Bengals win battle 18-12
Cincinnati drops Pittsburgh to move to 7-2, first place in AFC North
November 15, 2009, 4:29 p.m.
STAFF REPORT
The Bengals topped the Steelers for the second time this season, moving to 5-0 in the AFC North and extending their winning streak to three with an 18-12 win in Pittsburgh on Sunday.
With the win, the Bengals improved to 7-2 and in sole possession of first place ahead of the 6-3 Steelers, who had their five-game winning streak snapped.
There were no offensive touchdowns in the game. The Bengals scored the only touchdown of the game on a 96-yard kickoff return in the first quarter.
Shayne Graham kicked field goals of 23, 32, 32 and 43 yards - all in the second half.
Carson Palmer finished the game 18-of-30 with 178 yards and no interceptions. Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was 20-of-40 for 174 yards and one interception.
Steelers defensive back Troy Polamalu and Bengals running back Cedric Benson both left the game early with injuries.
In Week 3 in Cincinnati, a last-minute touchdown pass from Carson Palmer to Andre Caldwell gave the Bengals a thrilling 23-20 victory against the Steelers.
The Steelers had won five of the past six meetings between the teams.
The Bengals had not beaten the Steelers in consecutive games since 1998.
It was the first home loss against an AFC North opponent for Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, who entered the game with a 7-0 record at home against the division.