Ian RapoportVerified account ‏@RapSheet 1h1 hour ago
Vontaze Burfict tells @pauldehnerjr & @GeoffHobsonCin he’s had no setbacks. I’m told there’s a good chance he plays. Would be activated Sat.

Around The NFL ‏@AroundTheNFL 26m26 minutes ago
Vontaze Burfict has a good chance of playing Sunday for Bengals http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000568853/article/vontaze-burfict-has-good-chance-of-playing-sunday?campaign=Twitter_atn …


According to NFL.coms Ian Rapport Bufict got a good chance to play sunday.

He should be activated Tomorrow which is Saturday.

According to the Article though, he's a game time decision.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000568180/article/around-the-nfls-week-8-picks

2 bengals 3 steelers

I have been thinking a lot about why so many Bengal fans are so negative. I think it has a lot to do with how old they are. I have seen things with my own eyes that a lot of people here could never imagine.

I first became a Bengal fan in 1973. We were a very good team back then. We won at least 10 games three of four years and went to the playoffs twice.

In 1981 I saw a Bengal team that had only won 14 games in the previous 3 seasons go to the Super Bowl. Our head coach had a 24-33 career record and had never made the playoffs. Our QB was 32 years old and in a four year slump where he had only won 20 games in 52 starts; thrown 16 more picks (56) than tds (43): and compiled a 69.1 passer rating. There was no hope for that team.

In 1988 I saw a Bengal team coming off a 4 win season go to the Super Bowl. Our head coach was 29-34 and had never made the playoffs. We had one of the best young QBs in the league, but he had suffered a serious slump in his fourth season. After throwing 51 tds in '85 and '86 he threw just 16 in '87. And worst of all he was throwing more and more picks every year (12 in '85, 17 in '86, and 19 in '87).


So if some of you think I am crazy to believe in Bengal magic, you have to realize that I have seen it happen. I think we have a decent shot to go to the Super Bowl if we can just improve our run defense.

Surprised this was not posted yet....


http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000568109/article/bengals-andy-dalton-highlights-players-of-the-month

Vinny Rey has been playing 100% of the snaps at WOLB. I just don't believe they will bench him when Burfict returns. So does Vinny move to SOLB? Does Vinny move to MLB and Maualuga back to SOLB?

Burfict would usually be one of the 2 "cover LBs" that play in our nickle package. It will be interesting to see if the Bengals play him in those situations or pull him off the field to rest his knee. Since we probably play more nickle and dime than we do straight 4-3 I'd like to see him play more oin that package, but our biggest problems have been stopping the run. So I am pretty sure we will see him on the field for most first and second downs.

And, I also realize that Burfict may not come back this year. But there are plenty of other threads to discuss that issue. this thread is about what will happen IF he returns.

Awesome article. Really takes you inside the head of AJ.

http://mmqb.si.com/mmqb/2015/10/29/aj-green-cincinnati-bengals-film-study-ike-taylor-pittsburgh-steelers

Burfict practices today, and the 21-day clock on activating him begins.

I know I've been pretty conservative in my estimates on his return - I really didn't think he would play until Houston. I guess we'll see, but part of me thinks they wouldn't get him going in practice this week without an immediate return. I'm sure Marvin will just give us a "we'll see" on this because he won't have to do anything until Saturday, when we're not allowed to be around the team.

Here's a nice article by Coley Harvey and Jeremy Fowler that I thought that some of you may enjoy.  It's a decent breakdown of what both the Bengals and the Steelers will be bringing to the table in terms of QB this Sunday

http://espn.go.com/blog/cincinnati-bengals/post/_/id/19768/steelers-bengals-ben-roethlisberger-andy-dalton-tale-tape-quarterback-matchup

When news first came out some five weeks ago that Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger had an MCL injury, many in the Queen City pulled out their calendars and Cincinnati Bengals schedules to do a little injury-return math.

It didn't take long for many to realize that the last of the approximate four weeks Roethlisberger was scheduled to miss would coincide with the Bengals' first meeting of the year with the Steelers. The prevailing thought in Cincinnati was that at some point before the Nov. 1 meeting the quarterback would be back. Although, like Bengals defensive end Carlos Dunlap said Monday about the long-noted tough Roethlisberger, "If it would have been last week he got injured, he probably [still] would play this week."

Well, NFL fans, we're in luck. We'll be seeing quite the quarterback showdown. Barring any unforeseen setbacks, Roethlisberger appears in line to make his return Sunday -- after four games away -- when Pittsburgh hosts its division-rival Bengals.

Roethlisberger's return comes amid the hottest stretch of football Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton has played in his career. The league's leader in Total QBR and passer rating, Dalton has been masterful in leading the Bengals to a 6-0 record that has many believing they are legitimate Super Bowl contenders. He'll be out to prove he's significantly better than his 2-6 all-time record against the Steelers might indicate.

Can Dalton build upon his start? Or will the Steelers, under Roethlisberger's control, play the role of midseason spoiler? We'll find out at 1 p.m. ET Sunday. But before we do, let's take a look at how the two quarterbacks compare in this tale of the tape. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler and Coley Harvey provide the breakdown from Pittsburgh and Cincinnati, respectively:


Ben Roethlisberger, right, and Andy Dalton will meet again on Sunday. Mike DiNovo/USA TODAY Sports
NICKNAME

Roethlisberger: "Big Ben," Pittsburgh Steelers

Dalton: "Red Rifle," Cincinnati Bengals

SECRET TO SUCCESS

Roethlisberger: Accuracy, the ability to control the line of scrimmage, a deft touch with the no-huddle offense, a 240-plus-pound body that can shed defensive linemen and also looks like a defensive lineman and a prototypical NFL arm.

Dalton: He has a quick-strike ability, taking very little time to pass to his targets on shorter routes. He also can take as much time as he wants to throw behind arguably the best offensive line in the league. This year, his accurate deep throws have been a weapon.

MOST VALUABLE ASSET

Roethlisberger: His ability to get chunk yardage out of virtually nothing. Plays will break down and Roethlisberger will create, maneuver and find receivers for big gains, sometimes while a linebacker drapes over him.

Dalton: Decision-making. Perhaps because of his turnover-heavy past, this has been his most underrated quality this season. When the pocket collapses and sacks seem imminent, Dalton has been good about scrambling until the last possible second and throwing the ball away.

MOST IMPRESSIVE ACCOMPLISHMENT THIS SEASON

Roethlisberger: His 10.2 yards per passing attempt, which, combined with a 75.3 completion percentage, gives him a 113.1 passer rating, one of the very best in the league.

Dalton: He's had a year of accomplishments, but his top achievement was bringing the Bengals back from a 17-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat Seattle in overtime. Cincinnati was the first team in 428 tries to win after that wide of a fourth-quarter margin.

REASON FOR OPTIMISM ON SUNDAY

Roethlisberger: Roethlisberger returns after a four-game absence, lifting the spirits of the rest of the offense. The Steelers have more options offensively than the Bengals, plus the defense has improved.

Dalton: He hasn't lost yet this season and has looked especially good on the road, winning at Oakland, Baltimore and Buffalo. Having a rested and fully healthy group of playmakers helps, too.

Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger: 'Not getting my hopes up about Sunday'

He's worried about getting through a week of practice. That sounds to me like the knee might not be as good as what we are led to believe.

Personally, I'd rather he be in good health and we whip them.

Because the Blue Whale gives birth to the second biggest baby in the world......
What could possibly be a bigger baby???


A Steelers Fan

Dennard on NFL Network.

http://www.nfl.com/videos/cincinnati-bengals/0ap3000000567337/Dennard-I-think-we-have-a-little-bit-more-firepower-than-them

He confidently says we have a better WR group than the Steelers and I agree.

Says the cornerbacks need to make more plays on the ball.

Overall a good interview.