Pittsburgh Steelers' mission for final two games is simple

PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers continued their mastery over the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday. Now the Steelers have to find a way to break a losing streak to another AFC North foe if they want to clinch a playoff berth on Christmas Day.

The Steelers can clinch the AFC North title with a home win over the Baltimore Ravens, a team that has won four in a row and five of the last six against the Steelers. Both teams have simple paths to the playoffs: win their final two games and they are division champions and in the playoffs.

The Steelers enter the game with a one-game division lead thanks to a 24-20 victory over the Bengals. It was the 16th win in their past 19 trips to Cincinnati. The 16 victories at Paul Brown Stadium are the most for any team in an opposing stadium since 2000.

"This is the type of game you have when you deal with an AFC North opponent," offensive lineman Ramon Foster said. "They know us, and we know them. They happened to make a lot of good plays on defense. They have a lot of Pro Bowl players there. They're going to make plays. It was a good win today against a good defense."

The victory did not come without a cost. Defensive end Stephon Tuitt left the game after the first series with a right knee injury and did not return. On the final series of the game the Steelers lost tight end Ladarius Green, who was hit in the head by Bengals safety George Iloka. Green is in the NFL concussion protocol.

If Tuitt's injury sidelines him for an extended period it be a big blow to the Steelers, who were already playing without the services of defensive end Cam Heyward, who is out for the season with a pectoral injury.

The Bengals took advantage of his absence by running the ball well in the first half, but the reserve linemen did a better job in the second half when the Bengals' running game produced next to nothing.

"A lot of guys just made plays," inside linebacker Ryan Shazier said. "I don't think anyone did anything special. We just did exactly what we had to do.

"I don't think we were shooting the gaps more. I think the first half we were shooting the gaps a lot. In the second half we just did a better job filling out assigned gaps."

If Green has a concussion, that could be even more problematic for the Steelers' offense. He has developed into a nice option for Ben Roethlisberger in the passing game. He had five catches for 72 yards against the Bengals.

Green has a history with concussions. He missed games due to concussions when he played for the Chargers. After signing as a free agent with the Steelers in March, Green missed training camp and had to start this season on the physically unable to perform list because of them.

--The game plan against the Steelers' offense continues to be playing two deep safeties and forcing the Steelers to work the middle of the field. The two-deep safeties make it difficult for Antonio Brown and other outside receivers to make a big impact on the game.

That's why the production of Eli Rogers and Ladarius Green against the Bengals was so important. Rogers led the Steelers with five catches for 75 yards and the go-ahead 24-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter. Green had five catches for 72 yards, including a 28-yarder on the final drive that helped the Steelers run out the clock.

"They did a good job of taking away the outsides with two wide safeties," quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said. "It took away Antonio Brown, Sammie Coates, and Cobi Hamilton. We just wanted to take advantage of the middle of the field. Ladarius (Green) and Eli worked down the middle and got open on nickel guys and linebackers."

Roethlisberger took advantage of the safeties on the touchdown pass to Rogers.

"When that play was called, I saw the safety get wide, and Eli did a great job with a head fake on the top of the route," Roethlisberger said. "I put it on his body, and he did the rest."