As I look into my crystal ball for Sunday, I reflect back on what were some pretty darn good predictions last week. The crystal ball still wasn’t 100% accurate, but I can live with Alex Smith of the Chiefs throwing only one touchdown pass (as opposed to the two predicted) and Le’Veon Bell ending up just short of 200 yards. Kareem Hunt was shutdown worse than I had figured and Ben didn’t even reach 300 passing yards let alone 400.

The Steelers turned the ball over only once (I said they wouldn’t at all) and while it wasn’t a double-digit win, I’m going to just say that a win is a win is a win. (Who cares? It’s a win!)

This week I have some sizzling predictions hot off of the press, so let’s have a look at what might be brewing for Sunday’s game.

Bud Dupree gets two sacks

I believe the Bengals offensive line is not good. Below below average if you will. Dupree has two sacks so far this year, but he’s been relatively quiet as a disruptor on defense. That’ mainly because others are stepping up while he’s become a focal point of the opponent.

That changes this Sunday as Dupree registers his first multi-sack game of 2017.

Embed from Getty Images

Two picks for the D

It’s time. I’m looking at you, Joe Haden and Mike Hilton. Andy Dalton isn’t the most prolific passer, and he coughed up the ball four times against Baltimore and two last week against Buffalo.

I think those shots taken deep for A.J. Green finally have a chance to be picked off by a Steelers secondary that’s ranked tops on paper, but will finally have an opportunity to prove it’s not all about stats, and that they are for real this season.

A.J. Green shutdown

I’m going to go opposite of what conventional wisdom tells me about how these Steelers and Bengals games go.

First, Green is typically a Steelers killer. He was shut down in 2016, primarily due to injuries. Ross Cockrell shadowed Green much of Week 2 with the Bengals receiver only catching two of his eight targets for 38 yards.

Weather also played a role in the poor performance, and Green never received a second chance to redeem himself last season. Prior to that game, Green was averaging six catches for 85 yards and a touchdown.

However, no other Bengals receivers really scare me heading into this game. TE Tyler Eifert, a major weapon for the Bengals, is out. WR Tyler Boyd has yet to stand out on their offense and rookie John Ross is still lying in wait. That means a lot of pressure on Green.

I’d like to predict a stat, but I think A.J. can still “get his” on Sunday, but I don’t think he will be as damaging as he has been in recent years.

Embed from Getty Images

Antonio Brown scores a touchdown

Relatively quiet in games against the Bengals, AB was my pick for the “weakest link” this week. Unlike Green, Brown has had little success against Cincy over the last two years, with exception of a seven catch 119 yard game in the postseason.

I believe Brown breaks free for a score in this one, as I think more attention will be given to Martavis Bryant in order to get him involved in the passing game. Expect somewhere between four or five catches for 60 yards and a TD. Nothing big, but just enough to make an impact.

Tight ends score

It’s time for Jesse James or Vance McDonald to break the Steelers out of their red zone funk. Both are large targets who will have to keep the Bengals safeties honest.

I do believe all of the attention given to the wide receivers opens up an opportunity for one, or both, of these players to score this weekend.

Steelers put up 40 points

What else can we ask for this week?

How about some points. Enough of the trips to the red zone without points or settling for three. I think the Steelers are in statement mode after beating the Chiefs and can seize an opportunity to make themselves look like the team to beat in the AFC with a “coming of age” stomping of one of the weaker Bengals teams we’ve seen in years.

That also means there needs to be a defensive or special teams score in the game too, but I’m counting on it. 40-plus. Here we go!