Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Steelers-Bengals photo gallery

Rush offense, D: Corey Dillon got into the end zone on a 2-yard run. The Bengals did gain 78 yards and six first downs on the ground, but they can't really run when falling behind 31-0 within the first minute of the second half.

Pass offense, F: Jon Kitna threw three interceptions and was sacked five times. Enough said.

Rush defense, F: The Steelers had 211 rushing yards, 109 by Jerome Bettis, his first 100-yard effort in nine games. The Bengals' front seven couldn't solve Pittsburgh misdirection runs, and wide receivers Antwaan Randle El and Hines Ward had 24- and 20-yard runs.

Pass defense, F: The Bengals had two interceptions, but Tommy Maddox completed every big pass when he needed it. His play-action, 36-yard completion to Plaxico Burress on the first drive froze the line and faked out the secondary. Burress had 149 receiving yards.

Special teams, F: As if 24-0 at halftime wasn't bad enough, the Bengals lost all hope when Randle El retuned the second-half kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown. Neil Rackers was short on a 46-yard field-goal attempt into a strong wind.

Coaching, F: Dick LeBeau and some of his assistants would have been fired by now in most NFL cities. The Bengals fell behind 31-0. They've also trailed 21-0 and 20-0 (three times). The team simply isn't ready to play. LeBeau is a gentleman and a hard worker, but, to use coach-speak, "He's not getting it done."

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