Fansided

NFL Week 15: Trends which will decide each game

By Russell S. Baxter

CLEVELAND, OHIO - DECEMBER 14: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens rushes the ball during the third quarter in the game against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on December 14, 2020 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OHIO - DECEMBER 14: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens rushes the ball during the third quarter in the game against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on December 14, 2020 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
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ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 13: Mike Hilton #28 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates his interception with Avery Williamson #51 against the Buffalo Bills during the first quarter in the game at Bills Stadium on December 13, 2020 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images)
ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 13: Mike Hilton #28 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates his interception with Avery Williamson #51 against the Buffalo Bills during the first quarter in the game at Bills Stadium on December 13, 2020 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images) /

Monday, Dec. 21

Pittsburgh Steelers (11-2) at Cincinnati Bengals (2-10-1), 8:15 pm

Steelers: After scoring at least 26 points in each of their first 10 contests, the Steelers have failed to reach the 20-point mark in three consecutive losses – including back-to-back losses to Washington and Buffalo, respectively, the last two weeks.

The combination of dropped passes and the absence of a running attack is troubling this playoff-bound team that can clinch a division title with a win on Monday night (or a Browns’ loss on Sunday night). In those aforementioned last three contests, Mike Tomlin’s slumping club has managed only 51 running plays and a whopping 142 pass plays. And over that span, Pittsburgh’s ground attack has totaled a disappointing 136 yards.

More fansided.com: 2020 NFL power rankings, Week 15: Chiefs, Packers win division titles

Bengals: Thanks to a 36-10 loss at Heinz Field back in Week 10, the team has now dropped 11 consecutive games to the Steelers dating back to the clubs’ second meeting in 2015 and also including a Wild Card playoff game at Cincinnati that year.

And to make matters worse for the Bengals, the team has lost seven straight home contests in this series dating back to ’14. Losers of five straight games, it has been another long year for the team’s defensive unit. Zac Taylor’s squad has allowed the fifth-most rushing yards in the league while the Bengals have totaled only 15 sacks and 12 takeaways in 13 outings. On the other side, Cincinnati quarterbacks have been sacked 46 times.

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