5 Wild Card games the Steelers won’t soon forget

Wounded tigers fall victim to streaking Steelers

On the ground, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer reached for his left knee, squirming in anguish. Just two plays into his team’s first playoff game in over 15 seasons, Marvin Lewis was without his franchise cornerstone.

The injury served to inspire the Bengals, who, even without their first-overall draft pick and Heisman-winning triggerman, hurried to a 10-0 lead. Early in the second stanza, Willie Parker hauled in a touchdown pass to get his team on the scoreboard and, minutes later, T.J. Houshmandzadeh pushed Cincy’s advantage back to ten. The touchdown would be the hosts’ last points of the evening.

Pittsburgh had worked back within three points by the intermission. In the second half, the Bengals’ special teams unit did themselves no favors, bungling a field goal attempt and hooking a punt.

Then in his second pro season, Ben Roethlisberger and his offense made the most of the opportunity. Burly running back Jerome Bettis, in what would end up being the game’s go-ahead score, rumbled past the goal line with 5:12 left in the third quarter. “The Bus” paced the Steelers in rushing for the day, racking up 52 yards on 10 gives.

In all, Roethlisberger showed improvement as compared to his play in the previous year’s postseason. He completed 14 of 19 throws for 208 yards and three scores.

With the win at Paul Brown Stadium, Pittsburgh reclaimed divisional rule. Almost a month later, the Steelers would reign supreme in the Motor City.