Instead, the focus this week for the Bengals is preparing for the best thing the Raiders have going for them: their location.

Every week it seems Cincinnati is issued a new challenge to disprove the Same-Old-Bengals Theory. For Week 11, the challenge is to show they can travel to the West Coast and win.

In a sense, flying to Oakland is the practice-run for the San Diego game later this season. Instead of arriving on Friday like they normally do when heading West, Marvin Lewis has decided to fly out on Saturday to cut down on jet lag and squeeze in an extra day of practice. How effective that decision becomes will likely determine the team’s itinerary for the Chargers game.

The game itself shouldn’t be much of an issue for the Bengals. While maintaining a few good defenders, Oakland remains laughably dismal on offense, recently exemplified by the benching of former first overall pick, JeMarcus Russell, for the journeyman and third-stringed caliber, Bruce Gradkowski. Bengal fans will recall Gradkowski from when he played for Tampa Bay and beat Cincinnati in a nauseating game in 2006. That game could be the best of Bruce’s career; nowadays he seems one step away from video-taping himself throwing footballs in a cornfield, like Uncle Rico.

Yet the Raiders can run the ball some and in close games, that attribute makes them scary, but I don’t expect the game to be close. The Bengals stop the run better than they do anything else, which forces obvious throwing downs. Oakland would like to limit Gradkowski’s throws to the bare minimum. They know on third-and-long situations, Mike Zimmer will bring the heat with the blitz, so I would expect them to try short throws to their talented tight end, Zach Miller, and screens to the solid running-back trio of Michael Bush, Justin Fargas, and especially Darren McFadden.

The Raider rookie receivers are lightning fast—Al Davis is unabashedly addicted to speed—but they drop lots of passes and are generally unimpressive. Our corners, perhaps the best tandem in the league, might need a little safety help on deep routes, but can take care of these youngsters on underneath routes and around the sidelines on their own.

It makes no sense to think the Raiders can do anything against a run-stopping, pass-rushing defense with excellent corners like Cincinnati’s.

Still, I don’t see a Bengals blowout this week as should be the case against such miserable opposition.

Oakland has good corners too. Nnamdi Asumugha is a top-5 corner and Chris Johnson has shown a lot of skill as well. The Bengals would prefer not to throw much anyway. A light workload for Carson Palmer this week (and the two weeks after that) can only be beneficial for the quarterback’s long-term sustainability this season; I’d rather have him firing touchdowns for three weeks in January, as opposed to three weeks in November.

That means, without Cedric Benson, the other running backs will get a chance to carry the rock, including maybe the newest Bengal acquisition, Larry Johnson. The move to pick up LJ makes sense despite all of the obvious character concerns.

First of all, if you come to play for Marvin Lewis, you’re there to work. This locker room will not tolerate any person not trying hard enough to win a Super Bowl. Johnson may be a big name, but he has little relevance to this team, and therefore must prove his worth by the effort he demonstrates in practice. Larry has looked lethargic the last few years and he’s beginning to remind me of an aged Jamal Lewis on the field, however, he is a runner who can “carry the load” should Benson find himself further injured at any point this year.

Bernard Scott has exciting potential and his patient running style will serve him well in this league. Brian Leonard has proven himself as a talented third-down back and extra-effort guy. Yet neither is at their best if they have to carry the ball more than 15 times. Johnson can lift some of that burden by simply owning a fresh pair of legs, which are also vital to winning Playoff games in the snow.

Seeing LJ in stripes, railing against the Raiders like he’s done so often before with Kansas City, would be an exciting development to an otherwise dull and lopsided affair in Oakland. Crazier things have happened and Any Given Sunday and yadda yadda yadda, but c’mon, it’s the Raiders.

Bengals 20, Raiders 6

Suddenly Marvin Lewis bursts into the room and banishes his team to the boiler room.

“We can come back when we win it,” he tells them as they file out and head to the basement.

In the parking lot below, Pittsburgh walks to its car holding a cardboard box, escorted by two NFL security guards. Behind them is Pittsburgh’s secretary, Baltimore, also carrying a box but walking alone.

Most of the world still has a hard time accepting the facts: In the toughest division in football, Cincinnati has clubbed their way past Darth Raven and the Steeler Emperor twice each. This past week, experts everywhere declared that the Bengals were not ready to succeed on a big stage like the one at Pittsburgh. “They’re not that good,” they said of the Bengals, yet all season long, no one has adequately answered why not.

We in Cincinnati have been shat upon for so long, that we crave a little recognition when something goes right. Yet in the face of the best Bengal season in a long time, very few believe in them. I admit it’s frustrating but we can take solace in knowing that the Steeler Nation is still beside themselves with rage and disappointment. Eat crow, you vermin. And before you resort to that lame historical comeback regarding your Super Bowls remember this: no one is disputing you’ve been better in the past. All we’re saying is that our team is better than yours this season. Today. Now. Go polish your trophies while you cry and lick your wounds. You can find us up here sitting on top and laughing at you if you want to give it another go in January.

The best part is that the Bengals don’t care what any of us have to say; they have work to do. I get the feeling they aren’t even enjoying their success. They’re playing like they’ve been sentenced to hard labor until they win it all. No smiles. No relaxing; just pick axes and a half-mountain of concrete that still needs busted up.

They are a strong team. The offensive line is a group of angry elephants protecting their treasured quarterback and slamming d-lines out of running lanes for Mr. Benson and crew. The defense is a stubborn roadblock that forces opposing teams to turn around and go back where they came from. The backups on this team are as good as the starters, and everyone is held to the same standard.

They are also a smart team. We’re witnessing perhaps the best collective coaching effort this franchise has enjoyed since the Paul Brown Era. The game plans are superior and unwavering, players appear totally prepared and demonstrate excellent technique when doing their job. The roster is made up of forgotten toys and castaways and isn’t the most talented in the league, but the discipline and focus emphasized on the practice fields each week have this team in place for a first-round playoff bye.

Who cares if the world refuses to believe it? It’s happening either way. Fans and media will continue to find reasons why the Bengals are unable to win it all, while Marvin and his staff will continue to disprove each stigma that resides in the minds of humans who know football. So go ahead and assume the Bengals can’t; you’ll be cleaning out your office next.

For the second time this year against their big, bad rivals, the Bengals outplayed the Steelers, this time shutting down Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers offense in an impressive 18-12 win.

The win means that the Bengals, now 7-3, basically have a two game lead over the Steelers in the AFC North. They are 5-0 in the division – sweeping both the Steelers and Ravens. It’s the first time the team has swept the Steelers since 1998 – when Neil O’Donnell was a starting QB in Cincy.

Even the Steelers seem sealed to their fate on who the better team is. “They’re clearly the best team in the division,” Steelers safety Ryan Clark said. “I’d give my left arm to play them again.”

The only touchdown of the game was a kick return of 96 yards for Benard Scott. That put the Bengals up 6-3 after a botched extra point. Their defense did the job all day, holding Pittsbugh to just 226 yards of offense. Ben Roethlisberger was just 20-for-40 for 174 yards with a pick, and was under pressure all day.

“This is a breath of fresh air to be at this point of the season and to be playing for a reason,” Chad Ochocinco said. “It feels really good.”

And now the Bengals will own the division if they just keep winning. It’s a good feeling to say “who-dey” again.

If your response consisted of: a) because they’re the Bengals, b) because it’s the Steelers, or c) because it’s a big game on the road, please leave now. Cincinnati has spent this season dispelling exactly that kind of hogwash, and it doesn’t lend itself to very interesting conversation anyway.

Of course there are legitimate concerns for the Bengals heading into their biggest game in three years.

The defense is beginning to show signs of wear and tear. Three starters (Antwan Odom, Roy Williams and now Keith Rivers) are out and plenty of others are sore and hurting. Pittsburgh once again seems comfortable with its running game now that Rashard Mendenhall has emerged as another one of those squat, tough runners possesing both wheels and power. The Steelers’ run-blocking is in a commanding rhythm after consecutively bullying two tough defenses in Minnesota and Denver. A battered Bengals unit could have problems stopping a young, fresh tailback running behind a rugged and confident line like Pittsburgh’s.

Another area of concern for the Bengals defense is covering rookie receiver, Mike Wallace. This sleek cruise-missile in the slot position has become a serious deep threat, averaging over 17 yards a catch, and is the perfect complement to Ben Roethlisberger’s ability to scramble and improvise. Wallace already had over 100 yards against the Bengals in Week 3, blazing past our own speedster, Johnathan Joseph, on one memorable long ball in the first half. The Steelers like to use Wallace on deep crossing routes that open up once Big Ben starts to rumble out of the pocket. Our own rookie, conerback Morgan Trent, will likely be tested on these kinds of plays and the Bengal safeties will have to lend extra support against deeper patterns.

If Pittsburgh can effectively run the ball, the Steelers’ offense will roll to a big day; if they’re forced to pass, Mike Zimmer can send extra pressure and force Roethlisberger into making wild decisions on the fly. The key to stopping any NFL offense is to force them into throwing downs and preying on the predictability of the pass. Cincinnati is ranked second at stopping the run, but this will be one of their stiffer challenges of the season.

On offense, losing Chris Henry is certainly unfortunate but not ruinous. There are two high-profile draft picks in Jerome Simpson and Chase Coffman just hanging out on the sidelines, ready to catch passes. Practice-squad guy Maurice Purify has impressed those who watch him in practice everyday and may be another Marvin gem, but it would be nice to see the other kids get a chance, especially Coffman. I can see Simpson not being prepared for the NFL—he played at Coastal Carolina—but Coffman set records in the Big 12 with Missouri and shouldn’t be shell shocked by the pros.

Either way, the real reason that losing Henry won’t make much of a difference is because the Bengals are now a running team. Cedric Benson is our own Boxer the Draft-Horse, pulling the offensive sled behind him and racking up crucial yards along the way.

We’ve all witnessed the philosophical shift away from relying on Carson Palmer’s arm, and the game-plan will not change against the Steelers just because they’re tops at stopping the run. The new script says that Benson gets it 30 times a game until he drops, and Palmer wins on third down. The theory ignores its inherent predictability and emphasizes the long-term effects it has on opponents. The Bengals perform better later in the game, echoing Marvin Lewis’ recent mantra of “make your last play better than your first play.” In the fourth quarter, the offense has consistently appear to be the physically tougher team, gashing opponents with chunks of rushing yardage and finishing with wins.

Both of these teams know what’s coming on Sunday; it’s unlikely that either will be caught off guard. No one is looking past this game because it’s the game. It’s going to be a bloodthirsty cage match; Mad Marvin and the Thunder Dome. Only the most bad-assed will survive such a familiar and intimate fight. It comes down to discipline, will-power and toughness. So ask yourself one more question before you go: Who has demonstrated more toughness this season than the Bengals?

Bengals 21, Steelers 13

On October 27th, I wrote this:

I had a dream that night that the Bengals were beating the Ravens 17-0 at home. For some vague reason, I was unable to sit and watch the game in the dream, but when I caught the glimpse of the score, I remember turning to someone there who also was impressed. We nodded and smiled, and agreed that the nation will finally take notice of the Bengals now. It remains to be seen if that’s what will happen against Baltimore, or if I was really only seeing the Bears game and simply had my facts wrong. Stay tuned.

I don’t normally see the future in my dreams, but there’s no question that it happened in this case. It seems, however, that I was not the only one who knew what was coming on that day.

The Bengals coaching staff game-planned and executed their strategy to a tee, outmaneuvering the Ravens every step of the way. Even Bob Bratkowski has play-called masterfully in the last two games, and once again, quickly gained what proved to be an insurmountable lead early in the first half. The players are doing their part by keeping penalties and turnovers to a minimum (tuck the damn ball, Chad!), but it’s been the preparation and coaching that has made the difference so far this season.

Cincinnati employs four undrafted rookie offensive linemen—Kyle Cook, Nate Livings, Evan Mathis and Dennis Roland—yet all four have contributed nicely so far this season. Offensive line coach Paul Alexander should be showered with superlatives and accolades for assembling a group of nobodies that have pass-protected and run-blocked as well as any team in the league.

These hungry, hungry hippos have quietly chomped down on defenses known for their aggression and fierceness. They aren’t afraid of the Bears, or Ravens, or even those loathsome Steelers; bring it on you scum! The Bengals enjoy cycling linemen in and out without losing rhythm or confidence, and manage to achieve all of this without first-round pick Andre Smith. Marvin Lewis and Alexander may find it pointless to try out the gooey young titan any time soon, since the backups don’t appear to be a problem at this point.

Another staff-member worth heralding is secondary coach, Kevin Coyle. His two gems, former first-round corners Leon Hall and Johnathan Joseph, completely negated any serious contributions from the Ravens’ receivers for the second time this season. Even though a statistical analysis may say otherwise, the tandem has elevated their play to a level where coordinator Mike Zimmer can focus on stopping the run first and not worry about who’s in coverage. Rookie corner Morgan Trent is also a testament to Coyle’s teaching ability, as Trent exhibits excellent technique and fundamentals as the nickel corner. Zimmer, Coyle, Jay Hayes and Jeff Fitzgerald, have all put their own stamp on this impressive defense, and it shows with the play-recognition and cohesion among each unit.

Marvin has talked about how this year’s roster is made up of “his guys”. He has trusted his team to ignore outside distractions and focus on the matter at hand, and that’s winning the division. This group appears goal-driven and steadfast in their commitment to the team’s success. A lot of that has to do with heart, but most of it stems from good coaching.

If the preparation and game-planning continue to be so thorough that it appears the Bengals know what’s coming, the league will either investigate the team for shenanigans or approve a new Paul Brown Psychic Hotline in the boiler room of the stadium.

Henry is in the last year of his deal with the Bengals, who released him after his fifth arrest following the 2007 season. Owner Mike Brown changed his mind and brought him back on a two-year deal, and Henry has stayed out of trouble. Henry was the team’s fourth-leading receiver with 12 catches for 236 yards and two touchdowns.

The win means that with two victories over Baltimore they basically have a three-game lead over them in the division. The Bengals move to 6-2 with the win, dropping the Ravens to 4-4. The Ravens have lost four of their last five games after starting the season 3-0.

The Bengals put the game away early, dominating the first quarter as they scored two touchdowns to go up 14-0, and they held the ball for 22 plays to just 10 for the Ravens. They had an opening drive of 73 yards that ended with a Carson Palmer six-yard score to Andre Caldwell, then on the next series went 68 yards for another score as Cedric Benson went in from a yard out.

Flacco was held in check, going just 18-for-32 for 195 yards with two picks, and he was sacked for times for minus 35 yards. He was pressured all day, and the Ravens offense had the ball for a total of just 20 minutes to 40 for Cincy. The only Ravens score came with 12:54 left when Ray Rice went in from two yards out. Other than that, the Ravens punted five times, had two picks, missed a field goal and then lost possession on downs.

The Bengals outgained Baltimore 369 to 215. Baltimore was just 1-for-10 on third downs, while the Bengals were 8-for-18. They also ran over the Ravens for 146 yards to just 55 for the Birds. Benson led the way for the Bengals with 117 yards and a touchdown.

One down note for Cincy, receiver Chris Henry broke his left forearm in the second quarter, when he made a catch and was immediately tackled. He ranks sixth on the team in receiving.

Cincinnati: OT Andre Smith, TE Chase Coffman, LB Dan Skuta, FB Fui Vakapuna, WR Jerome Simpson, QB Jordan Palmer, DL Orien Harris, SS Roy L. Williams.

The Bengals are tied for the lead in the AFC North, but the Ravens are breathing down their necks. NFL.com analyst Pat Kirwan and Jason Horowitz preview the game, which you can watch this Sunday at 1:00 p.m. ET on CBS.