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PASSING OFFENSE, A-minus: Jon Kitna was 22-of-39 passing for 298 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. The offensive line allowed just one sack against an aggressive Steelers front seven. Chad Johnson had another big day with 154 yards. Kitna's 20-yard touchdown pass to tight end Matt Schobel was perfectly executed. But the Bengals missed on four consecutive passes with a first down on the Pittsburgh 5.

RUSHING OFFENSE, C-minus: Corey Dillon had 60 rushing yards and two touchdowns against the league's fifth-ranked rush defense. But that was it.

PASS DEFENSE: D-minus: Kordell Stewart hadn't played in two months, but he missed just four passes in 26 attempts. The Bengals had just one sack. Hines Ward beat Kevin Kaesviharn for a 64-yard touchdown on a short out pass, and strong safety JoJuan Armour had a 44-yard pass-interference penalty against Plaxico Burress on a trick-play pass from Antwaan Randle El.

RUSH DEFENSE, B-minus: The Bengals did a good job of stuffing Jerome Bettis for most of the game. Until his 24-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter, the Bengals held Bettis to 55 yards on 21 carries. Wide receiver Ward had a 39-yard run on a reverse, and Stewart got loose for 40 yards on 10 attempts. The Bengals' effort was one of their most productive this season.

SPECIAL TEAMS, C-plus: Brandon Bennett gave the Bengals outstanding field position on kickoff returns. T.J. Houshmandzadeh tried to make up for a fumbled punt with a 44-yard kickoff return that set up the Bengals' last-ditch drive for the attempted tie. But Houshmandzadeh's fumble changed the game. The Bengals had a 21-20 lead, and even though the Bengals' defense held, Pittsburgh got a 45-yard field goal from rookie Jeff Reed for a 23-21 lead.

COACHING, D: Coach Dick LeBeau actually scolded his players after they fell behind 14-0. Whatever he said worked. The Bengals outplayed the Steelers for the last two-plus quarters. But LeBeau's lack of faith in kicker Neil Rackers was curious. LeBeau passed up 47-yard field-goal attempts in the first and third quarters. LeBeau's decisions put the Bengals on their heels and sent the attitude that he is trying not to lose instead of trying to win. The pooch punt, which LeBeau ordered from Rackers in the third quarter, should be ripped from the playbook.

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