Cover / Artwork » The unexpected.Every year there are those players

Andy Dalton could barely protect himself as the Steelers poured through the line https://www.thesteelerslockerroom.com/authentic-juju-smith-schuster-jersey , sacking him eight times at Heinz Field in September — one of the quarterback’s worst moments in a nine-year career.Now it’s rookie Ryan Finley’s turn to feel the heat.The winless Bengals will see how their fourth-round pick fares against the Steelers’ hard-charging defense Sunday at Paul Brown Stadium, where thousands of Pittsburgh fans are expected to make it a challenging atmosphere for the home team. The psychological bruises from that 27-3 drubbing on a Monday night two months ago are still fresh.“As the game went, we were throwing the ball a lot and they were just teeing off,” first-year coach Zac Taylor said. “It turned into a bit of a horror show there and we’ve got to learn from that.”Both Ohio River rivals are trying to get beyond a little horror.The Steelers (5-5) lost Ben Roethlisberger in the season opener and dropped four of their first five, but stabilized behind fill-in Mason Rudolph and a defense that’s been among the league’s best at getting the ball. The momentum was broken last week in Cleveland with a costly 21-7 loss.Top receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster sustained a concussion and a knee injury. Running back James Connor aggravated an injured shoulder. Rudolph had his helmet ripped off by Cleveland’s Myles Garrett, who then clubbed the quarterback with it, drawing an indefinite suspension. Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey punched and kicked Garrett and got a three-game suspension that was later reduced to two games after an appeal.It’s quite a challenge for a team that can’t afford to lose this one if it wants to make a playoff run.“We can’t let off the gas pedal at all,” linebacker T.J. Watt said. “We’re learning that this year.”They’re heading to a place where they’ve had many season-saving moments. And things have never been more miserable at this side of the river.At 0-10, the Bengals have matched the worst start in their history and the longest losing streak overall — only the third to drop 10 in a row. In the bigger picture Womens James Conner Jersey , they’ve lost 12 straight from last season, a club record.They’re starting a rookie quarterback who has completed only 47.5 percent of his throws and could find himself back on the bench with another bad showing.“It’s a new week to reinvent ourselves,” Finley said.LOPSIDED RIVALRYNo matter how much it’s struggling, Pittsburgh usually get things straightened out against the Bengals. In addition to nine straight wins in the series, the Steelers have taken 12 of 13 and 17 of 20. They’ve won six in a row at Paul Brown Stadium, including an 18-16 victory in a first-round playoff game in the 2015 season when Vontaze Burfict’s hit to Antonio Brown’s head set up the winning field goal. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin is 20-5 all-time against Cincinnati.WHERE’S THE BEEF?The Steelers have one of the NFL’s most experienced offensive lines and have done an excellent job of keeping whoever is at quarterback upright. Pittsburgh has allowed 15 sacks on the season, the second-fewest in the league. The line, however, has struggled to generate much push in the running game. The Steelers are 28th in yards rushing and have had trouble all season converting short-yardage situations. The running game could get some reinforcement if rookie Benny Snell Jr. returns after missing three games because of a knee injury.“There is a certain meat-on-meat or bone-on-bone element of football that you can’t run away from and short yardage is one of them T. J. Watt Jersey ,” Tomlin said.FINLEY’S FATEThe Bengals benched Dalton after an 0-8 start so they could see whether Finley fits in their long-term plans. Taylor has left the door open for a return to Dalton if the rookie continues to struggle. The fourth-round pick is having a tough time in an offense with an undependable line and a group of receivers that lacks a deep threat with A.J. Green and John Ross injured. The Bengals have centered the offense on running back Joe Mixon the past two games, but the passing game has been ineffective all-around.Sometimes in the passing game when we've missed, we haven't been right on a route, we haven’t been great in the protection part, or the throw hasn’t been good,” offensive coordinator Brian Callahan said. “So there’s all these different things where we're just off there. We're kind of going round and round.”OH! LINEThe Bengals will have a different left side of their offensive line for the rematch. Cordy Glenn is expected back at left tackle after missing 10 games with a concussion and team-imposed suspension. Billy Price has started at left guard for the past five games, replacing rookie Michael Jordan.AP Sports Writer Will Graves in Pittsburgh contributed to this report. Why the NFL Draft is one of my favorite events in the sports world."WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections Latest NewsSteelers Film Room2018 NFL Draft AnalysisLatest NewsLatest NewsCommentaryA Letter From the Editor: The magic that is the NFL DraftNew,14commentsWhy the NFL Draft is one of my favorite events in the sports world.EDTShareTweetShareShareA Letter From the Editor: The magic that is the NFL DraftJerome Miron-USA TODAY SportsThe 2019 NFL Draft is just a few weeks away, and I have to admit while I have learned to despise the lead up to the draft Jerome Bettis Jersey White , I still absolutely love the actual event. I love when the speculation stops, and the picks start flying off the board. In fact, I would go as far as to suggest it is one of my favorite sports events to watch. Why? Because it is must-see TV.Throughout the course of 7 rounds, you have 32 NFL organizations and fan bases, all 0-0, brimming with hope. Hope they will land the playmaker they need to take their team to the next level, and the potential of finding that diamond in the rough in the later rounds. Those 6th round gems, like Antonio Brown and Tom Brady, aren’t common but you just never know.The acquisition of talent is one thing James Conner Jersey White , but the spectacle of the draft is almost equally tantalizing. Who could ever forget Ryan Shazier walking to the podium during the 2018 NFL Draft to announce the Steelers’ selection of safety Terrell Edmunds? There wasn’t a dry eye in the place.The players hugging commissioner Roger Goodell as they are welcomed to the league. The respective fan bases showing incredible emotion, both good and bad, with every pick passing. The spectacle is just that, a spectacle.But the one aspect of the draft which makes me sitting through 7 rounds of picks tolerable? who are projected to be selected in the Top 10, who fall to the second round. There are surprise picks where a team who is projected to take a receiver takes a guard, and the ripple effect from that pick changes everything. Now prospects who you never thought would be available, are ripe for the taking.Just thinking about it gets me excited. Draft trades. Players falling. Players ascending the ranks. Improving the team every step along the way. Endless hope of the fan base. Arm chair General Managers thinking they could always do better. No matter what anyone says, the NFL Draft itself, not the exhausting lead up Womens Jerome Bettis Jersey , is an incredible event. The NFL is genius for making it a three day event, and there are plenty of people who remain glued to the TV for all three days to not only see the festivities and events, but to hopefully witness a player being selected who will get their team over the proverbial hump.The NFL Draft is magical, and the definition of must-see TV.