Oct 31, 2015 4 min read

PITTSBURGH – Perhaps it’s fitting that the Steelers will be wearing their 1934 “Bumblebee” throwback uniforms today when they host the Cincinnati Bengals at Heinz Field.

It will be a throwback kind of day as Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger returns to the lineup after missing four games with a knee injury, giving the Steelers all their pieces at the skill positions for the first time this season.

“I’m excited to have him back in the huddle, making all the calls,” running back Le’Veon Bell said. “We still haven’t had everyone on the field at the same time. It’s exciting.”

“Everyone” would include Roethlisberger and Bell along with wide receivers Martavis Bryant, Antonio Brown, Heath Miller and the other skill position players that had offensive coordinator Todd Haley setting goals of scoring at least 30 points per game.

In addition to the injury to Roethlisberger, the Steelers have dealt with suspensions of Bell and Bryant.

The result has been the Steelers going 4-3, a record that is good for second place in the AFC North behind the Bengals (6-0).

That’s right, the unbeaten Bengals.

Despite their record, the Bengals enter the game as slight underdogs – perhaps because Pittsburgh swept its two meetings against Cincinnati last year to move its record to 8-2 in the past 10 games between the teams.

“It doesn’t matter to me,” said Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis, a McDonald native, when asked about the lack of respect.

“What is respect? You go out and you play. The only thing that matters is our next football game.”

And both teams know how important a game this will be.

If the Steelers hope to catch the Bengals, they must win the head-to-head matchups. The Bengals, meanwhile, can improve to 7-0 for the first time and put a early stranglehold on the division with a win.

“It’s a big football game. It’s a division game on the road, and I think that’s really important,” said Lewis. “The Steelers won the division last year and they beat us twice, so this is an important game in our division. One of your fundamental goals is to win the AFC North.”

To do that, both defenses will have to slow an explosive offensive attack.

While the Steelers haven’t had their full compliment of skill players on the field together, they’ve averaged 31.2 points per game last season in 10 games after inserting Bryant into the lineup.

Cincinnati, meanwhile, is getting its best season out of much-maligned quarterback Andy Dalton, who has thrown 14 touchdown passes and just two interceptions. The Bengals also have multiple threats at wide receiver and running back, and third-year tight end Tyler Eifert has is a blossoming star. The 6-6 Eifert has scored six touchdowns – only New England’s Rob Gronkowski has scored more among tight ends – on 28 pass receptions.

The Steelers have had issues covering tight ends. Only the New York Giants have allowed more than the 44 catches given up by the Steelers to tight ends. The Oakland Raiders (7) are the only team to give up more touchdown passes to tight ends than the six Pittsburgh has allowed.

“Everybody struggles against some of these tight ends,” said Steelers defensive coordinator Keith Butler. “I don’t think we’re the only ones in the league who do that. We have to do a better job of coverage on those guys.”

The Bengals also have some issues.

Bell has averaged just under 150 yards from scrimmage in three career games against the Bengals. And he’ll just be a part of the equation for the Steelers.

Pittsburgh was 2-2 without Roethlisberger and the expecations are high for the team with its starting quarterback returning.

“I am just happy to have guys healthy,” said Steelers offensive coordinator Todd Haley. “Obviously, we’ve had guys in and out but that’s life in the NFL. It’s never going to be perfect.”

Safety Will Allen (ankle) and defensive end Stephon Tuitt (knee) are listed as out for the Steelers. … The Bengals, who are coming off a bye week, have no players listed as out and only one, cornerback Leon Hall (back), is questionable. … Dalton needs one road victory to match Roethlisberger and Dan Marino with 23 road wins in his first five seasons. No quarterback has led his team to more road wins in his first five seasons. … Bryant is one of two players (Gus Tinsley in 1937-38 is the other) with a touchdown catch of at least 88 yards in each of his first two seasons. One of those receptions was a 94-yard TD catch in Cincinnati last season. … The Steelers lead the series, 55-34, including 12-4 under head coach Mike Tomlin. … The Steelers are 3-1 when they wear the 1934 throwbacks.