Sports feeds
E-mail sports alerts
DDN sports mobile
Sports TwitterBengals score early, then watch Steelers roll
Friday, November 21, 2008
Steelers running back Carey Davis runs past Bengals linebacker Brandon Johnson (59) for a first down in the second quarter Thursday, Nov. 20, in Pittsburgh.PITTSBURGH — Neither wind nor snow nor bitter cold was going to stop the Pittsburgh Steelers from making their appointed rounds.
They dispatched the Cincinnati Bengals quickly and easily 27-10 Thursday night, Nov. 20, in front of 59,854 spectators at Heinz Field by using a methodical, ball-hog mentality to push their record to 8-3 and send the Bengals reeling to their ninth loss in 11 games.
And wide receiver Chad Ocho Cinco wasn't here to play in the game or witness it in person.
He was deactivated for violating an undisclosed team rule and sent back to Cincinnati on a morning flight, while Jerome Simpson was flown in to take his place.
Brad Johansen, the radio play-by-play "Voice of the Bengals," said on WCKY-AM that Ocho Cinco told him that he overslept for an 8:30 p.m. meeting Wednesday.
ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported Ocho Cinco was 45 minutes late to the meeting and "he and coach Marvin Lewis then got into a verbal disagreement."
"Chad is very disappointed that he's not playing, but he respects Coach Lewis and the team's decision," agent Drew Rosenhaus told ESPN. "He's not going to make this a controversy or a circus. We're going to keep this in-house between ourself and the team. He's got five more games to go. This is unfortunate that he's not playing. Chad lives to play."
The Bengals struck for a 7-0 lead on Ryan Fitzpatrick's 10-yard touchdown pass to Glenn Holt at 3:08 of the first quarter. It was the first reception of the season for Holt.
Hines Ward's 37-yard reception on a crossing route set up Heath Miller's 3-yard TD catch from former Miami University star Ben Roethlisberger to tie the score in the second quarter.
Roethlisberger scored on an 8-yard run, and Gary Russell's first career TD came on a 2-yard run as the Steelers smashed the Bengals in the second half 17-3 and capped the victory with a Troy Polamalu interception at Pittsburgh's 2-yard line in the final minute.
"That's their game," Fitzpatrick said. "They try to make sure that you're uncomfortable back there. And with their rush, and how hard they come sometimes, it's uncomfortable. You've just got to make (quick) decisions and get the ball out."
Star of the game
Steelers wide receiver Santonio Holmes caught five passes for 84 yards (16.8) with a long gain of 27. But he suffered a blow to the head on a hit from safety Chris Rocker in the third quarter.
Goat of the game
Bengals wide receiver Chad Ocho Cinco's deactivation ends his streak of 113 consecutive games played. However, his streak of 102 straight games with at least one reception remains alive.
Turning point
As usual, the third quarter. Bengals were outscored, 10-0, in that 15-minute stretch. They've scored 20 points in the third quarter in 11 games.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2253 or cludwig@DaytonDailyNews.com
.
