he Steelers succeed against Cincinnati

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MONTREAL - The Blue Bombers have been the CFLs early surprise, but now quarterback Drew Willy and his high-scoring Winnipeg team will take their show on the road. The Bombers (2-0) face the hard-charging Montreal Alouettes (1-1) defence when the teams meet Friday night at Percival Molson Stadium. Catch the game live on TSN starting at 7pm et/4pm pt. Winnipeg opened the season with home wins over Toronto and Ottawa, piling up a league-leading 81 points in two games. They face a team than has allowed fewer than 20 points per game, including last weeks 24-9 win at home over British Columbia. "Theyve had a good defence for a long time," Willy said Thursday. "Theyve got a lot of good veterans. "You can tell theyve played together a long time. This week we were preparing, looking at the different looks theyve given in the last few games and the past few years, so well be ready to go. Im looking forward to going against them." The Alouettes offence has yet to find its stride under new starting quarterback Troy Smith, although he was better against the Lions than in the season opener in Calgary, a 29-8 loss. Smith has yet to pass for more than 200 yards in a game or throw a touchdown pass, but his execution improved and the Alouettes hope the offence takes another step the third time out. Willy has had no such problems so far in his first CFL season as a starter. He played eight games over the past two seasons with Saskatchewan as Darian Durants backup. The 27-year-old was traded to Winnipeg on Feb. 6 for receiver Jade Etienne. In his two games, Willy has passed for 615 yards, second only to Torontos Ricky Ray, and four TDs. He completed two-third of his throws, 40 for 60. Smith has completed only half of his passes, 35 for 70, for 341 yards. The Bombers have also been successful on the ground, where newcomer Nate Grigsby has rushed for 184 yards and three TDs on 35 carries. "Hes made some huge plays for us," said Willy. "Hes been able to get the tough yards we need late in games near the goal-line." Montreals aggressive, ball-hungry defence will be a test, however. Last week, they sacked B.C.s Kevin Glenn five times and caused three turnovers. "Weve just got to play assignment football," said defensive tackle Alan-Michael Cash. "They do have a good running back, but we pride ourselves on stopping the run, so itll be a good match." The defence also produced an early TD for the Alouettes, when defensive lineman Scott Paxson picked off a pass and pitched it to linebacker Chip Cox for an easy jaunt into the end zone. Cox said the challenge will be to slow down a Winnipeg offence that has early-season momentum. "Big plays man, theyre getting a lot of big plays," he said. "If we can eliminate them, I think well be fine." Few expected such a strong start from the Bombers, who went 3-15 last season. Winnipeg has missed the playoffs in four of the last five years, with a 30-60 record over that span. So far, they look to be a better, more disciplined club under new head coach Mike OShea. "Two games, weve been successful twice," cautioned OShea. "The players are doing what the coaches ask of them and the effort is there and theyre doing whats needed to win, so far." Still, the wins have not only given them points, but a much-needed morale boost as well. "Its very important, as I stressed through training camp, that this team tasted winning early, especially the veteran players who had experienced more than their fair share of losing," said OShea. "Theyve got that taste in the mouth now and they like it, so I believe theyll continue to do the things they needed to do to win those two games." They also havent been tested on the road. Home teams went 7-1 in the first two weeks. "Being on the road, from my recollection, can be good," said OShea, a former standout linebacker for Toronto. "You get more time to sit with your teammates and watch film together and talk football because theres not the distractions (of home). Its a business trip." Winnipeg will move Johnny Sears to safety to replace the injured Maurice Leggett. There were fears that receiver Aaron Kelly would sit out, but OShea said hes ready to play. Montreal has safety Mike Edem back from injury, but cornerback Chris Smith is out with a concussion and will be replaced by Dominique Ellis. Andre Ethier Jersey .Y. - Geno Smith still thinks of himself as the New York Jets starting quarterback. Jackie Robinson Jersey . The same for both the Calgary Flames and the Edmonton Oilers. http://www.ladodgersprostore.us/Logan-F ... rs-jersey/. - Rookie Kyle Larson will start from the pole position Saturday night in the NASCAR race at Richmond International Raceway after a thunderstorm arrived just in time to wash out qualifying. Curtis Granderson Jersey . Erik Logan, president of the network, said Friday that the postponement was made after meetings with the St. Louis Rams. Julio Urias Jersey . -- Byron Scott is taking over the Los Angeles Lakers with the vocal support of his fellow Showtime greats.(SportsNetwork.com) - A key AFC North clash caps off Week 2 of the NFL season when the Pittsburgh Steelers pay a visit to the Cincinnati Bengals on "Monday Night Football." Watch the action unfold live on TSN and TSN Mobile TV, tonight at 8:30pm et/5:30pm pt. Perhaps no team had a more difficult start to the season than the Steelers. Accustomed to kicking off a new campaign in style, especially at home in Heinz Field, Pittsburgh lost far more than a game in Week 1 when Pro Bowl center Maurkice Pouncey, linebacker Larry Foote and running back LaRod Stephens- Howling all went down with season-ending injuries during an ugly 16-9 setback against Tennessee. Things dont figure to get much easier this week for the Steelers when they run into their old friend James Harrison and a strong Bengals front seven. The Titans scored 16 straight points in Week 1 after return man Darius Reynauds mental mistake on the opening kickoff resulted in a safety and a 2-0 edge for the Steelers just seconds into the contest. Pittsburgh never capitalized on the early momentum, however. Ben Roethlisberger completed 21-of-33 passes for 191 yards, one touchdown and an interception for the Steelers, who came in with 10 straight victories in home openers, the longest active streak in the NFL. Pittsburgh, which was held to 32 yards rushing, lost Pouncey and Stephens- Howling to torn ACLs while Foote ruptured his biceps. "Weve got a lot of work to do," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. "Nobody cares about our problems. Theyre glad weve got them. We need to understand that. We need to stick together and persevere." The Bengals, meanwhile, suffered a tough loss of their own but at least came out of it relatively unscathed, because their main AFC North rivals -- the Steelers and Baltimore Ravens -- also suffered setbacks in Week 1. In fact the AFC North as a whole went 0-4 on Kickoff Weekend, a stark contrast for a group which produced five playoff teams over the prior two seasons. Baltimore was unimpressive again Sunday but beat the Cleveland Browns, making the division a bowling shoe-ugly 1-5 early on. Chicagos Jay Cutler hooked up with Brandon Marshall for a go-ahead 19-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter in Week a, as the Bears began the Marc Trestman era with a 24-21 victory over Cincinnati at Soldier Field. The Bengals squandered an 11-point third-quarter lead, turned the ball over three times and committed eight penalties -- with linebacker Rey Maualugas personal foul the most costly as it allowed the Bears to run out the clock. "We didnt deserve to win because we had too many penalties and mistakes," Cincinnati nose tackle Domata Peko said. "But I also think we got a feel for what kind of team we have here, or at least what kind of team we can be. Really, we dominated them for three quarters, in my opinion. Weve just got to finish." Cincinnati signal caller Andy Dalton completed 26-of-33 passes for 282 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions, while A.J. Green grabbed a game-high nine passes for 162 yards and both of Daltons touchdowns. "They didnt stop us one time," Green said. "They didnt really stop us on offense. We were doing whatever we wanted. The biggest thing we had was turnovers." BenJarvus Green-Ellis added a rushing score for the Bengals, who entered the postseason as a wild card club last season. The Steeelers will be looking to avoid their first 0-2 start since 2002 and have certainly fared well in Cincinnati over the years.dddddddddddd Pittsburgh has won 11 of its last 12 at Paul Brown Stadium, including last seasons 24-17 victory there on Oct. 21 behind Jonathan Dwyers 122 rushing yards. The Steelers also lead the all-time series by a substantial 52-33 margin. WHAT TO WATCH FOR Harrison, the five-time Pro Bowl linebacker and 2008 Defensive Player of the Year with the Steelers, was released in March when he and Pittsburgh couldnt agree on a restructured deal. He brings a physical presence to an already highly-regarded Bengals front seven. "We all know how James plays," Tomlin said. "He brings physicality to the table, hes a guy who brings great passion and he can inspire his teammates." The group, which features All-Pro defensive tackle Geno Atkins, a player who just inked a big money extension before the season started, may have gone into Chicago a little too haughty because the Bears offensive line lacks any kind of reputation. That kind of thing isnt going to happen again against a division foe like the Steelers, though, especially with Harrison playing his old mates for the first time. "I dont have a chip on my shoulder against the Steelers," Harrison said. "I dont hate the Steelers. Am I disappointed? Yeah, Im disappointed." Pittsburgh brought in some help last week, signing former Titans center Fernando Velasco to replace Pouncey and bringing back Dwyer to take over for Stephens-Howling. In addition, veteran kicker Shayne Graham, a former Bengal, was signed after Shaun Suisham injured his hamstring against Tennessee. Velasco is certainly not in Pounceys league but he should be a significant upgrade over stop-gap Kelvin Beachum eventually, although it will be tough for the University of Georgia product to get up to speed in just one week. When the Steelers succeed against Cincinnati its generally due to the running game. Pittsburgh has run for at least 100 yards in all 29 of its wins over the Bengals over the last 20 years. That could be tough formula this week with the injury problems in the backfield and on an already shaky offensive line. Isaac Redman remains the starter at running back for now but his ineffectiveness in Week 1 could give Dwyer some early looks. Rookie LeVeon Bell, meanwhile, remains out for at least another month or so with a foot injury. "I think a consistent running game is really important, not only to be good offensively, but to strike a balance," Tomlin said. "We havent been able to do that to this point." For the Bengals, Green is one of the games elite playmakers and will be a tough test for Steelers cornerbacks Ike Taylor and William Gay, particularly Taylor, who will likely be given the task to shadow Green no matter where he lines up. Green is playing at a high level early in the season and had 17 catches for 203 yards in his two meetings with Pittsburgh last season, including 10 catches in Cincinnatis 13-10 win in the Steel City in December, a game which eliminated the Steelers from the playoff hunt. That contest, coincidentally, was also when star Steelers tight end Heath Miller tore his ACL. Miller, Roethlisbergers favorite target, has returned to practice and there was some hope he could make his season debut in this one but hes been officially ruled out. Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' '