Big Ben, Steelers Cruise To Win Over Hapless Bengals

November 21, 2008 6:30 a.m. EST

Pittsburgh, PA (AHN) - Ben Roethlisberger threw for 243 yards with a touchdown before letting the defense do its work as the Pittsburgh Steelers ground the Cincinnati Bengals to bits in a 27-10 win Thursday night at Heinz Field.

Roethlisberger did just enough at home, completing 17-of-30 passes without a pick or a sack. His solitary touchdown-a three-yard connection-in the first quarter to Heath Miller helped the Steelers pull even 7-all.

The stellar defense, with some help from Pittsburgh's frigid weather then clamped down Ryan Fitzpatrick and the Bengals' inept offense.

Without Chad Ocho Cinco, the Steelers limited T.J. Houshmandzadeh to just four catches for 20 yards. Pittsburgh held Cincinnati to 165 yards receiving and another 43 on the ground.

Fitzpatrick's 10-yard touchdown pass to Glenn Holt put the Bengals ahead early 7-0.

The visitors would not get another scoring opportunity until Shayne Graham's 26-yard field goal made it 20-10 with under seven minutes left in the fourth period.

Jeff Reed made two consecutive field goals-one from 37 yards and the other at 38-bridging the second and third periods.

Pittsburgh's victory, its fifth straight against its division rival, gave the Steelers a 1 ?-game lead over Baltimore, which hosts Philadelphia Sunday afternoon.

The win, their second in a row since last week's historic 11-10 decision over San Diego, also enabled the Steelers to steel clear of everyone else for the second bye slot in the AFC playoffs.

At 8-3, Pittsburgh's closest chaser to the incentive is the New York Jets (7-3), who takes the latest crack at stopping Tennessee's unbeaten run at 10 games Sunday.

Mewelde Moore rushed 15 times for 56 yards and Willie Parker had 14 carries for 37 yards. Santonio Holmes caught five passes for 84 yards.

Cedric Benson ran for 35 yards and tight end Reggie Kelly added 41 yards on the air for the Bengals, who were coming off a bizarre tied game with Philadelphia last weekend.

Cincinnati also dropped to 1-9-1, the second-worst mark in the AFC behind Kansas City's 1-9 slate.

The Bengals face Baltimore next week with the Steelers visiting New England also on the same day.