By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

PITTSBURGH - Think the Paul Brown Stadium field is bad? The playing surface at Heinz Field is worse, acknowledged widely as the worst in the NFL.

Whole areas of Heinz Field were reduced to dirt Sunday even before the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Bengals 29-21.

The stadium hosted four high school football playoff games on Friday. It showed, as the field's poor condition affected footing throughout Sunday's game.

"The field is horrible," Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson said. "Us running full speed and trying to get out of a break is harder than (defenders) just shuffling and trying to get out of their break."

The field was rolled before warm-ups. And, at halftime, a local high school band was not allowed to march while rollers again flattened the soil.

"It's basically sand," said Bengals defensive end Justin Smith. "Both teams played on it, so you really can't say it was unfair to one or the other. But we want a good field."

Bengals linebacker Takeo Spikes said it reminded him of Paul Brown Stadium in its first season.

"Just dirt," he said.

After the game, workers scraped up what remained of the grass. New sod was to be laid this week.

The Steelers are considering installing artificial turf next season.

KICKED OFF

Bengals running back Brandon Bennett appeared to suffer an injury related to the playing surface.

On his 52-yard kickoff return to open the second half, Bennett hyperextended his right knee while trying to make a cut. He will have an MRI in Cincinnati and is listed as questionable for Sunday's home game against the Baltimore Ravens.

Bennett averaged 32.3 yards on four returns against the Steelers. In the past three games, he has returned 15 kickoffs for 530 yards (35.3-yard average) and one touchdown.

Sunday marked Bennett's third game in a row with a return of 50-plus yards.

"I'm just trying to make plays, give us a good starting point, trying to shorten the field," he said.

Bennett's kickoff-return average for the season is 26.1 yards. The Bengals' average drive Sunday started at the 35-yard line.

INJURY REPORT

Bennett is the only new injury listed from Sunday's game.

Holdover injuries are center Rich Braham (ankle) and defensive end Vaughn Booker (rib cage strain) as probable. Booker was inactive for the Steelers game, and Bernard Whittington started in his place at left end.

JoJuan Armour also was a last-minute replacement in the starting lineup at strong safety in place of rookie Marquand Manuel.

FALLING BEHIND

The Steelers scored first on Jerome Bettis' 1-yard run, making it the eighth time in 11 games the Bengals have allowed the other team to score first.

Sunday also marked the sixth time in 11 games that the Bengals have fallen behind by 17 or more points before scoring.

Pittsburgh scored the first three times it had the ball and led 17-0 before Corey Dillon's 10-yard TD run.

OLD BOSS

Bengals coach Dick LeBeau is now 1-5 against the Steelers. LeBeau was Pittsburgh's defensive backs coach and defensive coordinator in the early and mid-1990s for coach Bill Cowher.

KITNA ROLLS

Bengals quarterback Jon Kitna was 22-of-39 passing for 298 yards and one touchdown. In the past five games, he is 106-of-160 for 1,286 yards, 10 touchdown passes and three interceptions.

SACKS

Defensive tackle Tony Williams had one sack, his fourth this season, to take the team lead. The Bengals have 13 sacks in 11 games after getting 48 in 16 games last season.

STEELERS STUFF

Pittsburgh quarterback Kordell Stewart, making his first start since Sept.29, was 22-of-26 passing for 236 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. He had a 117.3 passer rating....

The victory moved the Steelers to 6-4-1, maintaining their half-game lead over the Cleveland Browns, who defeated the Saints in New Orleans....

Steelers rookie kicker Jeff Reed was good on field goals from 33, 43 and 45 yards and was short from 51. He missed one of three extra points.

Reed's 45-yarder gave the Steelers a 23-21 lead with 4:54 remaining.

"I didn't think what the score was," said Reed, signed Tuesday after veteran kicker Todd Peterson was put on injured reserve with a cracked rib. "The way I look at it, it's a kick."

E-mail: mcurnutte@enquirer.com

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