STEELERS at BENGALSSUNDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2008 KICKOFF -- 1:00 P.M. POST-GAME NOTES
Team Notes:
• Pittsburgh improved to 5-1 on the season and a perfect 3-0 against AFC North foes and 5-0 overall in the AFC. The Steelers have won three straight games.
• The Steelers improved to 46-30 all-time in the regular season against the Bengals, having won their seventh straight game at Paul Brown Stadium (postseason not included). Pittsburgh is 21-17 in Cincinnati in the series history.
• The Steelers have won 10 of their past 12 games against teams in the AFC North. Mike Tomlinis 8-1 against AFC North teams in his two years as the Steelers head coach.
• The Steelers improved to 3-1 on the road in 2008. Pittsburgh is 46-38 (.548) on the road in the past 10-plus years, which is the fourth-best record in the NFL during that span.
• Mike Tomlintied former coach Bill Cowher for the best start in team history as he is now 15-7 (.682) through 22 games as head coach.
• Pittsburgh jumped out to a 7-0 lead on the first drive of the game as it drove 75 yards on nine plays that ended with QB Ben Roethlisbergerhitting RB Mewelde Moorefor a two-yard touchdown pass. It was Moore's first receiving touchdown of the season while it was Roethlisberger's eight passing touchdown this year. On the drive, Roethlisberger was 5-for-6 for 75 yards, including a 32-yard pass to WR Santonio Holmesand a 29-yard pass to WR Hines Ward.
• Following a 15-yard Cincinnati punt late in the first quarter from deep in the Bengals' territory, Pittsburgh marched 27 yards and K Jeff Reedbooted a 21-yard field goal to make it 10-0 with 42 seconds left in the first quarter.
• After having been stalled by the Steelers' defense for the first quarter and a half, Cincinnati came back with a 14-play, 92-yard drive that ended with QB Ryan Fitzpatrick finding WR Chad Johnson for a five-yard touchdown with 36 seconds left in the half, trimming the lead to 10-7.
• Pittsburgh upped their lead to 17-7 on its first drive of the third quarter as Moore ran in from 13 yards out for his first rushing touchdown as a Steeler.
• K Dave Rayner booted a 26-yard field goal with 2:38 remaining in the third quarter to cut the Steelers' lead to 17-10.
• Roethlisberger stretched the lead to 24-10 with 8:17 left in the game as he hit WR Nate Washingtonfor a 50-yard touchdown. It was Washington's longest reception of the season and it was his second receiving touchdown of the year.
• The Steelers held the Bengals to a three-and-out on the next series before Moore posted his career-high third touchdown of the game on a two-yard run with 5:17 left in the game to make it 31-10. The score was a set up by a 38-yard pass interference call by the Bengals on Ward.
• On the next Cincinnati drive, LB LaMarr Woodleyposted his second sack of the game, stripping the ball from Fitzpatrick to give Pittsburgh possession at the Bengals' 34-yard line. Backup QB Byron Leftwichwould then toss his first touchdown pass as a Steeler with a 16-yard strike to Ward to cap the scoring at 38-10. It was Ward's team-leading fifth touchdown reception of the season.
• Pittsburgh finished with 375 yards of total offense, including 125 rushing and 250 passing. The Steelers limited the Bengals to just 212 yards of total offense (84 rushing, 128 passing).
• The Steelers finished with 20 first downs to the Bengals' 16. Pittsburgh did not allow a first down until over halfway through the second quarter.
• Pittsburgh was penalized just three times for 15 yards and did not give up a sack for the first time this season. Cincinnati was flagged four times for 55 yards.
• The Steelers had a season-high seven sacks, marking the most since they had eight at Cleveland on Dec. 24, 2005. Woodley, LB James Harrisonand LB Lawrence Timmonseach posted two sacks while LB James Farrioradded one sack.
• QB Dennis Dixon (3rd QB), RB Carey Davis, RB Willie Parker, LB Keyaron Fox, OT Tony Hills, OT Marvel Smith, WR Dallas Baker and DT Casey Hampton were inactive.
Individual Notes:
QB Ben Roethlisberger
• Finished 17-for-28 with 216 yards passing and two touchdowns (108.6 passer rating).
• Improved to a perfect 10-0 as a starter in the regular season in the state of Ohio, including 5-0 against the Bengals and 5-0 versus the Cleveland Browns.
• Owns a 20-4 career record (including the postseason) against AFC North Division opponents and has won nine straight games against divisional foes as a starter. He is 11-1 on the road against AFC North teams.
• Owns a 44-17 career record as a starter, which is the second-best mark in the NFL among starting quarterbacks.
• Has 31 career games with a passer rating of over 100.0, which is second in team history behind Terry Bradshaw's 37.
• Led the Steelers on a 75-yard opening drive that ended with a two-yard touchdown pass to RB Mewelde Moore.
• Added a 50-yard touchdown to WR Nate Washington in the fourth quarter.
QB Byron Leftwich
• Came in to replace Roethlisberger in the fourth quarter for the Steelers' final drive and was a perfect 3-for-3 for 34 yards with one touchdown (153.5 passer rating), including a 16-yard touchdown pass to WR Hines Ward. It marked his first touchdown pass as a Steeler.
RB Mewelde Moore
• Made his second straight start in place of the injured RB Willie Parker.
• Finished with 120 yards rushing on 20 carries (6.0 avg.) with two rushing touchdowns and had five catches for 14 yards (2.8 avg.) with one touchdown. His three touchdowns were a career high.
• The 120 yards are the most for Moore since he had 122 at Green Bay on Nov. 21, 2005, while playing for the Minnesota Vikings. It marked his fifth career 100-yard rushing game and his first as a Steeler.
• Caught his first receiving touchdown of the year on a two-yard reception from Roethlisberger.
• Posted a 13-yard rushing touchdown in the third quarter, giving him his first rushing touchdown as a Steeler.
• Had a 24-yard run on the Steelers' first drive of the second half.
• Added a two-yard rushing touchdown in fourth quarter.
• Becomes the first running back other than Parker or Jerome Bettis to have over 100 yards rushing and two rushing touchdowns in a regular-season game since RB Bam Morris finished with 101 yards rushing and three touchdowns in a 49-31 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals on Nov. 19, 1995.
• In the past two games filling in as a starter for Parker, has 219 yards rushing on 37 carries (5.9 avg.) with two touchdowns and eight catches for 31 yards (3.9 avg.) with one touchdown.
WR Hines Ward
• Caught four passes for 60 yards (15.0 avg.) with his team-leading fifth touchdown of the season.
• Had a 16-yard touchdown reception from backup QB Byron Leftwich in the fourth quarter, giving him 70 career touchdown receptions.
• Hauled in a 29-yard pass in the first quarter.
• Has now caught a pass in a team-record 152 consecutive games.
WR Santonio Holmes
• Finished with a team-high 89 yards receiving on five catches (17.8 avg.).
• Had a 32-yard catch on the Steelers' first drive of the game.
• Had three punt returns for 21 yards (7.0 avg.), including a long of 12 yards.
WR Nate Washington
• Finished with two catches for 57 yards (28.5 avg.) and his second touchdown of the season and in as many games.
• Hauled in a 50-yard touchdown reception from Roethlisberger in the fourth quarter.
OT Max Starks
• Made his first start of the season in place of the injured OT Marvel Smith.
• Helped the Steelers to protect Roethlisberger and not give up a sack for the first time this season.
DT Chris Hoke
• Made his third straight start at NT in place of the injured Casey Hampton.
• Finished with three tackles.
LB Lawrence Timmons
• Finished with nine tackles (six solo) and two sacks, his first multi-sack game of his career.
• Had two six-yard sacks in the fourth quarter, giving him three on the year.
LB James Farrior
• Finished with a game-high 11 tackles (six solo) with one sack.
• Posted a sack in the second quarter, giving him 1.5 on the year.
LB James Harrison
• Finished with five tackles and two sacks (for 21 yards).
• Posted a seven-yard sack late in the first quarter.
• Had a 14-yard sack in the third quarter, giving him a team-best 8.5 on the season. The 8.5 sacks tie his single-season career high, which was set in 2007.
LB LaMarr Woodley
• Posted two sacks (for 12 yards) and finished with four tackles, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
• Had an eight-yard sack in the fourth quarter when he stripped the ball and recovered the Fitzpatrick fumble.
• Added a three-yard sack in the third quarter.
• Has a career-high 7.5 sacks on the year.
CB Bryant McFadden
• Made his fifth straight start at RCB.
• Finished with five tackles before leaving the game with an arm injury early in the fourth quarter.
P Mitch Berger
• Punted five times for 204 yards (40.8 avg.) with two punts downed inside the 20-yard line.
K Jeff Reed
• Was a perfect 5-for-5 in PATs and 1-for-1 in field goals to finish with eight points.
• Booted a 21-yard field goal with 42 seconds left in the first quarter to up the Steelers' lead to 10-0.
