CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Bengals’ ability to limit big plays by opposing offenses is a key reason the team has won five of its last six games to take a 1 1/2-game lead in the AFC North.

The Bengals have allowed just two plays of at least 30 yards in the last six games — none in the last four.

“It’s been one of our main goals setting out every week that if we don’t give up explosive plays, we have a chance to make them drive a long way,” defensive coordinator Paul Guenther said. “We made a big emphasis of that from the very beginning of OTAs and all that stuff. We’re doing a good job of that, staying on top of receivers.”

Buccaneers rookie Mike Evans entered Sunday’s game leading the NFL with 505 receiving yards in November, and the Bengals held him to four catches for 49 yards. Two weeks ago in Houston, they limited Andre Johnson to three receptions for 36 yards. And in New Orleans, tight end Jimmy Graham caught just three balls for 29 yards.

“You want to dictate defensively where the ball goes based on coverage,” coach Marvin Lewis said. “Each and every throw, we want to dictate where the ball goes. There’s a strength and weakness to every coverage we play, and we want to make sure we get the ball into the strength of the coverage and not the weakness.”

On Sunday at Paul Brown Stadium, the Bengals will face their most explosive test of the season: The Pittsburgh Steelers had three plays of at least 30 yards in their last game and have 14 in the past six.

“You can’t begin talking about the Steelers without talking about Ben Roethlisberger and how good he’s playing this year,” Lewis said of the Pittsburgh quarterback who ranks among the league leaders in nearly every passing category.

As has been the case throughout his career, Roethlisberger generates some of his biggest gains when he’s scrambling around in the pocket after the original play has broken down.

“You can’t take a nap go to sleep, per se; you’ve got to stay in leverage, stay on your guy, stay matched and strapped to the back of your guy,” Lewis said. “You’ve got to be conscious of that. The play is not over until the ball is not in his hand, and you make sure that you can defend the ball down the field. Both he and the receivers do a fine job of working away and trying to find an open spot, and he’s able to deliver the football.”

Of the 14 explosive plays the Steelers have had in their last six games, four have gone to running back Le’Veon Bell.

“He’s a different player than he was a year ago,” Guenther said. “He’s more involved in the passing game. I think he’s like (15th) in the league in catches. So 65 catches, you have to be aware of where he is in the passing game.”

Veteran wide receiver Antonio Brown (96 catches, 1,258 yards) and rookie wide receiver Martavis Bryant (20.2 yards per catch with six touchdowns) also are threats to break off big chunks of yards on every play.

“We just have to trust the game plan,” Bengals safety Reggie Nelson said. “I think (cornerbacks) Leon (Hall) and Terrence (Newman) and Adam (Jones) do a great job of just pressing and getting their top receivers off their mark.

“But it starts up front,” Nelson added. “I think our D-line does a good job of pressuring the quarterback, and it trickles back up to the corners. I think me and George (Iloka) are doing a good job of protecting the corners over the top and just not getting too greedy and just doing our job.”

SERIES HISTORY: The Steelers hold a 53-34 edge, including 25-19 in Cincinnati. In the last meeting, Dec. 15, the Steelers scored 21 first-quarter points en route to a 24-0 lead and 30-20 victory. The loss cost the Bengals a first-round bye in the playoffs.

NOTES: WR A.J. Green (thigh) was limited in practice Wednesday but is expected to play Sunday. … CB Adam Jones (concussion) did not practice Wednesday. He finished Sunday’s game in Tampa Bay despite taking a pair of big hits on punt returns. Team trainers cleared him after the first hit. … LB Vontaze Burfict (knee), DT Domata Peko (elbow), WR James Wright (knee), FB Ryan Hewitt (illness) and G/C Mike Pollak (knee) did not practice Wednesday. … LB Chris Carter, who spent three years with Pittsburgh, signed with the Bengals on Wednesday.