Sunday Rewind: Steelers cage upstart Bengals in 2005 AFC Wild Card
By Brendan Howe
Trading Blows
In his first three drives, Kitna had connected on 13 of 17 throws, advancing 98 yards through the air and scoring a touchdown.
Refusing to be shown up, Roethlisberger lifted the Steelers offense. Down 17-7, from his 25-yard-line, he dropped back from under center, pump-faked, and launched the ball to Cedrick Wilson for a 54-yard gain on the series’ second snap. The next play, he zipped it to Antwaan Randle El for another 15 yards.
As Nantz and Phil Simms introduced the CBS audience to Jerome Bettis’ parents two plays later, the burly tailback pulled in a pitch from Roethlisberger and set up to pass. The ball fell short of a wide-open Heath Miller in the endzone and the Bus kneeled, shaking his head in grief. Roethlisberger atoned for Bettis’ wayward toss the play after, firing a short touchdown to Hines Ward.
The 23-year-old Roethlisberger had begun the game passing for 127 yards and two touchdowns.