4:05 p.m. -- Cincinnati kneels the ball three times and runs the clock out to pickup the win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, 18-12.
4:03 p.m. -- The Bengals defense continues its superb play and doesn't allow a single yard to the Steelers. Pittsburgh turns over on downs and with 1:26 to play, things are looking good for Cincinnati.
3:58 p.m. -- Shayne Graham continues to come through for the Bengals and adds the eighth field goal of the game, a 42 yarder, to give the Bengals more of a cushion. 18-12 Cincy with 1:56 to play.
3:53 p.m. -- The Bengals manage the clock beautifully with their running game, only passing once on a 50 yard drive down the field that kills over 4 minutes to bring us to the two minute warning. Field goal try coming up on 4th and 5 for Cincinnati at the Pittsburgh 25.
3:43 p.m. -- The Cincinnati defense comes up big and stops Pittsburgh on three consecutive plays. They'll take over at their own 21 with 6:16 to play.
3:38 p.m. -- The Bengals string together a 9 play 50 yard drive but stall short of the endzone again. Shayne Graham puts another field goal through, this time a 32 yarder, to put Cincinnati in front 15-12. Cincinnati continues to run the ball even though they are without Cedric Benson and averaging just 2.7 yards per carry. But it seems Marvin Lewis knows what he's doing and hopefully this time, the lead will stick. 7:15 to play in the game.
3:26 p.m. -- Ben Roethlisberger runs a quarterback sneak to pick up a yard on 4th and 1 to keep the Steelers drive alive, but a holding call on the very next play against the Steelers left guard Chrris Kemoeatu sets them back the 21. Pittsburgh couldn't recover from the penalty and they settle for another field goal, a 34 yarder by Jeff Reed that ties the game 12-12 with 11:20 to go. Bengals defense looking just good enough to keep this one within reach.
Three ties and three lead changes so far.
3:18 p.m. -- The Steelers have made their way to the Bengals 21 yard line as the third quarter comes to a close. Hopefully the Bengals will continue their tough redzone play and keep Pittsburgh at bay.
12-9 Bengals through three.
3:12 p.m. -- Palmer gets wrapped up in the backfield on a 3rd and 3 by multiple Steelers, hit first by Lamar Woodley. Bengals go 3 and out and have to punt from their own 2 yard line. 1st and 10 for Pittsburgh at the 50 after a good punt by Kevin Huber
.
3:08 p.m. -- Solid defensive play from the Bengals forces a short four play drive and another Pittsburgh punt. It's obvious Roethlisberger is rattled by the constant Cincy pressure. Cincinnati won't start with very good field position this time however, 1st and 10 from their own 7 with 5:01 to play in the third.
3:03 p.m. -- The Bengals start with good field position again at their own 47, but still can't reach that endzone. After a 7 play, 39 yard drive, Shayne Graham hits a 32 yard field goal to give Cincinnati the lead 12-9
.
2:55 p.m. -- Bengals defensive pressure on Roethlisberger continues, Steelers go 3 and out. 9:27 left in the 3rd quarter.
2:50 p.m. -- Shayne Graham hits a 23 yard field goal to tie the game, 9-9. Easy points off the turnover. 11:19 to play in the third quarter. It was also reported that Cedric Benson is not expected
to return to the game with the hip injury.
2:45 p.m. -- A pass to Hines Ward was deflected and Frostee Rucker
comes up with an interception on the play. Bengals ball 1st and 10 at the Pittsburgh 14.
Good start to the second half.
2:30 p.m. -- Halftime at Heinz Field, Steelers lead 9-6. Penalties have hurt the Bengals, 6 for 86 yards in total, but they haven't given up any big plays thus far, holding Pittsburgh to 3 field goals. The Cincinnati defense wound up with 4 sacks in the first half, a sign of good pressure on the Steelers passing attack, pressure the Bengals will hope they can keep up. It's the offense that needs to step up in the second half to get this game under control. Dennis Janson, our WCPO sports reporter, is in Pittsburgh and noted that Carson Palmer is throwing off his back foot, which means his passes are going high, examples of which are evident by Palmer's overthrowing of Chad Ochocinco twice deep over the middle. The Bengals have to protect Palmer better in the second half if they hope to get any offense going.
2:27 p.m. -- A Robert Geathers sack sets the Steelers back to a desperate 3rd and goal from the 17. Roethlisberger can't connect with Holmes in the corner of the endzone. Jeff Reed hits another field goal this time from 35 yards. 9-6 Steelers with 12 seconds to play in the half. The Bengals defense looks like rubber with all the bending they are doing.
2:23 p.m. -- The Steelers put two straight first downs together off of Roethlisberger's arm, 1st and goal at the 8 yard line with :59 to play
in the half.
Timeout Pittsburgh.
2:22 p.m. -- Chinedum Ndukwe got called for pass interference on Mike Wallace 44 yards from the Pittsburgh line of scrimmage. They now sit at the Cincinnati 30 with 1:44 to play.
2:13 p.m. -- With any good news, there is usually bad news. Cedric Benson is reported to have a strained hip and is visibly bothered by it on the field. The coaches on the sideline don't look optimistic about it either. The Bengals go 3 and out. Pittsburgh takes over with 2:52 to go in the half.
2:10 p.m. -- The Bengals finally get to Roethlisberger for a sack on 3rd down and yet again bend but don't break. Pittsburgh settles for another field goal, this time a 33 yarder by Jeff Reed. 9 play, 31 yard drive for the Steelers. Tie game with 4:13 to go in the half, 6-6. Let's hope that missed extra point doesn't come back to haunt us.
2:02 p.m. -- The Steelers field a Cincinnati punt very well, returning it back to their 48 yard line, too short of a field for this tough Pittsburgh offense. Roethlisberger continues to escape the Bengal pass rush, stringing close call passes together. Cincinnati has had its hands on three Roethlisberger passes this drive, but somehow Pittsburgh keeps coming up with the right plays.
1st and goal for Pittsburgh with under 5 minutes to play in the 2nd.
1:44 p.m. -- Troy Polamalu was just reported to have tweaked his knee and is doubtful to return to the game. Good news for the Bengals.
1:36 p.m. -- Bernard Scott just made a statement on a 96 yard kickoff return for a touchdown. He fielded the ball at the 4 on a bounce, which could have been a questionable decision had he not cut back across the field through the Pittsburgh kicking team, past a desperate Jeff Reed and into the endzone for 6. A botched snap on the extra point leaves the Bengals short a point, 6-3 Cincinnati.
1:33 p.m. -- The Steelers answer right back, with a commanding rushing attack up the middle. The Bengals defense bends, but doesn't break and gains a moral victory by holding Pittsburgh to a Jeff Reed 28 yard field goal. 3-0 Steelers.
1:20 p.m. -- The Bengals drove commandingly down field to start this game off, stringing passes to the outside together, but came up just short when Shayne Graham hit the right upright on a 51 yard field goal attempt. Good start for the offense though.
