By BOB LABRIOLA
Steelers.com

The following are some of the interesting matchups to watch when the Steelers host the Cincinnati Bengals at 8:15 p.m. at Heinz Field:

STEELERS CBs DESHEA TOWNSEND, IKE TAYLOR AND BRYANT McFADDEN VS. BENGALS WR CHRIS HENRY: This is a bad time to be playing the Cincinnati Bengals. Not because Carson Palmer completed 32 of 38 passes for three touchdowns last Sunday in a rout of the Titans, or because Chad Johnson had a 100-yard receiving game, or because Rudi Johnson has returned after missing several games due to injury. It’s because Chris Henry’s suspension is over, and he’s back to playing like Chris Henry, and that means he’ll be a problem for the Steelers. As a rookie, Henry caught that 66-yard pass in the 2005 playoffs on the play in which Carson Palmer was injured; last season he had nine catches for 193 yards and three touchdowns in two games against the Steelers. “They have Chris Henry back who is as legitimate as a third wideout as you’ll come across, he’s a big play guy,” said Coach Mike Tomlin. “He is a significant playmaker. He’s got 255 yards; he’s averaging 15 yards a catch. He’s just going to get better as he continues to log snaps. That’s going to be an added element that we have to deal with that we didn’t deal with the first game.” Whenever Henry is on the field, wherever he lines up, the Steelers have to be aware of him.

STEELERS LT MAX STARKS VS. BENGALS DE JUSTIN SMITH: As of Friday, Marvel Smith had not yet returned to practice, and so it seemed as though Max Starks might be getting his second consecutive start at left tackle. Justin Smith isn’t in the same class as Miami’s Jason Taylor, but he is the Bengals’ best defensive lineman in terms of pass-rush ability and playmaking skills. Smith is tied for second on the team with two sacks, and he’s also been am important part of an improved run defense that was allowing 59 yards per game and 3.0 yards per carry over the previous three games. Starks was a starter at right tackle on the 2005 team that win Super Bowl XL, but he lost that job in camp to Willie Colon. Since then, Starks has filled in as a third tight end at times, and he also finished the game against the Seahawks when Marvel Smith injured a knee, and then he started against the Dolphins. The way he has been playing, Starks is making a case as being one of the Steelers best five offensive linemen.

STEELERS KICKOFF COVERAGE VS. BENGALS KOR GLENN HOLT: It wouldn’t seem right if one of these matchups didn’t focus on the Steelers special teams vs. an opposing kick returner, but choosing Holt is not a reach. Holt has returned 42 kickoffs for 1,085 yards (25.8 average), and he has a 100-yard touchdown. In the first meeting between these teams this season, Holt returned kickoffs for 42, 34 and 33 yards. LaMarr Woodley is back after missing a couple of games with a hamstring injury, but the kickoff coverage hasn’t been as good without James Harrison. Because he also leads the team withy 8.5 sacks and getting pressure on Carson Palmer will be so critical for the defense, it’ll be interesting to see how much special teams Harrison plays on Sunday against the Bengals.

STEELERS QB BEN ROETHLISBERGER VS. BENGALS CBs LEON HALL AND JOHNATHAN JOSEPH: In the three games before coming to Heinz Field, the Bengals allowed 66 yards rushing to the Ravens on Nov. 11, 50 to the Cardinals on Nov. 18 and 61 to the Titans on Nov. 25. That looks impressive, but the Ravens fell behind and had to throw; the Cardinals didn’t have the ball that much on offense because CB Antrel Rolle returned two Palmer interceptions for touchdowns; and the Titans were losing by 28-6 midway through the third period. The Bengals are last in the NFL vs. the pass, but that standing is based on yards allowed. Where the Bengals are respectable – and it’s the only defensive category in which they are – is in interceptions, where they rank 15th in the NFL. Hall leads the team with four interceptions, and Joseph is tied for second with two. The only member of the Bengals secondary who plays a physical style on a consistent basis is FS Madieu Williams; the other guys prefer to play the ball rather than the man. In two losses to the Bengals as the starter, Roethlisberger threw six interceptions. That is not a coincidence.