Dec 16, 2012; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys linebacker DeMarcus Ware (94) stands over Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) after getting a penalty for roughing the passer at Cowboys Stadium. The Cowboys won 27-24 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

While re-watching the Steelers  loss to Dallas to see what the Bengals could use to help them attack, a few things popped out. The Steelers’ defense is still the master at misleading looks, but coordinator Dick LeBeau has a few tendencies that his linebackers  with only average athleticism can not overcome.

On the other side of the ball, Todd Haley has always had a tendency to grab a few of his favorite plays when backed up against the wall. He uses a lot of play action before the snap to determine the coverage for a check-with-me play that Ben Roethlisberger calls based on if they are playing zone or man coverage.

Disguising coverage is something the Cowboys do well, the Bengals maybe less so. But they have similarly physical defensive backs, which will help the Bengals do what Dallas did: win the point of attack against wide receiver screens to nullify the big YAC opportunities that Pittsburgh loves. With Leon Hall likely shadowing Antonio Brown again, although playing at a higher level than the last meeting, he could play a huge role against the wide receiver screens.

A few other notes:

• Steelers stay in base personnel whenever possible, Dallas split out a wide receiver to the left to neutralize Harrison and make him cover since he is not good in coverage.
• Pittsburgh safeties have to respect the pass more with Ike Taylor out, can’t stay in the box as much to stop the run, especially against spread formations.
• Polamalu ran with Austin for ten yards, handed him off as soon as WR broke off route
• Dallas held point of attack, waited for runner to commit.
• Haley’s Steelers want you to play the run, get in Cover 1, then create mismatches in the passing game. Being able to stop the run with two high safeties is paramount, and the Bengals could not do it last time.
• Go to tendencies when in a tight spot: out route with high/low crossing routes

The interception that Ben Roethlisberger threw in overtime was a direct result of going to the well one too many times, something that the Steelers often find themselves guilty of. Not that trying to replicate success is a terrible thing, but only to an extent.

With Mike Wallace facing off against Brandon Carr head-to-head all day, Roethlisberger was able to hit Wallace on a few quick out routes. Carr was playing press man and had to respect Wallace’s speed, but began closing in on the play more and more often.

Sep 16, 2012; Pittsburgh , PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) talks with offensive coordinator Todd Haley during the second half of the game against the New York Jets at Heinz Field. The Steelers won the game, 27-10. Mandatory Credit: Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports

Despite an obvious rift between Pittsburgh Steelers Offensive Coordinator and QB Ben Roethlisberger, Haley says that he’s not taking Ben’s recent criticism personally, and that he knows Ben is just a competitor who wants to win and hates seeing his team in the midst of a two-game losing-streak that has the Steelers’ playoff-hopes on life support:

I think healthy conflict, discussion, banter is good because it gets you to the right place and gets everyone on the same page and where you need to be. Like I’ve said a number of times, when I make a call into Ben’s ear in the game, I’m putting complete faith in him to make it the best call it can be. The same goes for him. When he hears my voice, he has to trust and believe that the play coming is giving us the best chance to succeed.

You develop that in these Sunday battles against other teams. That’s where it develops with the trust and camaraderie. That’s what’s occurred. There will be ups and downs because there’s emotion and a lot at stake every week. We put a lot of time, effort and sacrifice into this. I think a little bit of healthy conflict is a good thing.

The Baltimore Ravens are desperately trying to end a three-game losing-skid and lock up the AFC North Division crown on Sunday vs. the New York Giants, and they may be getting a boost as WR Torrey Smith (concussion) was able to take part in Thursday’s practice. If the Ravens are unable to win their home-finale against the defensing Super Bowl champions, they’ll face the task of heading to Cincinnati to the Bengals team who may be fighting for their postseason lives, as well as a shot at the AFC North title.

The Cleveland Browns are trying to end the 2012 season on a high note, but they’ll be facing a red-hot Denver Broncos squad on Sunday, who’s won nine-straight games and have been the benefactors of a Defensive Player of the Year-performance by All-Pro OLB Von Miller, who currently ranks third in the NFL with 16 sacks, and second with 25 tackles for a loss while also forcing five fumbles.

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Sep 16, 2012; Pittsburgh , PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) talks with offensive coordinator Todd Haley during the second half of the game against the New York Jets at Heinz Field. The Steelers won the game, 27-10. Mandatory Credit: Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports

The Pittsburgh Steelers have never gotten into an offensive rhythm during the 2012 season. They’ve scored 24 points or less in 11 of their 14 contests, and have reached the 30 point mark just once. This comes just one season after having the NFL’s 12th-ranked offense, and QB Ben Roethlisberger believes play-calling is part of the issue:

When he was asked why Prob Bowl TE Heath Miller didn’t have a single pass thrown his way in the second-half of their 27-24 overtime loss to the Dallas Cowboys, Roethlisberger replied,

I just don’t think we called the right plays to get him the ball.

When asked why the Steelers didn’t run more no-huddle offense in the second half, something Roethlisberger has thrived with, he answered,

That’s tough for me to answer right now. The second half we didn’t do much of it, and that’s disappointing.

You can watch the full interview here:

Perhaps he’s more disappointing that the team chose to fire former offensive coordinator Bruce Arians, who has guided the Indianapolis Colts to the NFL 9th-ranked offense, compared to Pittsburgh’s 19th-ranked offense. Ben was clearly not a fan of this move, nor the hiring of Todd Haley to be his new OC, as evidenced by comments he made about Haley’s offense earlier this year:

Haley’s offense is not a big-play offense. It’s kind of a dink-and-dunk offense.

The Steelers’ playoff lives are on the line Sunday, so if Ben and Haley are ever going to get over their differences and find common ground, this will be the week it happens. If it doesn’t and they continue to implode, the Cincinnati Bengals will certainly be rejoicing at their expense.

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