Bengals letting their play do the talking

They have a rookie quarterback who has played with the poise of a three-year veteran and a receiver who can open things up down the field. The biggest difference though with this year's Bengals team is what you don't hear. Think about it. Through the first nine weeks of the season can you remember one memorable quote, gripe or guarantee coming out of Paul Brown Stadium? Bluster has been replaced by the sound of crickets chirping. Instead of a group where the T.Ocho sound bites ruled the airwaves last year, a quiet confidence and new cast of leaders has emerged out of this team. There still are some frustrations, but they are kept in house instead of in print. About the only notable sound bite this season has come from head coach Marvin Lewis, who came out and said his team would beat Buffalo. Since Lewis' guarantee, the Bengals have won five straight going into Sunday's game against Pittsburgh. Said offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth of Lewis: "He doesn't have to do as much policing. That is the difference. He doesn't have to be the one that nitpicks on us on everything because we nitpick ourselves." Even Cedric Benson, who was frustrated over the direction of the run game last year early in the season, hasn't said much this season. Lewis told everyone at the end of last season that if he returned, he was going to do a forced reboot of the team that went 4-12 last year after winning the AFC North in 2009. Terrell Owens was seen on Christmas Eve after his knee injury and was never heard from again and Lewis made it clear during the offseason that Chad Ochocinco would not be back (when the lockout ended, he was traded to New England). While everyone else was concerned with Carson Palmer's retirement, the locker room didn't dwell on it especially in light of Dalton's fast start. Even though Whitworth and Domata Peko have been largely credited with the June player workouts, there were others who also had a role including Leon Hall and Rey Maualuga. With a large group of leaders, that is one reason why permanent captains were not named this season. Even when the Bengals won the division in 2009, it came with a lot of strain. Besides the death of the wife of defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer and Chris Henry, there was other internal drama putting a strain on the season. This year, the biggest drama concerns a four-game division stretch, where the Bengals will face the Steelers twice in four weeks, and whether or not they can continue that momentum. "When we lead the team and we police the team and Marvin gets to kind of direct practice, that makes things a whole lot easier on a head coach," Whitworth said. "I think the young leadership of this team has taken the reigns and Marvin has just gotten us." SERIES HISTORY: 82nd regular-season meeting. Steelers lead series, 49-32. Steelers swept the season series last year (27-21 in Cincinnati and 23-7 in Pittsburgh) and are 11-5 against Marvin Lewis-coached teams. NOTES, QUOTES Bengals have faced Steelers most --The Bengals have played more games against the Steelers (82) than any other opponent. Cleveland is second at 76 followed by Tennessee (formerly Houston Oilers) at 73. --The most memorable meeting between the teams came in the 2005 playoffs when the Steelers defeated the Bengals 31-17 at Paul Brown Stadium. Carson Palmer was injured on the Bengals second offensive play. --In a victory over Pittsburgh on Oct. 11, 1998 at Cinergy Field, WR Carl Pickens had a team-record 13 receptions for 204 yards. Since he caught the 13, there have been six other instances of a Bengal catching 12 in a game. --Another team record to note. On Oct. 19, 1995, the Bengals allowed the most yards in franchise history (468) without allowing a touchdown. They beat the Steelers 27-9 at Three Rivers Stadium. --This is the seventh time the Bengals have been 6-2 or better. Only the 1988 team lost its ninth game. Five of the other six teams reached the playoffs; the only one to miss out was the '76 squad that finished 10-4. By contrast, the Bengals have had 17 seasons in which they have had six or fewer wins. --The last time these teams played, OT Andrew Whitworth made what remains the only catch of his NFL career, which was for a touchdown. On 1st-and-goal from the Steelers 1 on the game's opening series. Whitworth lined up as an eligible receiver. Carson Palmer threw it to Whitworth in the right corner of the end zone, and Whitworth became the first Bengals offensive lineman to score a TD since Melvin Tuten vs. Jacksonville in 1995. BY THE NUMBERS: 4 -- Number of different defensive linemen who have three or more sacks this season (Geno Atkins 3.5, Carlos Dunlap 3.0, Frostee Rucker 3.0, Jonathan Fanene 3.0). QUOTE TO NOTE: "I expected we would be 8-0 actually. But we are not. We are not as good as I expected us to be. As far as wins. We are still a team that is not very good, that's trying to get better each and every day. But I expected us to find a way to win eight games at this point and we haven't been able to." -- Head coach Marvin Lewis on his team at midseason STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL LB Rey Maualuga (ankle), TE Jermaine Gresham (hamstring) and CB Adam Jones (hamstring) returned to practice Wednesday but were limited. All three though said they would be ready to play Sunday. Maualuga's return to the middle should help the linebacking unit which has been low on depth the past three games. Brandon Johnson and Dan Skuta did a nice job filling in for Maualuga but Maualuga did lead the team in tackles at the time of his injury. Gresham has been QB Andy Dalton's second favorite target and a good underneath option. Jones though could provide the greatest upgrade due to his ability to revive the return game on special teams. PLAYER NOTES --LB Keith Rivers (wrist) started a three-week roster exemption after spending the first nine weeks on the non-football injury list. He still has not been cleared to practice. --CB Nate Clements (knee) sat out Wednesday's practice but that was due to vet's rest. --S Chris Crocker (knee) did not practice for the fourth Wednesday in the last five weeks. He will start though against the Steelers. --TE Colin Cochart could see expanded playing time if Donald Lee misses due to a foot injury. Cochart had 2 catches for 7 yards and a touchdown last week. --OT Andre Smith (toe) was limited in practice but should be ready to start on Sunday. INJURY IMPACT --TE Donald Lee (foot) is in a walking boot and could be 70-80 percent if he plays. --DE Carlos Dunlap (hamstring) did not practice on Wednesday and his status is day-to-day. He could be 80-90 percent if he plays. GAME PLAN: Offensively and with the zone blitz scheme that Pittsburgh employs, offensive coordinator Jay Gruden could go with the same plan he used against Indianapolis earlier this season -- plenty of three-step drops and play action, but also add in a steady dose of the run game to keep the Steelers honest. Defensively, the secondary needs to do a better job of taking away the vertical game, which is something they have not done the past couple weeks. Antonio Brown and Mike Wallace are the Bengals deepest pair of vertical threats in a while. MATCHUPS TO WATCH: Bengals CB Leon Hall vs. Steelers WR Mike Wallace -- Wallace has six touchdowns this season and is getting tremendous separation off the line. Hall is the Bengals best cover corner but has struggled on deep passes all season long. The Bengals secondary has a tendency to give up the deep ball and get confused in coverage with miscues between the corners and safeties. Bengals DT Geno Atkins vs. Steelers RT Marcus Gilbert -- Atkins leads the team in sacks and has great speed as well as upper body strength. Gilbert is a rookie on an offensive line that has struggled in pass protection.