Steelers At Bengals: Three Players To Watch From Cincinnati

Most Steelers fans know all too well about the rival Bengals, who the black and gold will see twice in 2013.

Last week the Bengals lost to the Bears, and some in Cincy are already calling week two a ‘must win.’ Speaking of must, the Steelers must play a great game to get the job done in the Jungle.

Today we look at three players from Cincinnati for week two to keep an eye on.

1. Safety Taylor Mays – Last week Mays played up a few times at the linebacker position in nickel coverage and had three tackles in the loss to Chicago. Mays, in his fourth season, is 6-3, 220 pounds, and some have felt that he could be on the verge of his best season. The former second-round pick of the 49ers in 2010 is at a crossroads in his NFL career, and the Steelers could test him a few times Monday night.

2. RB Giovani Bernard – Bernard is the Bengals version of Le’Veon Bell, minus the fact that he’s actually playing. In the opener he ran four times for 22 yards, and caught a pass for two yards, but if you watched any of “Hard Knocks,” you know the Bengals have big plans for Bernard in 2013. He showed flashes of using his 5-9, 208 pound frame to his advantage to escape tacklers, and it wouldn’t be a shock to see him get more touches vs the Steelers.

3. DT Geno Atkins – Maybe the biggest edge for the Bengals will be Atkins and his ability to win the one-on-one battles with new center Kelvin Beachum. Last season Atkins pushed around Maurkice Pouncey for three sacks in the two games, and his quickness and ability to power past Steelers offensive linemen will have Ben Roethlisberger on his toes, and could give the Steelers nightmares.