Random Thoughts From a Black-and-Gold Mind: Dynamic duos

Cheap Cameron Heyward Jersey , bad behavior and Cincy week edition It’s Bengals week. Typically a time when tempers flare with the white-hot intensity of a Supreme Court confirmation hearing or the Applebee’s customer base upon hearing that the riblet supply has run out. With all of the noise and bulletin board material rising to a fevered pitch, my black-and-gold brain is swirling with the nervous energy surrounding a pregnancy stick test in a college dorm. As always, I will pass the ravings on to you. But first I should really offer up a pumpkin patch of apologies for what and to who found offense with my thoughts last time out.Walter WhiteRipping on Disney straight-to-video sequelsAdam West’s closetMaking anybody picture Ving Rhames on a jet skiPinkPeaches and HerbThe Burger King Drive ThruAnd now the latest edition of Random Thoughts from a Black-and-Gold Mind.JuJu Smith-Schuster is the ultimate WR2. Pairing him with Antonio Brown is on par with Lennon/McCartney, Ponch/Jon and Zach Morris/AC Slater. Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY SportsMike Tomlin, the coach, gets a ton of criticism. I’m not saying it’s 100% undeserved. But Mike Tomlin, the human being, is top notch. His involvement in the crusade to combat sex trafficking and his wearing Duquesne garb (to show support to the college after the death of football player Marquis Brown) is a grand indicator of the quality of his character. Memo to Keith Butler: Blitzing the opposing QB does not need to be a limited engagement. It works. And in other news...water is wet, puppies are cute and over exposure to Flo from the Progressive commercials causes seizures.‘Cowboy Ben’ is back and that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. That guy racks up wins like Charlie Sheen racks up tabs with escort services. However, a few months of ‘Consistent Ben’ would be nice.The Brothers Watt currently lead the NFL with six sacks a piece. That news made me want to call up my brother and chastise him for being the reason our parents are disappointed in us for not leading in any aspect of life. Then I came to a stark realization...I don’t have a brother and I need to see a therapist.At this point of the season Cheap Sean Davis Jersey , Joe Haden could possibly be the most integral part of the Pittsburgh Steelers defense. Mike Mitchell is back in the NFL with the Indianapolis Colts. There goes the Steelers stranglehold as the most-penalized team in the NFL.Speaking of Steeler penalties, I’ve seen more discipline at an early-80s high school kegger in Maryland.My crystal ball shows me getting major s#@t for that one.I blame the Bengals for a lot of things like excessive thuggery, global warming and the JFK assassination. However, Bud Dupree’s implying that Cincinnati was even remotely responsible for Ryan Shazier’s injury last December 4th is ridiculous.Speaking of Bud’s comments, the war of words for Bengals Week is officially underway and I find myself a little more than mildly entertained.Speaking of Bengals thuggery, does anybody else wonder if Le’Veon Bell’s alleged choice to wait until the bye week and after the Steelers play Cincinnati is more than just a co-inkydink?Could it be possible that the media is overthinking the allegations that Antonio Brown threw a vase and furniture out a 14-story window? Maybe he was trying to throw that stuff to himself and, at that moment, inspired his recent “I can’t throw the ball to myself” comments as gospel.And finally,I wonder what Andre Coleman is doing these days.Until next time, I implore you all to offer up $1.29 to the iTune gods and download the ditty that offers hope to the Steelers for the remainder of 2018...Frank Stallone’s Far From Over.Back in the race I’m movin’ in ‘cause I am getting closer.I’m diggin’ inI want it more than anything I’ve wanted.Save me darlin’I am down but I am far from over.Save me darlin’I am down but I am far from over.Give me somethin’I need it all ‘cause I am runnin’ overTake that for what its’ worth Cheap Ben Roethlisberger Jersey , Go Steelers and Don’t Stop Shalievin’.Crunching the Numbers: AFC North dominance by the Bengals? On Top of the Division On Sunday, the Steelers head into Paul Brown Stadium to face off against the Bengals in an AFC North divisional matchup. Surprising to many, Cincinnati is in first place in the division at this point of the season. Although the Bengals are exceeding expectations so far in 2018, this is not an unfamiliar place when facing the Steelers. In fact, Cincinnati has been the division leader during their matchups with Pittsburgh fairly often over the past several seasons.This Sunday will be the 11th straight time either the Steelers or the Bengals are in first place in the AFC North at the time the two teams face off. One would have to go all the way back to Week 16 of the 2012 season for there not to be a division leader involved in a Steelers-Bengals game (the Ravens were sitting atop the North at 9–5). Of those 11 matchups, it was the Bengals in first place eight different times when they met the Steelers.Before going on, there is something which needs clarification: there are two instances which may be misleading when it comes to divisional lead during Steelers-Bengals games. The first instance was when the Steelers were matched up against Cincinnati in Week 2 of 2016. The Steelers, Bengals, and Ravens all entered the second week with a record of 1–0. Technically, the Bengals and Ravens were tied for the lead in the division because they had a better conference record. Cincinnati and Baltimore both defeated AFC opponents the previous week while the Steelers beat Washington on Monday night football to start the season.The other instance of leading the division being in question was when the Steelers and Bengals once again met in Week 2 David DeCastro Jersey , but of the 2013 season. To start the season, all four members of the AFC North were 0-1 after Week 1. The Bengals were technically in first place of the division because they had lost to an NFC opponent, therefore having a better conference record of 0-0 then the other three teams.Even removing those two scenarios where teams were tied in record after only a single game, the Bengals have been leading the division six times when they faced the Steelers in the last five seasons. One of those times will be this coming Sunday. Of the other five, it’s the Steelers who hold the advantage with a record of 4-1.A First for Everything Although it is not uncommon for Cincinnati to be leading the AFC North heading into a game against the Steelers, it will be the first time which they do so with the Steelers sitting in last place in the division. Since the AFC North was established in 2002 when the conference was divided into four divisions instead of three, the Steelers have never been in last place entering a Bengals game.The closest that the Steelers have ever been to the bottom of the North during the matchup was in 2003 in Week 13. Both the Steelers and the Browns were 4–7 at that point in the season, but the Steelers held a 3–1 record in the division while the Browns’ record was 1-3 against the North. Even at 4-7, The Steelers were only two games out of the division lead because Cincinnati and Baltimore were both 6-5. The Bengals held the top spot with a 2–1 divisional record while the Ravens were 1-2. The Steelers fell to the Bengals 24–20 at Heinz Field and ultimately finished the season 6-10.Hitting the “Esca-loser”For those Steeler fans not familiar with the term, the “Esca-loser” is a large escalator in the southeast corner of Paul Brown Stadium. It services the upper deck by traveling up during the first half and switching to down for the second half. It has become notorious for funneling Bengals fans out of the stadium in the fourth quarter when suffering a loss.Since 2010 Marcus Gilbert Jersey , no team has kicked the Esca-loser into gear more than the Pittsburgh Steelers. Not only are the Steelers 14–3 against Cincinnati including the playoffs, they are 8–1 in the Paul Brown Stadium. The only loss in that time came in Week 2 of 2013 when the Steelers begin the season 0-4.In the last nine match-ups at Paul Brown Stadium, the Steelers have outscored the Bengals 225–172 which averages to an advantage of almost 6 points per game. With continued success in Cincinnati, the Steelers have managed to sweep the Bengals during the regular season five of the last eight seasons and currently have a six-game winning streak.Keep an eye on the Esca-loser Sunday. Hopefully by 4 PM, it turns into the Steelers’ “Stairway to Seven” in a row. 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