STEELERS vs BENGALS THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2008 KICKOFF -- 8:15 P.M. POST-GAME NOTES
Team Notes:
• Pittsburgh won its second straight home game and improved to 4-2 on the year at Heinz Field.
• The Steelers improved to 47-30 all-time in the regular season against the Bengals. Pittsburgh has won seven straight games against Cincinnati.
• Pittsburgh is 4-0 on the year against AFC North Division foes this year. The Steelers have won 11 of their last 13 games against divisional opponents.
• The Steelers improved to 7-1 against AFC opponents this year.
• Pittsburgh improved to 9-1 in primetime games under second-year head coach Mike Tomlin, including a perfect 5-0 record this season.
• Cincinnati jumped out to a 7-0 lead late in the first quarter as QB Ryan Fitzpatrick hit WR Glenn Holt on a 10-yard touchdown pass with 3:08 left in the quarter.
• Pittsburgh tied the score at 7-7 as QB Ben Roethlisbergerhit TE Heath Millerfor a three-yard touchdown strike with 10:16 left in the first half. It was Miller's second touchdown of the season and 20th of his career.
• Late in the first half, K Jeff Reedbooted a 37-yard field goal to make it 10-7 at the 1:52 mark of the second quarter.
• Reed added a 38-yard field goal in the third quarter to make it 13-7.
• RB Gary Russellposted his first career touchdown with 16 seconds remaining in the third quarter to stretch the lead to 20-7.
• K Shayne Graham kicked a 26-yard field goal with 6:47 left in the game to cut the lead to 20-10.
• Roethlisberger scored an eight-yard touchdown run with 2:15 remaining in the game to build the Steelers' lead to the final score of 27-10. It was Roethlisberger's second rushing touchdown of the season and the 10th of his career in the regular season.
• Pittsburgh finished with 364 yards of total offense (121 rushing, 243 passing) while Cincinnati managed just 208 yards (43 rushing, 165 passing).
• Pittsburgh had 20 first downs to the Bengals' 11.
• The Steelers controlled the clock for much of the night as they held the ball for 35:20.
• Pittsburgh converted 43 percent (6 of 14) of its third downs while Cincinnati was 4-of-15 (27%) on third downs.
• Pittsburgh was penalized four times for 40 yards and the Bengals had two flags for 15 yards.
• The Steelers have allowed just nine points all season in the third quarter, which is the fewest in the NFL in any quarter. Pittsburgh outscored the Bengals 10-0 in the third quarter.
• Pittsburgh had one sack in the game (LB LaMarr Woodley) and did not give up a single sack on offense.
• QB Dennis Dixon (3rd QB), CB Bryant McFadden, CB Deshea Townsend, CB Roy Lewis, LB Bruce Davis, OL Tony Hills, OT Marvel Smith and DE Orpheus Royewere inactive for Pittsburgh.
Individual Notes:
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*QB Ben Roethlisberger
• Finished 17-of-30 for 243 yards passing with one touchdown and no interceptions (94.2 passer rating).
• Added three rushes for 13 yards (4.3 avg.) with one rushing touchdown.
• Hit TE Heath Miller for a three-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter.
• Had an eight-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter to cap the scoring. It was his second rushing touchdown of the season and the 10th of his career in the regular season. The Steelers are 10-0 in the regular season when Roethlisberger has a rushing touchdown.
• Improved to 20-4 as a starter against AFC North Division opponents in the regular season and has won 10 straight games against divisional foes as the starter. He is 10-3 as a starter in home games against AFC North opponents.
• Improved to 46-19 all-time as the starter. His 46 wins are tied for fourth-most for any NFL quarterback since 1950 in his first five seasons.
• Improved to 26-8 in the regular season at home and the Steelers have scored at least 20 points in 28 of those contests.
RB Willie Parker
• Finished with 37 yards on 14 carries (2.6 avg.).
RB Mewelde Moore
• Rushed 15 times for 56 yards (3.7 avg.), including a long of 15 yards.
• Caught four passes for 41 yards (10.3 avg.).
• Returned one punt for nine yards and one kickoff for 24 yards.
RB Gary Russell
• Finished with three carries for five yards with one touchdown.
• Posted his first career touchdown as he scored from two yards out with 16 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
• Had a career-long 43-yard kickoff return late in the first quarter. It was the Steelers' longest kickoff return of the year.
• Finished with two kickoff returns for 56 yards (28.0 avg.).
WR Hines Ward
• Finished with one catch for 37 yards.
• Had a 37-yard reception in the second quarter that set up the Steelers' first touchdown.
• Has now caught a pass in a team-record 157 consecutive games.
WR Santonio Holmes
• Caught a team-high five passes for 84 yards (16.8 avg.), including a long of 27 yards, before leaving with a head injury.
TE Heath Miller
• Finished with four catches for 44 yards (11.0 avg.) with one touchdown.
• Had a three-yard touchdown reception at the 10:16 mark of the second quarter, his second of the season and 20th of his career. He tied Bennie Cunningham for third on the team's all-time touchdowns list for a tight end.
OT Max Starks
• Made his sixth consecutive start in place of the injured OT Marvel Smith.
DE Aaron Smith
• Batted down three passes at the line of scrimmage.
• Finished with three tackles (two solo).
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*LB James Farrior
• Posted a game-best 11 tackles (eight solo) and had one tackle for loss.
LB LaMarr Woodley
• Had a three-yard sack late in the first half, giving him a career-best 10.5 on the season.
• Finished with three tackles.
CB William Gay
• Made his second career start in place of the injured CB Deshea Townsend.
• Finished with six tackles (four solo) and one pass defensed.
S Troy Polamalu
• Posted his team-leading fifth interception of the season (15th of his career) on the Bengals' last drive of the game. It marks his second straight game with an interception.
• Finished with six tackles (all solo).
K Jeff Reed
• Finished a perfect 2-for-2 in field goals and 3-for-3 in PATs for nine points.
• Booted a 37-yard field goal late in the first half to make it 10-7.
• Added a 38-yard field goal midway through the third quarter.
