should stay on the other side of the gun nice hole the 45 to the 43 yard line Barney the strong safety is playing in place of the injured date with culture brought him down along with Solomon will cuts right side Tom rickets the right tackle number 71 Terry long number 74 starts back like it's a waggle now you see him fill the hole Merrill Hodge coming up meets the linebacker long out in front Worley does a nice job to stay in with his people good eyes good vision find the big guys getting their hip pocket let them hit me third and deepest penetration [Applause] Poorman right and Brister just airmail thrown by the referee and that's the man who calls intentional grounding [Applause] Brister pleading his case it will not work skip McClendon number 72 was putting on the pressure wave intentional grounding [Applause] now the rule is it used to be if there was an offensive player in the area and he's through it that's fine the way it is now if you are scrambling around as he was there to avoid a sack it doesn't matter if an offensive guy or a band member is in the area you're going to get flagged for it that's why the flag was thrown Brzezinski comes in to punt on fourth down that's Mitchell Crichton the Whoopie from Tulane waiting at his own [Music] [Applause] i spiral fair catch segment price makes 12 a punt of 40 and no return 1054 to go first half still 7 nothing Bengals let me buy touchdown Cincinnati is to have in their troubles running the footballs compared to years and that's really what makes boomer go here you see the numbers the last two seasons 35 games they only had three games under 100 yards so far in nine this year they've already had four now this evening they wanted to come out and try and run the football a little bit establish a running game take a little pressure off of boomer and they've done it one of the things that makes it so significant their lack of a running game the state used a lot of play-action and if you're not running the ball well nobody buys the play act and there's the yards rushing since at age 69 Pittsburgh only 37 this iesson throws to mcgee at the 20 covered in a hurry by Johnson you're not going to get a whole lot out of the school secretary they have been superb and the bangles that cloaks his soft be said we're not interested just beat up dig we want to take the little stuff we'll be patient we'll take the 3-6 yarders and just move down the field the other thing about the Cincinnati rushing game they lost max Montoya they're all provided Plan B over convinced unprotected media sensation secretive but he took the office nice haul across the 25 to the 20 stop by Keith Willis we've chased him down from the defensive end spot Brooks with 40 yards on six carries tonight and the little guy just keeps getting it done well he does what happens is you'll see him hit for point of attack what happens here's he has her point of attack and just keeps coming back and the defense flows they take him and he goes the other way I wants him to come back say it now it stretches it creates a big hole run up get fried [Music] crap Brooks bounces off the tackle cuts it outside in the wave of white shirts waiting for looks like a Steeler defense of old Brian hit one Carnell lakyn on the stop Hinkle had a great game against the Falcons a couple of weeks ago 11 tackles forced the fumble made a fumble recovery and I assume with a quick talk to pound brought down at the 31 yard line nice tackle by Johnson made sure he didn't get any more offense Joe is that it forces he doesn't seem to play with their best 11 guys on defense and the Steelers are very well-equipped could be that they don't have to bring in a lot of extra personnel when I talked to Dave Brazil last night their defensive coordinator he said that doesn't bother they feel like they've got 11 people out there like the substitute in special situations but as long as Cincinnati has their 11 out there they feel they can match up with third and five [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] whoops you too David Nikki woods again with a pine block and books the 10-year man out of Auburn doesn't seem to have lost anything it's the same play they've been running he stars one way gets the defense my watch starts to the right of your screen cuts back and you're right a gaping hole Mike the Steelers are forced to take fall steps does a good job making Thomas ever miss Rod Woodson has to make the tackle but all they're doing is getting the spheres to commit and cutting back against the ground [Music] [Applause] nice fake by esaias and dumps it off to his tight end panis down to the pittsburgh 34 yard line first down whoops and had to make the tackle at need of thirteen it's only the sixth catch this year for Eric Adams Boomer Esiason to Joe Montana the two best plays baking quarterbacks in the National Football ad that's why they get people open so often here's the result of it you see how wide ugly pass but effective also takes a shot and catus picks up the first down but they do such a great job of faking but that also has to come from a running game which the fan goes have rumors six out of ten 50 talk to the score on the first Green much their nice job by Greg Lloyd the outside linebacker to bring him down a lot of players get compliments from other coaches Lloyd got one from Jerry Glanville he said he'll cheat shot you he'll hit you in the back he'll do whatever it takes I love him my kind of guy boy does have an attitude he admits it off but he says it makes it a pretty good line back Oh and nine sighs and again with time to cook released [Applause] a Woods who knew it too well he just reached in to try and grab his shoulder round it with a little bit of his face see the five or 15 they call that a personal foul now that was what that hacking motion was by the referee Tom Dooley oh wow [Applause] that's the main Jets first time I've seen a major in a while you see Woodson watch his right hand he's got him he doesn't let him go he pulls him down by it that's the way they judged it if you changed the guy's direction with his face man see also change direction his face Cincinnati very impressive on offense they have kept the Steeler defense on the field nearly the entire game [Applause] got a dip black food Taylor the pendulum at the 8-yard line Lloyd and Everett made the tackle they just keep running over Anthony munos on the left side Ken Moyer that left side the left guard Hoyer the left tackle windows they're just moving the Steelers out Donnell Evans jail wins playing over the nose just getting pushed back a few yards of creating a whole defensive end and you go out there and Munoz lines up in front of you you know it's gonna be a long night I may be the best that ever played that position on his way to his tenth consecutive khlo-balls got my vote already [Applause] whoops again again - five - the floor Hinkel made the tackle it's not like the counterplay the Redskins use where it's one drop step and then you go it's more of a misdirection it really is what it basically is you take a look at it do a little chart work for you as it comes up you'll see right here what they do is they just want these people to take fall steps that's only what this defense do then they bring a guard or somebody move them that way and he has a chance to run with the ball see how they slide now they bring it back and ickey woods really is the lead blocker they just bring me to get tackle across the formation I the Steelers are going to have to change what they're doing you can't line up they want to play Smash Mouth isn't going to work they're gonna have to start bringing some secondary people and they're going to have to start bringing some linebackers to shut down those gaps that the Bengals are running in Bengals have a timeout with 4:15 to go in the half they're facing a third and one paddy leading Pittsburgh seven to nothing as we hit the closing minutes of the first half Mike Patrick and Joe Theismann glad you could join us from Cincinnati and if you're a fan goes fan you have to love the offense tonight well you have to love the balance they have in this particular Drive which has been 72 yards they've thrown four passes for 30 to run the ball six times 4:40 exactly what Sam Wyche wanted get some balance back in the attack the first time since September of 87th they have I had all six of their principal skill position players on the field the same starting the ball games and people I think overlooked and how important that is he just uses we've got starters in this game they have to be there for you to win that you can't get by with people that aren't started first of all the starters get all the practice time the secondary guys even in training camp your backups don't get the amount of work that your starters get munos lines up as an eligible receiver on the right [Applause] like a mix up in the snap count several people weren't moving when boomer got the ball and woods fell forward to the five short of the first down the wait on the mark look like Dicky got off on the ball and everybody else was sort of standing still and on fourth down here comes Jim breach so the bangles for all their domination lost a potential touchdown on their first possession with an interception got a touchdown later now it appears they'll have to settle for a field goal yeah but you know you try a reverse on the LBD kickoff you got to have other times a strict place and every part of your kicking game you know perfect opportunity may be perfect Johnson the holder and breathe drills so the Bengals after another long drive add three to their total and lead nothing ESPN's Sunday night NFL is brought to you by Cadillac and your local Cadillac dealer discover why the only way to travel is Cadillac style by ITT Hartford when you need us most we're at our best and by hewlett-packard LaserJet printers they'll get you noticed it's the John a Roebling bridge in Cincinnati it was the model for the Brooklyn Bridge they learned more than football here Jim News Center has learned it's offenses come back to life three great drives and they turn just over three minutes to go in the half each team has had to fall only three times Johnson line drive kick Woodsen handles it inside the ten and a fine return out across the 35 to the 36 yard line [Music] we have a timeout here in Cincinnati 314 that go in the half the Bengals by 10 to go first half from Cincinnati it's been all Bengals they lead at ten to nothing we talked earlier about Chuck Noll and Joe Walton in the new offense that they put in in the terrible time they had adjusting to it and it's hard to believe that just terminology made it such a big tournament I really does [Music] still in Bobby he wanted him to have confidence and believe he could use a confidence builder right now [Applause] pocket collapsing the past agrees runaway train as he crosses the 50 there's a flag down on the play gain of 16 Phillips and Xander in on the stop and it will go against Cincinnati we talked about this is the type of play Magnus to think a wide receiver would run into the huddle and go split right C short motion 77 X 767 F high now you repeat that say what and then you repeat and this is what the play looks like there's the short motion by the Z there is the 77 by the 2 wide with two wide receivers on the right side and there is the f5 and the 67 is in reference to the blocking of the X which is the tight end in this instance that's what Bobby has to communicate in the huddle it's the first weekend [Music] to play now avoids the rush with time goes deep and throws it out of bound intended full lips covered very well by Carl Carter I'll bet you you're wondering now why did he get a flag on the last when it yeah get a foot because they weren't quite close enough to get their hands on it the last time they were within grasping range they figure ok you threw it away this time they he was running around just threw the ball away it's clean here's the play coming in he's got it got the formation gets in the huddle it's Rick Strom number 11 the backup quarterback out of Georgia Tech [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] a gain of 38 yards for Tim whirling out of Georgia that's why they have him back in the starting lineup he can break it for you well this is the other way run this is an over lead draw he'll come from the right side sets like it's going to be past the Bengals have committed now there's no now here's the cutback look at the vision got great speed great vision doesn't lose any north/south speed but yet manages to cut off at an angle towards the end zone Worley with six carries 61 yards we've hit the two-minute warning here in Cincinnati it's 10 nothing Bengals and we'll be back in a moment [Music] [Applause] to Hill and had it knocked away by Phillips he is their best cover man and did a great job on that one a little bit of hesitation by Buffy trying to get it off on the trigger a play like that you got to spin around set and fire you can't really look and see where the receivers going you almost have to fire to a spot not to an individual that time he had the way to clear the linebackers just for a second got it they're just a little late to the touchdowns have coming [Music] burger up from the corner the first man to hit him at the line of scrimmage the Keon sweeps is to try and get across the line of scrimmage the Bengals know the Steelers want to trap they want if they go to get trapped get trapped on the other side of the ball look at the penetration by the linebackers that's a big key James Francis in there creating a problem take away the lead blockers give your opportunity for your teammates to come in and fill it's exactly what he did Chuck goal rarely changes Express earlier in the year he did [Applause] wide open equal firmly at the start of the play maro [Music] [Applause] and it's the Cincinnati defense getting the cheer [Applause] on this play the motion comes from the outside as we talked about the motion comes on the outside both receivers run in they try and get it out to the flat he didn't have time to get it to him Gary hesitates too late here's the Joe Gary Anderson [Applause] resisting the putter [Applause] [Music] [Applause] we can't believe he didn't get in the Steelers can't believe he didn't get in we've got to assume that this is one they got to take a look at here it is Anderson comes on does his motion they block they said he holds the ball on the ground everybody's frozen you see the linebacker who was the wingman now he starts to go up now the question is does the ball break the plane that's all he has to happen no no good call the heck of a call by the side judge Dean look [Applause] many will start about 6 inches from its goal line and the credit goes to Barney bustin [Music] he dropped back into coverage he actually covered the receiver as well as came up and made the play watch where the ball hits right there you see the ball lower left side of your screen it never crosses the plane remember the ball has to cross the line or hit it the ball never quite gets that Cincinnati just crying for some breathing room to run out the clock what was a great place for a fake construes in ski carried it out very well got nine and a half yards out of it needed another two inches sometimes as a ball carry you want to try and go up and over might almost be better when you that close just trying to lower and go through but here's a guy who just president one with the football that much do something did the best thing you could with that effort that was the first time all year the Cincinnati defense has stopped an opponent in a goal of goal situation where at halftime look Woodson number one in the AFC cincinnati lining up as if to try an onside kick and the Steelers only have four men up at the 45 yard line on that side of the field they have not adjusted to it yet instead knocked down by one of the up men and return to the 38-yard line foster the backup running back halftime stats Cincinnati dominating a number of plays rushing yards maybe the key a hundred and ten they had not been running the ball well the only turnover was an interception in the end zone and time of possession is almost doubled they have kept the Steeler defense on the field of awful long time and right now as people [Applause] - about purporting to give them a gain of five Steelers getting back to some basics what they do best is trap from that case they pulled their right tackle on the right guard gives Taj an opportunity to turn it up inside you know I mean you can't fault the Steelers bubby said the best way to control that steal or offense don't let him on the football field boomer shooting I got the truth Dubois mixed up sessions Hoover said to keep them keep Buffy off the field and that's what they've done certainly have second through five [Applause] they want to scream the Cincinnati humming grabs him for a six-yard lon what a play by Kevin Walker [Applause] Steelers offense really shut down except for Worley and most of that came on a 38 yard run in the first half [Applause] bring the leading receiver with cheap catches and a third and 12 and they're doing this the defense [Music] [Applause] [Music] rooster crows stuff by Mitchell price to beat a no foul and there's a flag down [Applause] Cincinnati arguing that he was in and now the officials having a discussion about it Mitchell Price uses a special team return man has that quickness there you saw him close on the ball and they wind up with the ball they give them the interception after the officials conference Bobby makes the throw now he's trying to go up the field now [Applause] after the play on der montigue awesome but this will be reviewed and this looks pretty conclusive this could be this this is this is very very obvious that his left foot is going to be out of bounds before as the replay official Bobby's trying to get the ball to Derrick Hill there you see he makes the catch his right foot hits the ground his left foot hits out of bounds there's absolutely no question whatsoever that that is not an interception clearly out about [Applause] and now the officials will stop action on the field again again you have to understand I'm sure the fans are sitting there saying geez we've run the replay why haven't they communicated down to the field any quicker than that the fact is is that the instant replay officials have to first notify them and say hey wait a second we want to take a look at it then they look at it then they talk to him Cincinnati has called a timeout with 13 18 to go in the quarter we'll be back in a moment and on the play he was out of bounds but the personal foul will stand so it is fourth in 24 and Pittsburgh will punted away but that is a big break for the Steelers obviously we have a reversal the players ruled is incomplete we have a personal foul 63 offensive team after the foul in fourth down so Straczynski is in the front [Music] Mitchell price weights at his own 38 well you've just got to believe this is going to go after fourth down in four miles you give up five no problems we got them backed up he could break the game open right now a blocker [Applause] [Music] and very short marched out of bounds at the 39 yard line a punt of 19 yards [Music] ESPN's coverage of the NFL begins every Sunday with game day at noon Eastern fresh time and feet review all the day's games then at 7:00 they're back with primetime that's a complete wrap-up of all the action then at 8 o'clock Joe and I will be in beautiful San Diego as the Seahawks and the Chargers go at it Jarnell Williams and will also get to see Marion butts [Applause] Greg Taylor in for Cincinnati and Taylor will get the call about seven yards down to the 32 although cincinnati hasn't rushed the ball well Craig Taylor's got a 4.5 average only carried about 37 times which means it yeah I mean when he's used he's used effectively second to pull back out of West Virginia saw an awful lot of action when Woods was out injured second and three for Cincinnati what tried to cut it back stopped at the 32 Nickerson makes the tackle got some help from David Johnson the individual leaders in the first half Brooks with 72 yards rushing also had two catches and crumber I led the club in tackles were three he used to lead his team in tackles all the time and a nose man one thing that's not reflected there is one of their ball carriers Boomer Esiason who's really started to run the ball made some key runs kept two drives alive by running with the football there is passing numbers [Applause] nice fake by Esiason wide [Applause] [Music] [Applause] look like he got it [Music] when you run in the football as a quarterback you can just hide it and I guess a Joe Montana and boomers size to the best if I watch this play fake he'll actually stick the ball out sticks it out good fake by the running back good fake by Craig Taylor caddis is wide open now the Steelers that come up they just can't make the tackle everett misses it caddis goes on down the field and ball goes out of bounds at the 1 they're replaying it here in the stadium and the fans still thought they have to touch them you run the back one way release the tight in out the other side there's nobody there all the support is committed to the run and you're tight in wide open like that his body got in the end zone but as you called it the ball went outside the column watch where the ball goes now gets away from his body the ball right now is out of bounds and his right hand hits the cone but the ball doesn't there's another look at it right here you see his light hand hits the cone put the balls out of bound they're reviewing it I'm sure they will spot it at the one-yard line and it will be first and goal Cincinnati with 11 28 to go third quarter they're already up 10 nothing and the replay booth says the play will stand as with the crowd wanted to touch them can't blame them for that they wouldn't every guard him to death do guards has not been easy these guys been away from home a long time [Applause] trying to return it but it was called a touchdown in the Steelers drilling deep yeah guys just here on defense drawing helmets [Applause] again does he have possession of the ball when he break when the ball breaks the free this is looking at it from the official who was standing these are his eyes there's the hit where's the ball where's the ball the ball is in the end zone then he comes out it's a touchdown right here you see him now he's still got possession of it he's still got a possession of it he's in the end zone the ball does come flying out though I don't know if you go back to if you go back to that other angle the ball may have come out before he crossed a line tough to tear it is hard to see from that angle now it's from the reverse angle left hand part of your screen left part of your screen right in the middle now say he falls across think it only has to break the plane and break it it dead and breach is on for the point after and the Bengals have built a 16 reach for the point after [Applause] and they're on their feet in Cincinnati more than 60,000 [Music] ESPN's Sunday night NFL is brought to you by Subaru we build our reputation by building a better car and by McDonald's you know the one it's McDonald's for food folks and fun it's the Union Terminal Museum Center once the beautiful old train station now a historical museum it reopened just last week never ceases to amaze me how much information we bring the people may feature 17 nothing Cincinnati is the information we want to bring you right now have dominated this game that has been full of razor close play Johnson the kick to Woodsen at the fish [Music] what's into the 49-yard line Rob Jones makes the tackle a return of 42 this game of course for first place in the AFC Central both teams 5 and 4 Houston lurking at five and five and two weeks from today these same two teams will tee it up again in Pittsburgh home game very important the home team feels like they have to win because there's a real strong chance of losing two if you lose at home [Applause] whurling just launches himself forward to the 47 surely unfortunate here the Steelers to get out of your game playing that good field position we're gonna need three scores anyway if you get some kind of points out of this Drive either a field old or a touchdown then you bring yourself back in with ten 35 to go in the quarter a chance to at least position this uh person scores one of Chuck Noll strikes over the years has been his consistency he makes a decision that he feels his sound and he stays with it and that's what they did with the new offense this year and certainly it has paid off [Applause] diving for the Simpson has the first down inside the 40 Carl Xander in on the stop again the third year man out of Tennessee when I played for Joe Walt one of the things he always never got upset he always told me he said listen just relax don't worry about his a quarter big thing oh god we got to put the ball in the air right now real quick he'll go back he'll run the ball just to get control of the game that's what he's trying to do get control of the tempo of this game back that's way comes out with some runs they've been successful starting you get a little bit more of a tempo in the Steelers favor every quarterback he has ever worked with has been a much better quarterback to call [Applause] [Music] Gobert I had breakfast with coach Walton this morning he said you know this is a very difficult defense to prepare for because they haven't been playing well so they're likely to possibly come with four down linemen three down linemen maybe blitz some linebackers he says it's a little bit hard to predict what they might do which creates a little bit more of a problem in play selection we've seen Cincinnati bring their linebackers a little bit more specifically to stop the run second and ten [Applause] tries to reverse this field know where to go loss of 13 sander and McClendon made the tackle James Francis number 50 messed up the timing of the play and forced him to turn hip blitz for two reasons put pressure on the quarterback or to stop the running game here comes Francis here come the linebacker look at the penetration they want to get back here to stop the trapping offensive linemen look at him come everybody's coming looks like a jailbreak and whirly feels like one and Francis is playing with a very bad back yesterday they told us they didn't think he play leads the team in sacks with seven out Lester throws to his big tight end Eric green could behold that one there is a flag down on the play back at the Steeler 40-yard line it will go against Pittsburgh holding 74 offence there is decline fourth down that's Terry long the right guard but they'll decline it and bring up fourth in 21st so the stealer offensive have been hitting on all cylinders for five weeks can't do it Straczynski to punt a price hi floating kick prices with their debts 16 yard line punt of 36 no return good punt by Straczynski 26 to go third quarter is all Cincinnati bubby Brister 'he's numbers on the night 5 out of 12 32 yards hit first had 5 drives punt punt fake field goal stop punt fight all they've had the footballs tonight they're often Thomas Everett has bruised his shoulder and number 22 Larry Griffin [Applause] for forward for about four to 20 both of these teams are coming off a bye what kind of effect do you think it's hey Ivan said a definite effect Cincinnati needed it for two reasons Cincinnati needed it because they were getting the living daylights beat out of them and they needed to get people healthy and help them Pittsburgh on the other hand was hot they were warned I believe a turkey I think it's having a direct affect on the way this game is going tonight second and six [Applause] you put on the ground Taylor hit in the backfield time and dropped for loss of three Brian Hinkle came from his left outside linebackers button and those are the kind of plays the Steelers are going to need to get back in this game Keith Willis from his left defensive in person gets the penetration that allowed Ryan hiko to come in and make the stop [Applause] hence the first-down did not slide gold instead and got the yardage if he slides he doesn't make it and it comes up Olympic he desert the muslin looked like he might have twisted that ankle a little bit we talked about it earlier the one thing that Boomer Esiason was not doing was running with the football here he sees an opening he knows exactly how far he has to get dives up makes it first down five carries 31 yards for Boomer Esiason tonight supporting [Music] what sandwiches he got to be 29 a gaming of one the other thing a drive like this and the bride's a Cincinnati man tonight they eat up the clock and right now the clock is their best hour I really the thing even though they're at the line of scrimmage boomer still looks up in that play clock it's it the 32nd actually the 32nd of 27 he sees how long it's running down he can stand there and hold them for another 20 seconds using the clock is an ally making the spealler qisas to stand around now they have to get them in the three-point stance the Steeler players we're not even Giger our town comfortable decison have they get to him lately floated in tempore [Applause] Gretchen was coming from Keith Willis first time they've really gotten close to boomer Oh still had about four seconds to blow here sincerity stands there they tell you exactly what they're going to do [Music] [Music] no question boomer tries to run them step two and and it went right past where I'd be home and he didn't have a chance unless that sticks to him he's not going to get it neither get to one of the other you can't get caught in the middle and he almost cost the line of scrimmage as well and wound up with a penalty Lee Johnson will come on to potties having a five-year and Woodson whose second in the conference in punt return weights of the 30 the first time Johnson has had to punt tonight and Johnson is a left footed kicker so the ball is going to come down a little bit then a lot other stickers in the roof Woodson takes the ride tried to catch it on the fly and now I'll have to until-- the 34-yard kick and he did the right thing to come up to try to make the catch but you have to catch it I talked about the ball comes off the foot of a left footed kicker different than the largest percentage of punters in the National Football League what does in got it back and you see how the ball is working away from him see how it's just running away from him he never quite can catch up with because of the rotation somehow Woodson got it back amidst a pile of Cincinnati Bengals 406 to go third quarter 17 nothing Cincinnati dominate the Pittsburgh Steelers they lead at 17 nothing Pittsburgh gets a break as whoops recovers his own fumble they'll start from the 42 and they have to get something going on [Music] [Applause] Christel of time throat come o our key is tightened down to the 38 yard line 21 yard game Milwaukee with great hands and Joe Walton who loves tight ends in the offense he loves to including but he likes to have him cross across the defense in this particular play bubby does a play-action fake now Malarkey's on the off side takes a little step out tail the linebackers flow to the run fake now he just finds a dead area puts his hand up and says hey Here I am makes the shot goes down but hangs on to the ball malarkey has led this club [Applause] one is for inside the 35 here's the Budweiser storyline from Cincinnati the Steelers in their one chance to score went with a fake field goal and didn't make it Brister two out of four thirteen yards in the second and the time of possession being dominated by the senses the job tonight [Applause] [Music] rested dump this one to stone nice defense by Karl Carter and you have to make sure you get stoned because he has blinding speed man-to-man defense when you latch on you got to hang on Karl Carter chases him all the way across the field Bobby gets the ball to him with not a lot of room to run can't pivot Carter does a good job of bringing them down spot the ball up the 33 yard line third and five [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] at the 25-yard line the grab great hands Eric Green gives an awful lot of credit to Sam Rutigliano who's coaching down at Liberty now said he really prepared him to become a pro Luis Billups covered talked about respect you put your best corner on the big guy at 275 look Co he uses his hands he never lets the ball get to his body that is a disciplined receivers about as big as the statute 65 to 74 six touchdowns this year five came in two games after he signed to the club after a protracted holdout clock running with a minute 12 to go first quarter Pittsburgh has been shut out be very proud of its work tonight last year last year going out of bounds the clock would have been stopped come to blitz going for stone and Phillips position and he wanted the flag thrown on stone for often pass interference Luis philipson great coverage on brightstone they try and run him on and out enough that he has inside both people who have an opportunity to go there Phillips has a point doesn't it he really does and this is not reviewable so any what you see is what you get you got a mauling or buggy [Applause] [Music] they didn't [Applause] [Music] [Applause] we're not going to lose a lot because this kid can find we have seen how impressive Ricky Dickson the free safety is we saw Lord he comes up and makes the hit picks it up and makes his second big play of the game down of his career [Applause] reach to the point [Applause] that's David Fulcher on the right Pat them on the back and the storm safety has a big part in making this Cincinnati defense come up with big plates you see Lynch start on the outside carrying the ball outside now Ricky Dixon comes flying up number 29 makes the initial hit Francis punches the ball out just comes in with the old uppercut Barney bus he gets the right kind of Bounce - later room-service hop 70 yards and it's allowed jungle tonight in Cincinnati [Applause] see out of South Carolina [Applause] Porter Ricky Dixon coming up keeping lips up long enough for Francis to knock it loose here's your room service bounce Mike picks it up like a steak on a plate [Music] and Chuck Doyle knows he's in a lot of trouble down 24 nothing with 32 seconds to go in the third he's just an absolutely great job gets his first touchdown starting for day vultures in doubt for four weeks with a separated shoulder but everybody I talk to said - hey Barney can do the job for us he can fill in and get it done sure heads tonight here's that onside kick look from the Bengals they kicked it away the last time get it if you don't give him enough play mrs. Woodman [Applause] well he can fly it boss the 40 now we'll check the penalty flag it's back in the area where Cincinnati would be offside on the kickoff and some pushing and shoving after the ploy [Applause] [Music] Cincinnati is offside Pittsburgh will decline it they've had some great field position compliments of Rod Woodson he started on the 49 the last time now they're up on the 40 yard line dance or much more forma from a special team 12 offsides number 55 on the kicking team Kennedy's decline first down 55 is head waiting back up line back [Music] points this is an offense in five games and averaging nearly 30 again they have zip tonight [Applause] Krister the quick out to lip stays inbounds very close to a first down in Cincinnati territory and also very important to get the ball to the guy that just committed the turnover don't let him stand around on the field for a couple plays and dwell on what happened get him the football get him right back in the games right now the little point you don't want to lose a weapon like Louie lips to a minivan clock running they will not get off a play before the end of the third period and that will end at the quarter here in Cincinnati with the bangles roll [Music] that said this is the way the Bengals are supposed to play and she's right they really have they playing well on defense offenses controlling the tempo of the game and special teams continues to contribute in their own way they're doing a great job of holding Rod Woodson even though he's getting some big returns he hasn't had a chance to really break one and hurt the bank fifteen minutes a foot Cincinnati 48 [Music] Rissa again the lips Sagan bounced picked up a couple more Eric green big tight end the rookie from Liberty has a sprained shoulder and we're told he will not return that takes a big weapon away from what you gotta do now is remember they played they play again in two weeks in Pittsburgh I'm sure that's what's on the mind of the coaches that don't want to show them too much yeah you want to get back in the game but realistically what are the chances on offensive scoring for scores in this period of time probably not going to make it don't show them too much try not to get your people hurt and get back some kind of a rhythm so that least you can gain something positive out of this quarter there's a flag on the play now move it back in the Pittsburgh territory no exporters life's interesting by gardening yes somebody in the office we had to figure that one out ourselves [Applause] [Music] [Applause] dinerral Hajj dives to the 45 gave up seven yards shy of the first down bring up second and seven Tim crumb right over assisting on the tackle he loves these kind of football games with when I mentioned when I sat down with him on Friday afternoon I said tell me about fixes for car geez I love it I hate these wooden shoe things got a chase all those women guys around half the time I can't play in the game I love this kind of a game I get this smashed around I get the smash people there's a guy's got a 15 inch rod miss book you and from Rio on second and seventh row Ricki Dixon on coverage wrister just doesn't seem to have a lot of rhythm tonight and part of the rhythm you got to give credit to Cincinnati's defense they're just taking their front seven those seven guys right there everybody's firing across the ball they're not giving bubbie a chance to drop back and set his feet he's got to keep his feet moving therefore he can't plant and make he's only hit one out of five [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Green back in the game makes the catch with the 40 straight on young man stops over another down to the 31 first down well we just told you Green had a sprained shoulder would not be back that lasted about two plays heard that start him down in motion he comes down a motion goes back figure the defensive backs gonna release him but he goes the other way dumps it off to him catches it at four yards picks up six more go ahead to Lowe's just one right over Karl Carter you are tackling a man and you're a sign of tackling him - banner [Applause] [Music] [Applause] grunts the Pickford Carlton [Music] the Sabine shape throws complete to Hodge and pods down to the 15 made at the 17-yard line where they mark him out of bounds Barney took him out Carl Zander had a shot at him scot-free bubby does a real nice job gets back in the pocket lower left side of the screen here comes in at times the count right he's just running free Bobby just gives you the old sweep of the arm gets the ball upfield Merrill Hodge makes the play picks up a few extra yards after the catch first down Steelers market at the 17 yard line walk down to 12 47 [Applause] they'll sell knocked out inside the tenor be a couple yards shy of the first down you know what happens sometimes mike is a football team seize what another ballclub is Duncan for example the Steelers saw how everybody lately has been running on the bangle so you said if your game plan is saying oh geez if they pounded them we can pound them it sort of dictates a little bit what you want to try and do and now you see the Steelers open up a little bit more which they've done more late [Applause] [Music] [Applause] nowhere to go flag down they'll stop the play Kevin Walker was waiting on them on the outside as the bangles did a nice job of stringing it out let's check the penalty and it's procedure again Pittsburgh all-star 77 offense second man Cincinnati doesn't get a lot of credit for being one of those loud places where it's hard to communicate but we've seen it on three different occasions bubby Brister having trouble there's Dick LeBeau the defensive coordinator Dave fuller on his left is Strong's all-pro strong safety said they haven't played the ball well in the secondary and he's done an outstanding job he knows that his defense is just good solid defense not real great the offensive side is worth expect to make it happen tonight it's the defense that pick it up has never been a shutout in the she's trying to make sure throws blips I think thought it was intended for someone else didn't even read out alarm not that he could have caught it but that was well off partly I look at this game as the growth of bubby Brister things have been to start in trouble now you get rolling and you think you can rule the world your think you can everything you suppose going to be completed every time you get down close you're going to throw a touchdown pass then you hit a speed bump like this and it throws everything out of left they want to see how he's going to play now the next week against the Jets let's see okay how you gonna come back here synopsis it was over total again 37 [Music] to the enzone frozen locked up man-to-man down there with Mitchell price and its fourth and seventh no matter what they do here I think what you have to consider when the Steelers get the ball back is going to the hurry-up offense they need four scores and the thing is is one of them has to be a field goal that they're going to tie it all so you take the chance now you've gotten down close I'll go out on a limb I don't think you'll see the safe acceptable I think you see you know you know there's the the numbers speak for themselves going to career garyun in this guy's automatic [Applause] and the Steelers with 11:30 get on the scoreboard they're still down 24 3 ESPN's Sunday night NFL is brought to you by Levi's 505 506 and 540 jeans and by the diehard battery now with more power when you need it most nanni Ohio where the Bengals have run up a 24 three lead talk about furballs 1113 to go in the game they're up by three touchdowns here's the kickoff price [Applause] Paul was out to the 30-yard line [Applause] tomorrow's headlines brought to you by Levi's 505 506 and 540 jeans mark Griffin with an outstanding return for the Redskins as he beat the Saints the bills eight straight Thurman Thomas had 165 the Giants have gone to ten enou given up 14 points in the last three Warren Moon had five touchdowns today happy birthday the 49ers win their 18th straight to tie an NFL record they're 10 enough and Kevin Butler redeem himself after missing one he could have wanted a regulation by winning it in overtime [Music] full of pushing and shoving after this play is Ricky woods got a couple bobby Brister on the sidelines shaking his head a little bit wondering where did this thing get out of hand now you look at up at the clock it's about 40 degrees 35 degrees you're cold you haven't been on the field much he's a little stiffer and we start thinking maybe we've got something happen that you really you want Steelers so hey the defense make a play for it pass the ballers get something going how they do me the turnover a chance to get back in here one gaping hole jumps his way forward across the 40 yard line should be a first down Greg Lloyd was in on the stock cincinnati has run the ball to the left side over Anthony munos quite a bit there he is reach block gets outside Greg Boyd just pushes him up the field nobody minds watching a linebacker make a tackle 9 10 yards downfield I mean as an offensive tackle you feel like okay I've done my job 6/6 284 is Anthony lugar just an unbelievable offering for one first down and the clock continues to turn why action of science' floats it and just Woodsen for the ball a gain of 20 and that was not the primary receiver Esiason ran the play-action they wanted to go back on the other side of the field to Tim McGee but look at this catch by Taylor just does get it over Woodsen's arm hangs on to the ball here's the fake great play fakes he oh he hides it way any young guys watching out there that want to play that position there's a man that watch now he just hangs it up with a lot of touch that was only the second catch of the year with Brett Taylor just tripped up nearly broke that when David Johnson cut his lights out from under and I'd have to say the Bengals are back with you oh yeah their offensive lines just doing an outstanding job Joe Walters the right tackle 63 Ken Moyer right guard just opening something big big holes on the right actually right side left side they've run up and down the entire line school is high against Pittsburgh a couple more runs tonight 11 [Music] second and two Brooks again another huge little caught up as he got to the 25 but we haven't called littles name a whole lot tonight the younger brother of Larry who is the leading tackler on this team put in the leading tackler for four years never made the Pro Bowl and a lot of people in Pittsburgh say he should have I think he's another one of those athletes that suffers because they vote for middle linebacker and when you play the three-four defense how do they fit you in there are two guys that play the middle there are a lot of guys out there that just play in the 4-3 defense as middle linebacker they have a tendency to get the vote another first down since the clock down at 7:14 [Music] flags are down they'll stop the play we have an illegal snap on the offense Bruce kazursky what's an illegal snap it means like I'm gonna give it to you the first time no not now I'm gonna give it to you okay if they don't see it I mean maybe somebody jumps off you get a five-year pinch tell you who was great at doing that DD Lewis line back for the Dallas Cowboys when he used to snap on punch he used to squeeze the ball and do that and he got away with everybody would scream and yell and they never called before he was a master at now on the carpet the surface is too flat to get the ball soon first in 15 [Music] my action Loyd besides to the Voyager throws to caddis Candice has had a big night coming the only cost bypasses he's had three tonight Larry Griffin allows a gain of 19 when you're effective running the football like Cincinnati has fans you can get the linebacker clutch here all these linebackers are going to start to flow they're going to flow boomer comes out fakes caddis winds up out of here all by himself and there's nobody out there black some linebackers see how they flow with Brooks they want to stop the run boomer holds on it's almost like a naked reverse now caddis is out there again all by himself picks up the big yardage boomer has now hit 10 out of 15 134 yeah [Applause] [Music] inside the 10 - about the nine following Ken Moyer the pulling guard and if he works his fullback Brian Hinkle in on another tackle the cutback running tonight at the bangles is fitting and incredible gotta give credit to Boomer Esiason people don't realize how difficult this offense is he calls all those things right there as they stand next to the line scrimmage but when he gets to the line of scrimmage he looks at the defense and he determines whether the play is going to go to the left or cut back to the right so he's really controlling this orchestra [Applause] they've got a bounds at the 8th good pursuit by David Johnson five sixteen to go in the game Cincinnati trying to salt this one away for sure and the clock will run as outside of the five-minute mark on incomplete passes and out of bounds they will continue to turn it that's one of the problems you have if you're behind the clocks really yeah not in your favor with the new rule changing doesn't give you a chance to work and it's taken away I think some of the skill of being a quarterback and working the sideline works again down to the six yard line Gerald Williams fought off an ice block by Bruce liners and made the tackle couple of players slow getting up and Brooks is one of them and Jim breech will come in on 4th and 5 breach was cut in 1989 and brought back out of desperation and he has had a sensational year 14 out of 16 coming into this game including a career-high 13 straight you saw his career numbers between 20 and 29 yards 60 to a 65 Gary Andersen liked numbers or Morten Andersen or Nick Lowery we have a timeout with 353 to go from the jungle in Cincinnati it's all Bengals full and it has been Sam wisest night tonight two weeks from today they will line it up again in Pittsburgh and Weiss will be going for a sweep they really and he talked about it when we sat visited he said we need a sweep when you look at our schedule we've got to beat these people twice because it doesn't get any easier as we go down the road breach will try it 22 yard field goal [Applause] [Music] retraces the ante 227 3 Cincinnati started a rock made it 7 nothing in a 5 yard run breach up the ante to 10 nothing for the 21 yard field goal Craig Taylor made it 17 nothing in the 3rd quarter and then the one that really broke the back of any Pittsburgh comeback chance Barney bussy a 70 yard fumble return Anderson got the Steelers only points on the 31 yard field goal and then Cincinnati has just come back with a 7 minute 23 seconds rive to go back rooster has had trouble finding receivers all night listen he's got now odd flattened Dixon tackles before 1 in our game bubby is out of his rhythm a lot of what this offense requires is that you drop back a certain amount of steps set fire the football Cincinnati has taken away that rhythm they distorted it for the Steelers and he's really had nowhere to go with the football John zips incomplete intended for Hill as the sideline this size this is not the bubby Brister that Steelers fans have seen the last five weeks look at that quarterback right answer almost off the chart a hundred twenty-nine point one and tonight has not been bubbies night no it really is I mean you know here's here's a guy who has from 13 touchdown passes at only two again it's not just one individual everybody was quick the running game was going it takes a lot of pleasure comes another blitz dumps it and caught Lowen behind the intended receiver Richard fell too full within but gain maybe only another two yards Dick LeBeau and that defense had just done an outstanding job it seemed like every time a stealer was going to catch the football there was at least one or two bangles around they've done it with pressure with the linebackers matching up one-on-one outside dick Lobos defensive back played like Dick LeBeau tonight presenting floorpan Mitchell price wasting sided pretty kick this time box [Music] 35-yard punt no return coming up right after our games SportsCenter Bob Lee and Gary Miller they'll have all the sports news and the conversation with Sam white this week things we will find very interesting then primetime Chris Berman Tom Jackson and Robin Roberts will wrap up the day in the National Football League and another couple of surprises as always nozzle one below our own version of prime time prime private stuff that's our own triple threat Eric Wilhelm in at quarterback another left-hander and boomers night is done in a very satisfactory one it was [Applause] but the factoid waiting for dealers gang tackling [Music] Boyd isn't about to give up he was going there trying to strip the football Visayas and unfort really his impact was far larger than those statistics would indicate we've reached the two-minute warning in Cincinnati where the Bengals are on top and in control brought you a chance with 100 yards on his mill care James blitz with his first 100-yard game of the season at five a year ago two of them against the Steelers him being healthy has made such a difference the two weeks off I really think has been the difference in this game particularly for Cincinnati to get all their weapons as we talked about healthy Miggy finally becomes healthy had a terrible five bruise that just wouldn't go away Brooks was banged up sore knee finally healed boomer as we mentioned never said anything but I'm sure that wrist was bothering a little bit seemed to aggravate him just a little bit Eddie Brown a little good it would be problems once again behind Stan out to the 38 yard line take a look at the rest of the games the Cincinnati has and that's a tough schedule it is after Indianapolis in Pittsburgh they have to play the 49ers the Raiders and Houston three weeks in a row and their last two games divisional game yeah but they get a lot of them at home right here they talk about rockin the jungle this team has been away all that travel the time changes you get on an airplane you're arriving back at home at three four o'clock in the morning it has to have a cumulative effect and I believe it did towards the end that's why everybody got into a funk now with this schedule they can go home into their own homes get into their own routine even though they have some tough teams coming up they have to come to Pittsburgh in flight and I would guess that the temperatures are going to change just a little bit in this area of the country as the year goes on this is the fifth straight time that Cincinnati has beaten Steelers pick out your favorite quarter because Cincinnati has dominated all of them until now when it didn't matter a whole lot Barnes running with 28 seconds left and barney bussing making that hit before the end of the half to keep the story penned up as opposed to ten seven was really the key to the game a huge part stands for Jennings across the 40 43 and that will be the final play of the ball game and the Cincinnati Bengals have been creased fairly AFC Central they have taken first place all by themselves as Sam Weiss will come across to the middle of the field congratulate a couple of Steeler players as he wins it 27 to three Joe Cincinnati all the way just very impressive very impressive they out like I said I really believe that there's a two quarterbacks having a chance to visit you know boomers saying to Bobbie listen I know what you're going through I've been through it for a long time he's got to feel awful good about the way his football team has played I don't think he's as sharp as he can be or probably will do but at least he's been the complete quarterback there great job controlling the running game picked up the first down

Channel: RaulGuapo

Views: 28,035

Keywords: Boomer Esiason, Ickey Woods, Bubby Brister, Anthony Munoz, James Brooks, Steeler Week

Id: duzC5ZYJIw4

Length: 116min 33sec (6993 seconds)

Published: Mon Dec 04 2017