GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NFL: PITTSBURGH (4-2) at CINCINNATI (2-4)

NFL: PITTSBURGH (4-2) at CINCINNATI (2-4)

<h3>Stunned in Denver, Steelers look to rebound against Bengals</h3>







Pittsburgh (4-2) at Cincinnati (2-4) Sunday 1:00 pm EDT

CINCINNATI (Ticker) -- The Pittsburgh Steelers may havemissed an opportunity to take control of the AFC North withlast week's 31-28 loss in Denver.


Now, the Steelers begin a stretch of three straight divisiongames on Sunday, when they visit the Cincinnati Bengals.

Pittsburgh holds just a one-half lead over the Baltimore Ravens(4-3) and a one-game edge over the improving Cleveland Browns(3-3).


The Steelers may look to get back to what has worked for them inthe past - a ball-control offense, something they abandonedagainst Denver.


Through five games, Pittsburgh had run more than 55 percent ofthe time and entered last week with the league's No. 2 rushingoffense. But it came out throwing against the league's worstrushing defense.


Ben Roethlisberger attempted 24 passes in the first half -including 10 of the first 13 plays. The strategy did not work asthe Broncos jumped out to a 21-7 halftime lead before pullingout the victory on Jason Elam's 49-yard field goal as timeexpired.


Pittsburgh's defense, which ranked first in total yards andfewest points per game, also was exposed. Denver's Jay Cutlercompleted 22-of-29 passes for 248 yards and three touchdownsafter throwing only four TDs passes in his first five contests.

"We have to learn from this game but we have to put it behind usand come back ready to rock and roll against a divisionalrival," defensive end Brett Keisel told the Pittsburgh PostGazette. "We'll see what type of team we have."


The Bengals snapped a four-game losing streak last week,rallying for a 38-31 victory over the New York Jets.

Backup running back Kenny Watson rushed for a career-high 130yards and three touchdowns as the Bengals rallied from a 23-10deficit.


But the Bengals may look to pull a page out of the Broncos' bookby passing more. The Steelers have not allowed a 100-yardrusher in 31 games and rank third against the run (75.3 ypg).

The Steelers have won five straight in Cincinnati, including a23-17 overtime victory in last season's regular-season finalethat knocked the Bengals out of the playoffs. It was BillCowher's final game as Steelers' coach.

 

NFL: PITTSBURGH at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NFL
PITTSBURGH 0
CINCINNATI 0 14:54 LEFT, 1ST QTR

PIT BALL ON PIT 29 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: PITTSBURGH at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NFL
PITTSBURGH 0
CINCINNATI 0 11:55 LEFT, 1ST QTR

CIN BALL ON CIN 18 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: PITTSBURGH at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NFL FG CIN
SHAYNE GRAHAM 31 YD

PITTSBURGH 0
CINCINNATI 3 5:11 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NFL: PITTSBURGH at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NFL
PITTSBURGH 0
CINCINNATI 3 5:11 LEFT, 1ST QTR

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

 

NFL: PITTSBURGH at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NFL TD PIT
HINES WARD 21 YD PASS FROM BEN ROETHLISBERGER
(JEFF REED KICK)

PITTSBURGH 7
CINCINNATI 3 2:42 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NFL: PITTSBURGH at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NFL
PITTSBURGH 7
CINCINNATI 3 2:37 LEFT, 1ST QTR

CIN BALL ON CIN 33 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: PITTSBURGH at CINCINNATI

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

SCORING SUMMARY

1ST QUARTER: CIN - FG, SHAYNE GRAHAM 31 YD, 9:49. Drive:
13 plays, 69 yards in 6:43. Key
plays: Palmer 17-yard pass Dorsey
to Pittsburgh 48; Palmer 11-yard
pass to C Johnson to Pittsburgh 29;
Palmer 14-yard pass to
Houshmandzadeh on 3rd-and-8 to
Pittsburgh 13. CINCINNATI 3-0
PIT - TD, HINES WARD 21 YD PASS FROM BEN
ROETHLISBERGER (JEFF REED KICK),
12:18. Drive: 5 plays, 80 yards in
2:29. Key plays: Parker 12-yard run
to Pittsburgh 34; Roethlisberger
42-yard pass to Holmes to
Cincinnati 16. PITTSBURGH 7-3</div>

 

NFL: PITTSBURGH at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NFL
PITTSBURGH 7
CINCINNATI 3 14:51 LEFT, 2ND QTR

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

 

NFL: PITTSBURGH at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NFL TD PIT
HINES WARD 6 YD PASS FROM BEN ROETHLISBERGER
(JEFF REED KICK)

PITTSBURGH 14
CINCINNATI 3 7:42 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NFL: PITTSBURGH at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NFL
PITTSBURGH 14
CINCINNATI 3 7:33 LEFT, 2ND QTR

CIN BALL ON CIN 48 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: PITTSBURGH at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NFL FG CIN
SHAYNE GRAHAM 20 YD

PITTSBURGH 14
CINCINNATI 6 2:16 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NFL: PITTSBURGH at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NFL
PITTSBURGH 14
CINCINNATI 6 2:11 LEFT, 2ND QTR

PIT BALL ON PIT 33 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: PITTSBURGH at CINCINNATI

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

PITTSBURGH 14
CINCINNATI 6

PIT BALL ON CIN 35 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: PITTSBURGH at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NFL TD PIT
WILLIE PARKER 1 YD RUN
(JEFF REED KICK)

PITTSBURGH 21
CINCINNATI 6 0:04 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NFL: PITTSBURGH at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NFL
PITTSBURGH 21
CINCINNATI 6 0:00 LEFT, 2ND QTR

CIN BALL ON CIN 40 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: PITTSBURGH at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NFL HALFTIME 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
PITTSBURGH 7 14 21
CINCINNATI 3 3 6 HALFTIME

SCORING SUMMARY

1ST QUARTER: CIN - FG, SHAYNE GRAHAM 31 YD, 9:49. Drive:
13 plays, 69 yards in 6:43. Key
plays: Palmer 17-yard pass Dorsey
to Pittsburgh 48; Palmer 11-yard
pass to C Johnson to Pittsburgh 29;
Palmer 14-yard pass to
Houshmandzadeh on 3rd-and-8 to
Pittsburgh 13. CINCINNATI 3-0
PIT - TD, HINES WARD 21 YD PASS FROM BEN
ROETHLISBERGER (JEFF REED KICK),
12:18. Drive: 5 plays, 80 yards in
2:29. Key plays: Parker 12-yard run
to Pittsburgh 34; Roethlisberger
42-yard pass to Holmes to
Cincinnati 16. PITTSBURGH 7-3
2ND QUARTER: PIT - TD, HINES WARD 6 YD PASS FROM BEN
ROETHLISBERGER (JEFF REED KICK),
7:18. Drive: 12 plays, 80 yards in
7:09. Key plays: Roethlisberger
23-yard pass to Miller on 3rd-and-4
to Pittsburgh 49; Roethlisberger
7-yard pass to Holmes on 3rd-and-4
to Cincinnati 38; Parker 17-yard
run to Cincinnati 21;
Roethlisberger 13-yard pass to Ward
to Cincinnati 8. PITTSBURGH 14-3
CIN - FG, SHAYNE GRAHAM 20 YD, 12:44. Drive:
10 plays, 50 yards in 5:26. Key
plays: Holt 42-yard kickoff return
to Cincinnati 48; Palmer 16-yard
pass to C Johnson on 3rd-and-2 to
Pittsburgh 28; Palmer 8-yard pass
to J Johnson on 3rd-and-1 to
Pittsburgh 11. PITTSBURGH 14-6
PIT - TD, WILLIE PARKER 1 YD RUN (JEFF REED
KICK), 14:56. Drive: 9 plays, 67
yards in 2:07. PITTSBURGH 21-6</div>

 

NFL: PITTSBURGH at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NFL HALFTIME 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
PITTSBURGH 7 14 21
CINCINNATI 3 3 6 HALFTIME

SCORING SUMMARY

1ST QUARTER:

9:49 CIN - FG, S Graham 31 Yd.
Drive: 13 plays, 69 yards in 6:43.
Key plays: Palmer 17-yard pass Dorsey to Pittsburgh 48; Palmer
11-yard pass to C Johnson to Pittsburgh 29; Palmer 14-yard pass to
Houshmandzadeh on 3rd-and-8 to Pittsburgh 13. Cincinnati 3-0.
12:18 PIT - TD, H Ward 21 Yd Pass From B Roethlisberger (J Reed Kick).
Drive: 5 plays, 80 yards in 2:29.
Key plays: Parker 12-yard run to Pittsburgh 34; Roethlisberger
42-yard pass to Holmes to Cincinnati 16. Pittsburgh 7-3.

2ND QUARTER:

7:18 PIT - TD, H Ward 6 Yd Pass From B Roethlisberger (J Reed Kick).
Drive: 12 plays, 80 yards in 7:09.
Key plays: Roethlisberger 23-yard pass to Miller on 3rd-and-4 to
Pittsburgh 49; Roethlisberger 7-yard pass to Holmes on 3rd-and-4 to
Cincinnati 38; Parker 17-yard run to Cincinnati 21; Roethlisberger 13-yard
pass to Ward to Cincinnati 8. Pittsburgh 14-3.
12:44 CIN - FG, S Graham 20 Yd.
Drive: 10 plays, 50 yards in 5:26.
Key plays: Holt 42-yard kickoff return to Cincinnati 48; Palmer
16-yard pass to C Johnson on 3rd-and-2 to Pittsburgh 28; Palmer 8-yard
pass to J Johnson on 3rd-and-1 to Pittsburgh 11. Pittsburgh 14-6.
14:56 PIT - TD, W Parker 1 Yd Run (J Reed Kick).
Drive: 9 plays, 67 yards in 2:12.
Key plays: Parker 32-yard run to Cincinnati 35; Roethlisberger
10-yard pass to Holmes to Cincinnati 25; Roethlisberger 12-yard pass to
Holmes to Cincinnati 13; Roethlisberger 9-yard pass to Holmes on 3rd-and-7
to Cincinnati 1. Pittsburgh 21-6.

Pittsburgh - Cincinnati End 2nd Qtr Statistics

TEAM STATISTICS Pittsburgh Cincinnati

FIRST DOWNS 14 7
Rushing 4 0
Passing 10 7
Penalty 0 0
THIRD DOWN EFFICIENCY 4-5-80% 3-6-50%
TOTAL NET YARDS 248 143
Total offensive plays 31 26
Average gain per play 8.0 5.5
NET YARDS RUSHING 81 29
Rushing attempts 13 10
Average gain per rush 6.2 2.9
NET YARDS PASSING 167 114
Times sacked: Number-Yards 0-0 0-0
Gross passing yards 167 114
PASS ATTEMPTS-COMPLETIONS-HAD INTERCEPTED 18-13-0 16-14-0
Avg gain per pass play 9.3 7.1
PUNTS: Number and Average 1-37.0 1-43.0
PENALTIES: Number-Yards 1-5 0-0
FUMBLES: Number-Lost 0-0 1-0
TOUCHDOWNS 3 0
Rushing 1 0
Passing 2 0
Interceptions 0 0
Other (blocked kicks, etc.) 0 0
EXTRA POINTS: Made-Attempts 3-3 0-0
Kicking: Made-Attempts 3-3 0-0
Passing: Made-Attempts 0-0 0-0
Rushing: Made-Attempts 0-0 0-0
FIELD GOALS: Made-Attempts 0-0 2-2
SAFETIES 0 0
TIME OF POSSESSION 14:55 15:05


INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Pittsburgh Cincinnati

RUSHING ATT YDS AVG LG TD RUSHING ATT YDS AVG LG TD
-------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
W PARKER 12 79 6.6 32 1 K WATSON 9 28 3.1 9 0
S HOLMES 1 2 2.0 2 0 G HOLT 1 1 1.0 1 0

PASSING CM-AT-YDS IN TD LG PASSING CM-AT-YDS IN TD LG
-------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
B ROETHLISBERGER 13-18-167 0 2 42 C PALMER 14-16-114 0 0 17

Sacked-Yards Lost: None Sacked-Yards Lost: None

RECEIVING NO YDS AVG LG TD RECEIVING NO YDS AVG LG TD
-------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
H WARD 6 64 10.7 21 2 C JOHNSON 4 37 9.3 16 0
S HOLMES 4 71 17.8 42 0 T HOUSHMANDZADEH 3 24 8.0 14 0
H MILLER 1 23 23.0 23 0 K WATSON 2 12 6.0 8 0
C DAVIS 1 5 5.0 5 0 G HOLT 2 11 5.5 8 0
W PARKER 1 4 4.0 4 0 D DORSEY 1 17 17.0 17 0
J JOHNSON 1 8 8.0 8 0
R KELLY 1 5 5.0 5 0

KICKING XP/XPA FG/FGA KICKING XP/XPA FG/FGA
---------------------------------- ----------------------------------
J REED 3/3 0/0 S GRAHAM 0/0 2/2
Dist.: 31 20</div>

 

NFL: PITTSBURGH at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NFL
PITTSBURGH 21
CINCINNATI 6 14:55 LEFT, 3RD QTR

CIN BALL ON CIN 17 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: PITTSBURGH at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NFL
PITTSBURGH 21
CINCINNATI 6 13:48 LEFT, 3RD QTR

PIT BALL ON PIT 23 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>