Key matchup: CB Joe Haden vs. WR A.J. Green

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Key matchup: CB Joe Haden vs. WR A.J. Green

he has been playing his spot on the left side of the defense and going unnoticed as though he were elevator music. For a cornerback,Authentic Lorenzo Alexander Jersey,Joe Haden felt as though he hadn’t really done anything special since joining the Steelers. Mostly, that is usually a good thing.

and he did it in a big way. In the process,Haden,,Authentic Zay Jones Jersey, made himself noticed Sunday at Heinz Field against the Cincinnati Bengals, though, he is helping the Steelers secondary make people take notice of the job it has done through six games.

he played a big part in keeping Bengals receiver A.J. Green under control,,womens Dion Dawkins JerseyNot only did Haden have his first interception with the Steelers on an athletic play in the third quarter, leading to a field goal, shutting him out in the second half.

who had 19 career interceptions in seven seasons with the Cleveland Browns. “It felt good to get it,“It was definitely special,” said Haden,Authentic Tony Jefferson Jersey, especially being here in front of the home crowd. I felt like I haven’t made too many splash plays. I feel like I’ve just been doing my job.”

Haden’s interception was one of two in the third quarter — the other was by dime back William Gay — and part of a defensive lockdown in the second half when the Steelers held quarterback Andy Dalton to 34 yards passing and sacked him four times.womens Christian McCaffrey Jersey,'

20-14. It was the first time this season the Steelers had allowed two receiving touchdowns in a game. Three of Dalton’s completions were to Green for 41 yards,Dalton was 11 of 18 for 106 yards and two touchdowns in the first half,womens Tre'Davious White Jersey, keeping the Bengals within shouting distance at halftime including a 16-yarder on third-and-5 to keep alive the first touchdown drive.

who cradled the ball in mid-air and tumbled to the turf. Three plays later,But that was it for Green. He was targeted only twice in the second half,>womens Nathan Peterman Jerseyincluding on the play when Dalton’s pass deflected off his hands and into the arms of Haden, the Steelers had a 26-14 lead.

Green had caught 22 passes for 363 yards and three touchdowns,Authentic Curtis Samuel Jersey>,In the previous three games, including a 77-yarder that was his longest in two years.

“They did a great job taking me away,” Green said.womens Lorenzo Alexander Jersey,

“We had a good scheme,” Haden said.womens Zay Jones Jersey,

though he did get to use his little “stab” technique on a couple of matchups. No matter,Haden didn’t always line up against Green, and rarely played him in press coverage, Authentic Nathan Peterman Jersey,'the Steelers clamped down on Green and the Bengals in the second half.

What changed?womens Tony Jefferson Jersey,

” Gay said. “They executed better than us [in the first half] and we wanted to even out the battle and try to win more than they did. That’s what basic football comes down to. You just try to get more positives than your opponent.”,“Execution

a couple miscommunication problems.,Authentic Tre'Davious White Jersey,“The biggest thing is the first half is we had a a couple busted coverages

“When we came in at halftime, we said let’s over-communicate, even if it’s the wrong play,just make sure we’re all doing the same thing at the same time.Authentic Dion Dawkins Jersey, It was just a couple things that were off.”

running back Joe Mixon strangely was not given a carry after he had 48 yards on seven carries in the first half.,So the defense spent the second half shutting down the Bengals the way it stuffed the Kansas City Chiefs for three quarters last week. Not only did Green not have a catch in the second half,Authentic Christian McCaffrey Jersey,

Throw in four sacks,including one each from outside linebackers T.J. Watt and Bud Dupree, womens Curtis Samuel Jersey, and the defense held the Bengals to 179 yards of offense, fewest by an opponent this season. It was also the fifth time in seven games the secondary held a quarterback under 200 yards passing.