By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

In Game 6, the Bengals had to adjust to the pocket-passing style of Steelers quarterback Tommy Maddox. Now, with Maddox sidelined with head and spinal cord injuries, the Bengals will see the more familiar, running ways of Kordell Stewart. He will return to the lineup for Sunday's rematch at Pittsburgh.

Maddox replaced Stewart during the Steelers' third game, a 16-13 overtime victory over Cleveland.

STEWART vs. BENGALS

Kordell Stewart will be making his first start as Steelers quarterback since Sept. 29. But he is a familiar face to the Bengals. Here's how he has fared in nine career starts vs. Cincinnati: • Record: 5-4 • Statistics: 112-for-209 passing for 1,309 yards, 10 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He also has run for 340 yards on 42 carries and three TDs.

Maddox threw for 16 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in eight games, leading the Steelers to a 4-2-1 record in seven starts. Maddox had one of his worst games in the Steelers' 34-7 victory over the Bengals on Oct. 13 at Paul Brown Stadium. He was 16-for-25 passing for 216 yards, one touchdown pass and two interceptions. He also was sacked twice.

Stewart has the added dimension of running and is harder to sack. But both quarterbacks are threats.

"It would be different if one was good and one was terrible," Bengals defensive end Justin Smith said, "but they're both pretty good. We're going to have our hands full."

Stewart has over 2,400 career rushing yards in eight seasons. He had a single-game career high 103 rushing yards against the Bengals on Oct. 11, 1998.

Stewart is just one of three extremely versatile skilled players on the Steelers offense. Wide receivers Antwaan Randle El and Hines Ward both were college quarterbacks and also can run and throw.

"They've got all their tricks, reverses and pitch passes, but you don't prepare overly for Tommy scrambling out of there and plays designed for him to run," Bengals coach Dick LeBeau said. "They will have those types of plays in for Kordell. It's another weapon in their arsenal. If he gets the ball, he's about just like another running back in there."

Ward has rushed six times for a 12.5-yard average. Randle El has run 13 times for an 8.4-yard average.

The Steelers also expect to have tailback Jerome Bettis back from a knee injury. He's probable. In 13 games against the Bengals, Bettis has rushed for 1,387 yards and nine touchdowns. He had 109 yards and two touchdowns in the first game this season.

But Stewart is the most unpredictable runner on the team. He can take off on designed runs or scramble when receivers are covered.

"When you play a team that has so many gadgets and so many plays, you've got to play sound football, sound technique," Bengals defensive lineman Bernard Whittington said. "You have to line up and play the scheme, you can't cowboy it on your own."

Stewart was a Pro Bowl quarterback in 2001 and was third in voting for league MVP. He threw for 3,109 yards and 14 touchdowns and ran for another 537 yards and five touchdowns.

In relief of Maddox last week at Tennessee, Stewart was 13-for-17 passing for 124 yards and two touchdowns; he ran for 11 yards on one attempt.

"I was OK. It was a situation where I had to get in. I had no choice," Stewart said. "So when you're paying attention and you're trying your best to stay in the game, you know the best thing you can do is go out perform the way I did.

"The worst thing you could do is stink the joint up even worse or just stink it up period. So that being the case, I was prepared I was ready and it was just a matter of me having to go in there and just execute."

E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com

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