No Bengals trash talking with Steelers ... not yet, anyway

"In terms of like game plan wise, we're watching film to see what they did well in the last game and the previous games", said safety George Iloka.

For starters, nobody's talking this week. Without their franchise quarterback and one of their top receiving threats, the Bengals went on to lose the game 31-17.

The late hits, the low hits and the high hits that spilled all kinds of bad blood in those three epic games against the Bengals last season might capture the attention of fans. "New season. New year". They believe that's a sign of new resolve within coach Marvin Lewis' squad.

Iloka insists the emotion from a year ago won't spill into this one. "We move on and hopefully get better". He left the regular-season game in Cincinnati early after he fractured his thumb early in the game and he missed the playoff game because the injury hadn't healed well enough.

The Bengals play at Pittsburgh next Sunday in a long-awaited game. He was sacked seven times, facing one of the NFL's best defensive lines. He's preparing for similar pressure along the confluence of the Three Rivers. "It's not always going to happen exactly how you think it's going to". "Everything is stacked up against you". They are division football games. "That's what you have to do during games".

Steal, being the operative word, not give. But, the Bengals still can't react like that, so there's no point in focusing too much on any perceived injustice.

Are odds-makers making a mistake based on one solid game?

The AFC Wild Card matchup was a complete and utter shitshow. There was something going on every play.

BENGALS new OLB Karlos Dansby had team-leading 11 tackles, 1 TFL in Week 1 win.

The Bengals' task is tall.

Hey, they watched the Steelers' "Monday Night Football" win against the Redskins just like everyone else. "I don't anticipate anything changing this time around".

But don't count Maurkice Pouncey among those who are expecting the game to be any less emotional without Burfict's presence.

The pass rush didn't get to Kirk Cousins, something he'd like to see corrected to prevent Cincinnati's Andy Dalton and A.J. Green from getting loose. Their 40 touchdown connections are tied with Miami's Dan Marino and Mark Clayton for the most to start a career. "It's part of the chemistry. When you're both trying to be good at what you do, you're going to have big plays".

The duo was drafted in 2011 with Green being selected in the first round and Dalton in the second.

The Jets ran 30 times for 152 yards, an average of 5.1 yards per carry.

"I agree with Cam", said Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin.

"It's a big rivalry all around, it really is", guard David DeCastro said. "You need to get him down, wrap and roll".

"You've just got to have hands on him".

Would Roethlisberger like handily defeat Cincinnati?

"It's nothing that we're going to sit there and say, 'Oh, we got overpowered here, '" Guenther said.