Bengals eye first season sweep over Steelers since 2009

The Cincinnati Bengals haven’t swept the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2009, and it’s been more than 30 years since the last time they won three straight games in the series.

The Bengals can accomplish both feats with a win Sunday when they host the Steelers (5-4-1) in an important AFC North matchup.

After stunning the Steelers on Monday Night Football last December, the Bengals (6-4) collected an equally surprising 24-10 win in the first matchup of the season in Week 3. They can make it three in a row for the first time since 1990 and keep improving their playoff chances in the process.

Here are five storylines to watch Sunday:

1. More pressure on offensive line: Bengals coach Zac Taylor said he thought Hakeem Adeniji looked “really good” in his second start at right guard last week, and if he can keep progressing, the offensive line is looking in much better shape. The right guard spot has been the one unsettled position, and Adeniji is the fourth player to start there.

Another big test comes Sunday with outside linebacker T.J. Watt expected back from hip and knee injuries after missing the Week 3 matchup because of a groin issue. He joins a pass rush that also features Cam Heyward and

Alex Highsmith and will be tough to shut down a second game in a row. The Bengals didn’t allow a sack last time, and that ended Pittsburgh’s streak of 10 straight games with a defensive sack.

“It’s hard to predict what they’ll do differently depending on their personnel, but I just know T.J. Watt is always a defensive player of the year candidate,” Taylor