Monday, November 29, 1999

Bengals get taste of what could've been

27-20 win over Steelers boosts record to 2-9

BY PAUL DAUGHERTY
The Cincinnati Enquirer

[gilbride]
Steelers offensive co-ordinator Kevin Gilbride, left, smiles as he talks with Bengals quarterback Jeff Blake.
(AP photo)
| ZOOM |
        PITTSBURGH — Rodney Heath was not going to drop this one. He wasn't going to let this one get away. Brian Simmons tipped Kordell Stewart's pass, and the ball floated straight to the Bengals' rookie cornerback.

        “It was just hanging there,” said Heath, a Western Hills High grad. “I said, "Let me just snatch this out of the air, and make up for what I didn't do last week.'”

        Heath's 58-yard touchdown on an interception return gave the Bengals an early 21-3 lead and helped set up Sunday's 27-20 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Bengals improved to 2-10 and, for a week at least, quieted some of their critics.

        Baltimore beat the Bengals last week after Heath dropped what would have been a game-clinching interception with 11 seconds to play. On Sunday at Three Rivers Stadium, Heath made the play.

        It was that kind of day, finally, for the beleaguered Bengals.

        “As soon as I got it, I knew nobody was going to catch me,” Heath said.

        The Steelers never caught the Bengals on Sunday.

        Cincinnati led 24-3 in the first half, then held off the Steelers.

        The offense rolled up 415 yards, its second-best total of the year. Jeff Blake bombed the Steelers early, throwing a 76-yard TD to Darnay Scott on the game's third play. Corey Dillon bludgeoned Pittsburgh late, grinding out 71 of his 120 yards in the second half.

        Meanwhile, the defense allowed no points after the Steelers scored to start the second half.

        With the win came some regret, too. As Dillon said, “If we came out the whole year and played like we did today, our record would be a whole lot better.”

        But when you're the Bengals, owners of the worst record of the '90s, every win is to be savored.

        “It's a good feeling,” said Dillon. “I can sleep tonight.”

       


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