The Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals clash on Sunday in an AFC Wildcard game.  While the straight storyline is interesting - division foes with identical records, split the regular season series, each team winning on the other's turf - the subplots are even more fascinating.

First, the main story.  In their first meeting this season, the Steelers overwhelmed the Bengals 27-13, making them look more like the Bungles of old than an ascendant playoff-bound team.  Pittsburgh's defense played inspired ball, limiting Cincinnati's much-vaunted offense to one touchdown, which came with under a minute remaining in the game.  In late October, it looked like the Steelers were on autopilot and the division crown would again be theirs while Cincy had an outside shot at the Wildcard.  Flash forward to Pittsburgh in December.  The Bengals arrived having recovered their offensive form.  Meanwhile the Steelers were reeling from injuries, most notably to quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.  The game was a slugfest and Cincy struck the final blow, winning 38-31 at Heinz Field, silencing the Steeler faithful far and wide.  How do I know?  Let me put it this way, my father-in-law wouldn't talk about the game all week.  He was afraid he'd be ill if he brought it up.

Now its time for round three and the action moves back to Cincinnati where the Bengals are making their first playoff appearance in a decade and a half.  Make no mistake about it; these are not the Bengals of old.  Head Coach Marvin Lewis has crafted a solid offense built upon the talents of Carson Palmer, Chad Johnson and TJ Houshmandzadeh.  The defense, while lacking a superstar of Ray Lewis caliber like he had in his Baltimore days, has played consistently.  But while a much improved team, with an offense that could prove Indy-scary some day, the Bengals come into the playoffs having lost two in a row.  The Steelers on the other hand, have won their last four since the lost to Cincy, beating a tough Bears team along the way.  But the Steelers are a little banged up.  Roethlisberger is still not 100%, and James Harrison and Deshea Townsend are playing with nagging leg injuries.

So how will things shake down on Sunday?  Although the Steelers aren't at full strength, they are about as healthy as they have been all year, and when they were healthy they proved themselves the superior team.  At Cincy no less.  I think the Bengals, who have had a great season and will be a force next year, are a year away at this point.  The pressure of the playoffs and a resurgent Steeler defense will prove too much to overcome, and the Steelers will leave with a date with the Colts next week.

Now for the sub-plots, the things that make this game really interesting, for me at least.  First, the shift in the balance of power in the AFC North.  With the exception of one season when the Ravens rode one of the greatest defenses to ever take the field to the Superbowl, the Steelers have owned their division.  Cincy has been slowly creeping toward the door and started knocking hard on it this year.  A win on Sunday for them would indicate that the balance has been tipped.  Not to say that a loss would mean the Steelers are done for - they have a talented ball club with a solid young quarterback and as long a Dick Lebeau is around, they'll have a defense second to none - but a Cincy win would mean that the Steelers won't have such an easy road to the playoffs in the future.  The division is finally becoming competitive.  And if the Ravens ever find an offense to match their defense, it could prove even more challenging in years to come.

The other sub-plot of interest to me, and probably everyone in Pittsburgh, is the fact that this could be Jerome Bettis' last game.  I'll come right out and say it, I love the Bus.  I love watching the jolly fat man lumber down the field dragging tacklers with him.  I love watching him come back to the sideline and high-five Hines Ward for a killer block.  Mostly, I love the way the man has conducted himself with class and given back to a city that has shown him so much love over his career.  To me, the Bus is the Steelers, and I hate to think of watching a game without him in it next year.  It kills me even more to think that no matter what happens in the playoffs, he will play his last game on the road, away from the fans who love him so much in the 'Burgh.  Of course, it may be of some consolation to Pittsburgh fans if that last game is in Detroit and he gets to bring home some hardware.