Sunday Rewind: Steelers cage upstart Bengals in 2005 AFC Wild Card
By Brendan Howe
Setting the Stage
The division-champion team in tiger stripes was led by Carson Palmer, a Heisman-winning passer who in his 3rd campaign as a pro paced the league in passing touchdowns and completion percentage—a fraction higher than the Colts’ Peyton Manning and, yes, even Buffalo’s Kelly Holcomb.
Third-year head coach Marvin Lewis, known also as the coordinator of the Baltimore Ravens’ vaunted Super Bowl XXXV-champion defense, was donning the headset for his first postseason game in such a role. His attack placed 6th in the league in total offense and within the top five in passing offense and scoring.
Inhabiting the sideline opposite of Palmer and Lewis were Ben Roethlisberger and Bill Cowher, who the Bengals’ head coach had once worked under. Roethlisberger sought to better the 61.3 passer rating he posted during his rookie postseason. Cowher hoped to win his first-ever road playoff game as he and his Steelers were commencing their tenth postseason run together. Dick LeBeau, Lewis’ predecessor in Cincinnati, acted as Pittsburgh’s defensive coordinator.
LeBeau’s unit, led by James Farrior, Chris Hope, and Troy Polamalu, ranked 4th in team defense, 3rd in rushing defense, and 4th in scoring defense.
In the pregame, Joey Porter—as Joey Porter is wont to do—jawed back and forth with Cincinnati’s half of the field. Chad Johnson, the conference’s leading wideout, fraternized with tailgaters.