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Steelers spotlight
EVEN BETTER, A LEAD: The Steelers responded after Rackers' miss with a seven-play, 63-yard drive for a touchdown and a 7-0 lead at the 8:06 mark of the first quarter. It represented the Steelers' largest lead of the season and their first since taking a 7-3 advantage in the first quarter Sept. 15 against Oakland, a span of 175 minutes, 50 seconds.
HIM AGAIN: QB Tommy Maddox was intercepted on the Steelers' second possession when he tried to hit WR Plaxico Burress on an out route and Burress slipped and fell to the turf. Kevin Kaesviharn, the Bengals' nickel CB, was the fortunate recipient of the gift. Kaesviharn intercepted three passes a season ago as an NFL rookie at age 25, including two in the Bengals' 26-23 overtime victory over the Steelers on Dec. 30. The theft was the first of this season for Kaesviharn, a product of the Arena League and the XFL and a former substitute gym teacher in Sioux Falls, S.D.
30-30 CLUB: Burress' first two receptions went for 36 and 32 yards. Burress finished the first half with five receptions for a season-high 94 receiving yards.
HOW DO YOU LIKE ME NOW? The Steelers' third touchdown came on a pass from Maddox to FB Dan Kreider on third-and-goal from the Cincinnati 4. It was basically the same play that enraged LB Joey Porter when the Steelers offense ran it against the Steelers defense during a goal-line drill in a night practice at Memorial Stadium in Latrobe back in training camp.
ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT: Although the Steelers breezed, they weren't perfect. The most glaring example came at the end of the first half, when the Steelers exhibited horrible clock management just before K Todd Peterson missed a 32-yard field-goal attempt. The miss was Peterson's third in eight tries this season. He added a 30-yard field goal with 1:15 remaining to improve to 6 for 9 overall. Peterson's misses have come from 39, 24 and 32 yards (the 24-yard attempt was blocked).
KEEPING THEIR SENSE OF HUMOR: With the Bengals trailing 31-0 late in the third quarter, QB Jon Kitna avoided a sack on first-and-goal from the Steelers 9 by throwing the ball away. In doing so, Kitna managed to put the ball through the uprights. Fans seated behind the end zone responded by standing and raising both arms, as if to signal that the kick was good and the Bengals were finally on the scoreboard.
FOOL ME ONCE: The Bengals tried an onside kick following the touchdown they scored with 13 seconds left in the third quarter, which cut the Steelers' lead to 31-7. They recovered, but Cincinnati's Mark Roman was penalized for offsides on the play. The Steelers responded by putting their "hands" kickoff return team out for the re-kick. The Bengals tried another onside kick, anyway. This time, the Steelers recovered at the Cincinnati 37.
