The Steelers took a step toward regaining the top spot in the AFC North by defeating the previously 5-1 Bengals in Cincinnati to close within a half-game of first place in the north, even in the loss column.
The Steelers survived two red-zone trips by Cincinnati in the 1st quarter only giving up 3 points, and quickly responded in the 2nd quarter with a Touchdown drive led by QB Ben Roethlisberger. Tight End Heath Miller was the prime target on this drive, and it was Miller who was the recipient of a 3 yard TD pass from Roethlisberger.
The officiating seemed heavily biased against Pittsburgh in this game, but they did make the right call on a Pittsburgh challenge of an apparent Cincinnati touchdown on the Bengals' first posession. The receiver had been out of bounds with his forearm before getting his second foot down, but the official on the field had ruled touchdown. The Bengals dropped a potential TD on the next play, and then missed a 30 yard field goal wide left.
The Bengals scored to make it 7-6 shortly before halftime, aided by some more questionable personal foul calls on the Steelers defense. The most glaring was one where the defender simply tackled the receiver, yet was called for unnecessary roughness.
The third quarter, however, belonged to the Steelers. They scored a 27-yard field goal after a stalled drive following an interception return to the Bengals 15. They quickly got the ball back from the Bengals on a Kimo Von Oelhoffen tipped pass that defensive lineman Aaron Smith caught. The Steelers made quick work, capped off by a 37 yard touchdown run by Willie Parker to make it 17-6. Jerome Bettis found some heavy work during the following Steelers drive to extend the lead to 24-6 on a Hines Ward touchdown as the quarter expired. (Hines had been shaken up on a pass in the end-zone earier in the drive, on a play that it appeared he had possession and both feet, before dropping the ball when he hit the ground)
Jeff Reed added a 39 yard field goal in the fourth quarter as the Steelers did nothing but run. Willie Parker secured his 100 yard game on this drive, emphatically going from 98 yards to 129 on two plays. Verron Haynes would come in on the next possession, and after some good runs, fumbled just outside the Cincinnati 20 yard line. The Bengals would take the ball all the way down, but got the benefit of a long "completion" where the receiver got one foot before falling out of bounds, but was awared the catch. This being just before the two minute warning, Steelers coach Bill Cowher, who had won his lone challenge in the 1st quarter, did not challenge (much to the chagrin of the crowd at Brittany's in Woodbridge) and the play stood. The Bengals would score to close to within two touchdowns, but their onside kick attempt was unsuccessful, as Hines Ward recovered.
The hooplah coming into this game was Bengals QB Carson Palmer having nine straight games with a QB rating of 100.0 or greater -- he fell far short today, finishing with a rating of 53.8, or 100.0 points short of Perfect. Roethlisberger was 9 for 14 with 2 TDs and one INT, his first of the season. The Steelers defense promptly got that one right back, with a Chris Hope interception of Carson Palmer in the 3rd quarter, returned to the Bengals 15. Ben's rating was 93.2, and he still leads the NFL in passer rating to this point of the season.
Up next for the Stillers are the Baltimore Ravens, who come to Pittsburgh on a monday night Halloween game.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment