GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NFL: CINCINNATI (4-7) at PITTSBURGH (8-3)

NFL: CINCINNATI (4-7) at PITTSBURGH (8-3)

<h3>Bengals in dire need of win vs. Steelers</h3>



Cincinnati (4-7) at Pittsburgh (8-3) 8:15 pm EST


PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- The Cincinnati Bengals could not havepicked a better time to break out of their offensive funk.

The Bengals look to keep their faint playoff hopes alive whenthey visit the archrival Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday in an AFCNorth clash.


Trailing division foe Cleveland by three games for the finalplayoff spot, Cincinnati needs to build upon the momentum oflast week's 35-6 drubbing of the Tennessee Titans.

The Bengals played their best overall game of the season indismantling the Titans, helped by their offense finally comingalive.


Quarterback Carson Palmer was 32-of-38 passes for 283 yards andthree touchdowns - all to star wide receiver Chad Johnson.

Scoring for the first time since Week Two, Johnson finished witha career-high 12 receptions for 103 yards.


"I think that is obviously the best football we've played thisseason," Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said. "I thought we madegood football plays in all three phases."


Running back Rudi Johnson also turned in his best game sinceWeek Two. Plagued by injuries throughout the season, Johnsonhad a season-high 25 carries for 88 yards and a touchdown.

Cincinnati's defense also came big, holding its second opponentin three weeks to single digits.


The Steelers needed only single digits to squeak past thewinless Miami Dolphins, 3-0, on Monday night.


Due to heavy rains, the field conditions were nearly unplayable,but quarterback Ben Roethlisberger still finished 18-of-21 for165 yards and an interception.


Steelers president Arthur J. Rooney II said the team is workingwith NFL officials to improve the conditions for the gameagainst the Bengals, but a slower track probably will favorPittsburgh, which is 6-0 at home this season.


Running back Willie Parker rushed for 81 yards on 24 carries onthe sloshy Heinz Field turf and will be looking for his fourthstraight 100-yard game against the Bengals.


In a 24-13 win at Cincinnati in Week Eight, Parker rambled for126 yards and Roethlisberger threw a pair of touchdowns to HinesWard.

 

NFL: CINCINNATI at PITTSBURGH

<div class="pre">NFL
CINCINNATI 0
PITTSBURGH 0 14:55 LEFT, 1ST QTR

CIN BALL ON CIN 25 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: CINCINNATI at PITTSBURGH

<div class="pre">NFL TD CIN
RUDI JOHNSON 1 YD RUN
(SHAYNE GRAHAM KICK)

CINCINNATI 7
PITTSBURGH 0 8:23 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NFL: CINCINNATI at PITTSBURGH

<div class="pre">NFL
CINCINNATI 7
PITTSBURGH 0 8:18 LEFT, 1ST QTR

PIT BALL ON PIT 25 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: CINCINNATI at PITTSBURGH

<div class="pre">NFL
CINCINNATI 7
PITTSBURGH 0 6:45 LEFT, 1ST QTR

CIN BALL ON CIN 27 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: CINCINNATI at PITTSBURGH

<div class="pre">NFL
CINCINNATI 7
PITTSBURGH 0 5:38 LEFT, 1ST QTR

PIT BALL ON PIT 13 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: CINCINNATI at PITTSBURGH

<div class="pre">NFL
CINCINNATI 7
PITTSBURGH 0 4:00 LEFT, 1ST QTR

CIN BALL ON CIN 46 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: CINCINNATI at PITTSBURGH

<div class="pre">NFL
CINCINNATI 7
PITTSBURGH 0 2:24 LEFT, 1ST QTR

PIT BALL ON PIT 14 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: CINCINNATI at PITTSBURGH

<div class="pre">NFL
CINCINNATI 7
PITTSBURGH 0 0:58 LEFT, 1ST QTR

CIN BALL ON PIT 28 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: CINCINNATI at PITTSBURGH

<div class="pre">NFL END, 1ST QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
CINCINNATI 7 7
PITTSBURGH 0 0 END, 1ST QTR

SCORING SUMMARY

1ST QUARTER: CIN - TD, RUDI JOHNSON 1 YD RUN (SHAYNE
GRAHAM KICK), 6:37. Drive: 12
plays, 75 yards in 6:37. Key plays:
Palmer 10-yard pass to
Houshmandzadeh on 3rd-and-3 to
Pittsburgh 45; Palmer 18-yard pass
to Henry on 3rd-and-6 to Pittsburgh
28; Palmer 11-yard pass to Chatman
on 3rd-and-2 to Pittsburgh 9.
CINCINNATI 7-0</div>

 

NFL: CINCINNATI at PITTSBURGH

<div class="pre">NFL CINCINNATI 7
PITTSBURGH 0 14:55 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NFL: CINCINNATI at PITTSBURGH

<div class="pre">NFL MISSED FG CIN
SHAYNE GRAHAM 43 YD ATTEMPT WIDE RIGHT

CINCINNATI 7
PITTSBURGH 0 14:50 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NFL: CINCINNATI at PITTSBURGH

<div class="pre">NFL
CINCINNATI 7
PITTSBURGH 0 14:50 LEFT, 2ND QTR

PIT BALL ON PIT 32 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: CINCINNATI at PITTSBURGH

<div class="pre">NFL TD PIT
BEN ROETHLISBERGER 6 YD RUN
(JEFF REED KICK)

CINCINNATI 7
PITTSBURGH 7 8:31 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NFL: CINCINNATI at PITTSBURGH

<div class="pre">NFL
CINCINNATI 7
PITTSBURGH 7 8:24 LEFT, 2ND QTR

PIT BALL ON CIN 20 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: CINCINNATI at PITTSBURGH

<div class="pre">NFL FG PIT
JEFF REED 21 YD

CINCINNATI 7
PITTSBURGH 10 5:45 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NFL: CINCINNATI at PITTSBURGH

<div class="pre">NFL
CINCINNATI 7
PITTSBURGH 10 5:39 LEFT, 2ND QTR

CIN BALL ON CIN 30 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: CINCINNATI at PITTSBURGH

<div class="pre">NFL
CINCINNATI 7
PITTSBURGH 10 3:28 LEFT, 2ND QTR

PIT BALL ON PIT 34 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: CINCINNATI at PITTSBURGH

<div class="pre">NFL TWO MINUTE WARNING, 1ST HALF

CINCINNATI 7
PITTSBURGH 10

PIT BALL ON CIN 32 YD LINE
3RD AND 1</div>

 

NFL: CINCINNATI at PITTSBURGH

<div class="pre">NFL TD PIT
HINES WARD 2 YD PASS FROM BEN ROETHLISBERGER
(JEFF REED KICK)

CINCINNATI 7
PITTSBURGH 17 0:10 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>