• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Steelers look to maintain dominance of Bengals

Nov 18, 2008 - 4:54 PM CINCINNATI (1-8-1) AT PITTSBURGH (7-3), 8:15 pm EST

PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- Even when it comes to making history, the Pittsburgh Steelers managed to one-up the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Steelers look to maintain their slim lead atop the AFC North when they host the Bengals on Thursday night.

Both teams were involved in a pair of NFL oddities this past weekend. The Bengals played to a 13-13 tie with the Philadelphia Eagles - the first stalemate in the league since the Steelers tied the Atlanta Falcons on November 10, 2002.

However, Pittsburgh had a game - or at least a final score - for the ages with its 11-10 victory over the San Diego Chargers.

It was the first game in league history to be decided by that score, which was magnified after an apparent Steelers' touchdown on the final play of the game was overturned upon video review.

The officiating call did not affect the outcome but it did set off a firestorm of publicity, resulting in a swing of $64 million in wagering due to the late reversal.

Cincinnati could use a similar reversal in its series with the Steelers. The Bengals have lost 10 of the last 13 against Pittsburgh and were mauled, 38-10, in the season's first meeting on October 19.

However, in what has been an otherwise disastrous campaign, Cincinnati has played fairly well the past two games, picking up their first win with a 21-19 victory over Jacksonville prior to the deadlock with the Eagles.

Shayne Graham missed a 47-yard field goal with seven seconds left in overtime that could have sent the Bengals into Sunday's game with a modest two-game winning streak.

"Today I think we really showed we're the best 1-8 team I've ever seen," Cincinnati safety Chris Crocker said. "Hey, we're a good team, regardless of the record."

Pittsburgh snapped a two-game losing streak with the victory over the Chargers. Jeff Reed provided the winning margin with a 32-yard field goal with 11 seconds to play.

Although Ben Roethlisberger failed to throw a touchdown pass, he finished 31-of-41 for 308 yards and averted costly mistakes. Roethlisberger had throw eight interceptions in his previous three games.

"It was time for me to do it," Roethlisberger said. "I don't like to say it's time for us to do it because some of those guys have been doing it all year. It was time for me to step up and make some plays."

Willie Parker, playing in just his second game in nearly two months, rushed for 115 yards on 25 carries - his third 100-yard outing this season.

Parker sat out the earlier meeting against Cincinnati, but Mewelde Moore picked up the slack, rushing for 120 yards and a pair of touchdowns.