By Mark Curnutte and Kevin Kelly
Enquirer staff writers

PITTSBURGH - Carson Palmer had the Steelers defense exactly where he wanted it.

PHOTO GALLERY

Photos from Sunday's game

He had a first down-and-10 on his 20-yard line. He had one timeout and the two-minute warning remaining.

He needed a touchdown to win.

Then, on the first play, Palmer threw right for wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh. Steelers safety Troy Polamalu stepped in front and returned the ball 26 yards for the final touchdown in a 28-17 Pittsburgh victory Sunday.

"It's the situation you want to be in as an offense and as a quarterback," Palmer said, "and I just didn't take advantage."

Palmer threw one more interception, a ball that bounced off Kelley Washington to Chad Scott, on the next possession. Palmer finished with 164 yards and one touchdown.

WEEK 4 SNAPSHOT

Looking good Run offense. Rudi Johnson gained several of his 123 rushing yards after contact. The offensive line also had good push into the Steelers front seven to produce the best rushing game since Week 14 last year. Punt coverage. Kyle Larson pinned the Steelers inside their 20-yard line on four of his six punts. The cover team also limited Antwaan Randle El to six yards on two returns, contributing to the Bengals' 6-yard edge in average drive start. Bye week. Every team says its bye week comes at the right time. It's never been truer than for the 2004 Bengals. The Bengals should get several key players back in time for the Oct. 17 game at Cleveland. Problem areas Run defense. Honest, the Bengals seemed to play well against the run. They "held" the Steelers to 165 yards on the ground. The Bengals have allowed 663 rushing yards on 128 carries, a 5.2-yard average. Turnovers. The Bengals committed three and forced two. They were minus-1 against the Steelers. They are minus in all three losses and were plus 2 in the victory against Miami. Start. Coach Marvin Lewis wanted a fast start. Instead, he gets a replay of 2003 at 1-3. Talk in the locker room was about "digging out" from the start and getting on a winning streak. The turnaround in 2003 was impressive. It's going to be a challenge to repeat. --Mark Curnutte

After four games, he is 84-for-154 passing for 875 yards, three touchdowns and seven interceptions.

"It's a painful loss," he said. "This one is going to hurt a while, and we need to get over it. We have a week to do it."

Palmer was the first overall pick of the 2003 draft, and Polamalu was the 16th. They lived together in college at Southern Cal.

BAD CALL: Officials flagged Bengals cornerback Tory James for pass interference in the end zone in the fourth quarter - a clearly blown call. James had inside position against Steelers wide receiver Plaxico Burress and appeared to knock the ball down.

Burress pushed James in the back with his right hand.

The call came on a second-and-15 play from the Bengals 22-yard line. Tailback Jerome Bettis scored one play after the call from the 1 to give the Steelers a 21-17 lead.

"Even after talking to Plaxico, he agreed with me," James said. "I don't know what the referee saw. (Burress) almost pushed me down. It's like I'm going up for the ball and I'm out of the play, and they call it on me. I just tried to do what I could do. He had already climbed on top of me."

Said Bengals coach Marvin Lewis, "It is an unfortunate call. I can't fault Tory James for anything he did there."

PERRY PLAYS: First-round draft pick Chris Perry, who was active but did not play in Weeks 2 and 3, caught two passes for 24 yards against the Steelers.

"I was happy to get in," Perry said. "You're always happy to play."

Both of Perry's receptions came on second down. His first catch, an 11-yarder in the first quarter, contributed to the Bengals' first scoring drive of the game.

"I guess (coaches) saw some weaknesses that they could exploit," Perry said, "and we did it."

D-CLEMONS: Defensive end Duane Clemons forced one fumble and recorded the Bengals' only sack of Pittsburgh rookie quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

Clemons was awarded the sack - his first this season - after a 57-yard completion from Roethlisberger to Burress was challenged and overturned with 8:57 left in the first quarter. With the Bengals protecting a 17-14 lead in the third quarter, Clemons stripped Steelers running back Duce Staley of the football. Safety Madieu Williams recovered with 7:17 left in the quarter.

IN-GAME INJURIES: Bengals cornerback Rashad Bauman and strong safety Rogers Beckett left the game in the first quarter and did not return.

Bauman suffered an undisclosed head injury. Beckett, who sustained a concussion in Week 1 and was inactive against the Dolphins and Ravens, experienced double vision after a blow to the head.

STREAK ENDS: When fullback Jeremi Johnson scored on a 2-yard pass from Carson Palmer with 8:36 remaining in the first quarter, it marked the Bengals' first offensive touchdown since Chad Johnson scored with 6:28 left in the season opener against the Jets.

The drought covered 31 offensive possessions without a touchdown.

FOOT BALL: Punter Kyle Larson continues to kick well. Before the half, he pinned the Steelers at their 8-yard line with a high, 35-yard punt. He dropped four of his six punts inside the 20, and one hit inside the 5 that hopped into the end zone for a touchback.

AN EVEN 40: The loss Sunday dropped the Bengals' record in October to 10-40 since the start of the 1991 season. The Bengals were 2-1 in October 2003. The Bengals are now 21-81 in pre-Nov. 1 games during their 13-year playoff drought.

COWHER POWER: Steelers coach Bill Cowher is 18-7 in 12-plus seasons against the Bengals, his best mark against any team.

BUS STOP: Bettis' two touchdown runs Sunday give him 16 for his career against the Bengals.

Bettis has been efficient this year. He has 18 carries for 22 yards and five rushing touchdowns.

Return to Bengals front page...