In their opening-night win over the Titans, the defending Super Bowl champs found a way to overcome the team that had generated the best record in the 2008 regular season.
Since then, the Steelers and the Titans are a combined 0-4.
Pittsburgh dropped a game in Cincinnati today that, like last week’s loss to the Bears, unfolded with a continuous sense that the Steelers would win.
But after building a 13-0 lead in the first half, the Steelers were outscored 14-0 in the fourth quarter.
And now they’re 1-2.
Meanwhile, the Bengals looked tough and gritty and all of the things that ordinarily aren’t associated with the team that generally has stunk in the 21 years since last making real noise. The game winning drive featured plenty of calm and poise, and it made the Steelers’ defense seem old and slow and desperately in need of safety Troy Polamalu.
Late in the 2005 season, the Bengals beat the Steelers in Pittsburgh, and many thought that Cincinnati and its young franchise quarterback, Carson Palmer, were ready to take over the AFC North. But the Steelers responded by not losing another game en route to the Super Bowl win — and they derailed that young franchise quarterback’s career in the process, via a torn ACL in the postseason rubber match.
This time around, it’s too early to tell whether the Bengals are ready to leapfrog the Steelers. But the reality is that both teams are now chasing the team that is arguably the new king of the division.
The Ravens.
In two weeks, the Bengals get their shot at the bullies from Baltimore.
Meanwhile, the Browns need to come to grips that they still have five games left against their three home-and-home rivals.
a 4 year old could you tell the Steelers lost that game as much as the Bengals won it
That was not an impressive win by the Bengals. It was a pathetic loss by the Steelers and Tomlin
Tomlin lost that game. The 3 bonus points before the half really came in handy.
@Fat Pat in Philly
Good teams find ways to win yes the steelers Dominated the first half but the Bengals made plays when it mattered and came back to win it…
Past years bengals would have been dead starting 13-0 but they didn’t give up and earned the win.
Save it Pat. Both teams played bad, but look who came out on top? 2-1. Should be undefeated and have played 3 good teams (Broncos are 3-0 now)
Who dey!
Nothing new here. BAL is always the best in the AFC North when they’re healthy. That hasn’t been the case for 2 years, but hopefully will be this year.
The weakness for BAL will still be the secondary, but mostly because the new starting CBs aren’t near the caliber of the previous starting crew.
The Bengals are much better than most people thought. Without a fluke play in week 1 they would be 3-0 too.
How bout dem BENGALS!
Steelers=OVERRATED
WHO DEY!
It was Ugly.
It was a Win.
Didn’t see the game, but could tell from Pre-Season game against the Pats that the Bengals defense was going to be different this year. and that Benson is back to being the beast he was in college.
Huge win for the Bengals. First time they have beaten Roethlisberger in Cincinatti. The Bengals are for real, they are a rediculous game ending tipped pass from being 3-0. Meanwhile the Steelers still cant run the ball. Looks like the Ravens are the best team in the AFC north and the Bengals very well might be the 2nd best. Bad loss for Pittsburgh, blowing a 13 point lead is bad, they couldn’t generate offense when they needed it, they were flatout dominated in the 4th quarter where the Bengals outscored them 14-0.
Granted, it was not an impressive win for the Bengals but it was a WIN and that’s all that matters. Actually it was a Steeler type win – outplayed but still find a way to pull it out of their lucky ass! Pissburgh should have lost to Tennessee and come to think of it, their last two super bowl wins were the same way!
The Bengals are a good team. Granted I think my Packers could have won the game last week, but the Bengals were stingy. Props to them. Marvin Lewis seems like a good coach.
Changing of the guard?
I want to see more than 3 games to say that.
I’m just glad Ohio isn’t giving the Steelers 4 automatic wins this year.
this is the bengals superbowl
For those saying that this was an unimpressive win by the Bengals are incorrect. Any time a 5 win team knocks off the defending Super Bowl champs it is impressive. I mean just look at all the heat the 49ers have on them by beating Arizona, nobody expected San Fran to compete but they did and won. Impressive I would say.
Anyone who ho-hums this is not a historian of Cincinnati Bengal football. This was H U G E, like Obama.
The Bengals were a worn out nag in the first half and pixie dust turned them into a team Vince Lombardi would be proud of. Lots of execution in the last 15 minutes and a defense that just killed Big Ben in the same time.
This is a new era in the AFC North, for fans of football in Baltimore, Buttspurgh and Cincinnati, its a dream come true.
The defense CHOKED. The run game while productive, choked at the worst times. Big Ben had one bad moment but he played great the rest of the game and deserved better.
Dick Lebeau actually was probably worse than Arians today. Cinci didnt get a positive yardage play until their FOURTH DRIVE. Yet, the defense plays the idiotiuc bend but dont break at the end and still gave up 2 TDs in back to back drives. Not only did that bend dont break fail, it ate up any chance of Big ben having a possible comeback with the slow way the defense gets eaten up and time gets lost.
Nobody has touched on why the Steelers blew that game. Yeah Sweed dropped that easy TD. Yeah the Bengals got over on them with the fake punt, yeah Santonio ran the wrong route which gave the Bengals a gimme TD…..but where is the Steelers pass rush? Last year, the two OLBs were a freakin terror!! This year…..nothing. Teams win championships now with excellent QB play (check), the ability to stop the run (check) and the ability to rush the passer (uhhhhhh….). Without Troy Boy and no pass rush……
Plenty of football left to be played. But they need to finish games like they did all of last year. Credit the Bengals for a Steeler style win…..
# Nick says: September 27, 2009 7:46 PM
Nothing new here. BAL is always the best in the AFC North when they’re healthy. That hasn’t been the case for 2 years, but hopefully will be this year.
I nominate this for the dumbest post ever to be written on PFT.
Where’s Santonio live?
I gotta little yard work to do..
Man ‘o man, cheese in a can sure is some tastey stuff
I’m sorry Bengal fans, you team is not that good.
Also, Steeler fans, welcome to reality. Tomlin lost this game? No, Ben and the defense lost this game.
The Ravens are the cat’s ass in that division.
Ray Lewis put it best. “We aren’t the defense we were, but if the offense gets us points, boy, watch out.”
They might be the best team not only in the division, but the AFC, period.
Before the Steelers – Bears game, my Ravens’ forum was completely overtaken by Steeler trolls just talking trash. Since the Bears game, not ONE SINGLE post from a Steelers’ fan. Not one.
After today’s loss, the Eagles’ fan base just doubled. You and the Browns should have a nice fight for last place though.
It is early, but I can totally understand why there’s talk about “the changing of the guards”. Ravens are looking good and the Steelers aren’t making the plays they need to make. Plain and simple.
Nick says:
September 27, 2009 7:46 PM
Nothing new here. BAL is always the best in the AFC North when they’re healthy. That hasn’t been the case for 2 years, but hopefully will be this year.
The weakness for BAL will still be the secondary, but mostly because the new starting CBs aren’t near the caliber of the previous starting crew.
The Bengals are much better than most people thought. Without a fluke play in week 1 they would be 3-0 too.
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Yeah that’s stupid. The Ravens have been the best in the past two years? You are aware the Steelers won the Super Bowl last year? Are you also aware the Kyle Boller was the Raven’s QB two seasons ago?
The Bengals are better than what people thought, but they let themselves get behind and their long snapper needs to be shot.
Also the Bengal secondary has a glaring weakness in Roy Williams. Roy Williams made that “fluke” play less of a fluke. If Williams actually played the Tampa 2 Zone that was called that play would have never happened. Instead of playing the ball like Crocker and Hall did he went for the hit on Marshall which left Dhani Jones the only man near Stokley which is an obvious mismatch. Roy Williams is an ignorant “heavy hitting” safety who needs to be benched.
One win does not a changing-of-the-guard make.
Still, the Bengals are finding ways to win in spite of their dumb mistakes, and a much-improved defense is keeping us in the game while Palmer tries to regain his rhythm and accuracy.
It’s a big win which most importantly should provide a huge confidence boost and burst that aura of invincibility which has surrounded the Steelers for far too long.
KD
As a Steelers fan, I say congrats to the Bengals. They made the plays when it mattered most. The Steelers did not. The pick six by the Bengals, the dropped TD pass by Sweed and the Farrior allowing the 4th down conversion loomed large. Last year, the Steelers were winning the close ones, this year, not so much. I believe that the ship will be righted soon, but the Ravens and Bengals are looking tough to beat this year.
I must be getting old and senile. I actually enjoyed watching the Bengals fans and players and coaches explode with emotion after beating my Steelers. Long time coming Bengals – hats off – you guys played well. Good luck against the Ravens.
Today is a fine day in the NFL. Its what makes the NFL the best game in USA. Long suffering Cincy Fans got some pay back against the dark side. Good vs Evil. Underdog vs DoberMan.
Doormat vs Shoe.
This was good. This was god for the NFL.
Steelers, it’s over! You’ve been doing it with gifts from the officials for far too long. Baltimore will wear your asses out.
The Bungles won…The Steeler’s lost…..Tomlin needs to start coaching instead of watching the game…
Coach LeB….your not in the hall of fame yet…Start BLITZING AGAIN .
Boys…quit looking at your new rings and start playing Steeler Football!!!
Hopefully this game was a wake up call!!
Congrats Bengals, we’ll see you in a couple of weeks. As far as the squeelers…… AMF!
If Holmes and Sweed can’t get over their dropsies. they’re gonna get Mendenhall’ed
Ravens are extremely dangerous. They are relentless and Flacco may challenge for MVP. The Stealers? hahahahahahahahahahaha
I am not going to say anything bad about either team. I just think that was a heck of a game!
It is what the NFL is all about.
Congratulations to the Bengals for a win. The Bengals made adjustments in the second half and found a way to win. The league should know that the Bengals are no longer Doormats.
The Steelers left points on the field in the first half like 21. Have the Steelers lost their killer instinct? Superbowl hangover? The Steelers played better against the Bengals just not good enough to win.
The Steelers have to learn to win as champions. The Steelers aren’t chasing anyone. The Steelers need to be concentrating on their next opponent.
GO STEELERS!
Anyone who ho-hums this is not a historian of Cincinnati Bengal football. This was H U G E, like Obama. It’s very debatable which side you’re making a case for.
Bengals fan here.
It was a great win for us, granted we did everything to let the Steelers walk all over us in the first half. Pittsburgh shot themselves in the leg too. The Sweed drop was huge.
As far as the changing of the guard please. The Steelers are still the team to beat in the North in my eyes. We were fortunate to have the oppurtunity to take the game from them in the end. Its a Steeler type victory for us, a very ugly win, but a win nonetheless. Baltimore fans can say what they want when there healthy they are the best in the North? What a joke, Baltimore is good every other year they just aren’t consistent. I will also say this, BMore’s d insn’t nearly as good as it has been in previous years, its just not being noticed because everybodys got there heads up the offenses ass. We will see what happens when they play teams that know how to play with them ( Bengals, Steelers). Still respect the Ratbirds though but they haven’t won shit yet so lets now crown there ass just yet.
Oh yeah ……………….WHO DEY!
It’s only week 3 there isn’t a changing of the guard yet! So the Steelers have lost 2 road games… it sucks but it’s not the end of the road. Take care of your games at home and win a couple road games and guess what… in the playoffs to defend the title! Is it just me or is Roethlisberger poised to have a pretty good season, that’s if his receivers don’t drop so many passes! Ravens are good but they have to beat the Steelers to prove it… right now it’s great that they have two late games this year… and by the way cut Limas Sweed… what a bust! They win if he catches the TD pass.
Italian Army Guy, you are old an senile. Quit your crying and whining.
Better yet, go find a Pats story and do your usual trolling.
Good day in the NFL the fair weather steeler hankie wavie know-nothings lost..beautiful day….they will not even be a factor in the NFL this year..done…..overrated all the way around..PLUs a bunch of SC>>GA S that noone could root roor even if they did have teeth..
“Some remarkable feats of problem-solving have been observed in the species, leading to the belief that it is highly intelligent. Over the centuries, it has been the subject of mythology, folklore, art and literature. In many indigenous cultures, including those of Scandinavia, ancient Ireland and Wales, Bhutan, the northwest coast of North America, Siberia and northeast Asia, the Common Raven has been revered as a spiritual figure or god.” I think a good nickname to give a Raven is Ratbird!? Come on people get educated.
Those Bengals are pesky when you give them a little hope.
Back to Isle B before long, but good win.
Sup Frank.
I am a Steelers fan, and we played like shat, Farrior has shown to be absolutely useless, Woodley has found invisibility powers (2 Tackles and 1 asst in 3 games) and Arians’ game plan cannot be covered up by our defense any longer…..Cinci did everything they could to win the game and truly deserved the W, just as much as we deserved the L.
Us Steeler haters are lovin’ every minute of it.
If it weren’t for all those iffy calls Pittsburgh got in the Titan game, they’d be 0-3 themselves…
This is a glaring example of the retarded philosophy that has hurt the Steelers for years. A lot of times they can get away with it, but this was not one of those times. As soon as they get a lead of 2 scores or more they shut down the defense. They go into basically a prevent style. Just worried about a big play making it ridiculously easy for opponents to get 5 to 10 yards per play. It is ridiculous to me that they still do this. Why, when your defense has played great for 45 minutes would you completely change it for the last 15? Any team in the league can pick that D apart if they play patiently.
That said, congrats to the Bengals. They played well, stayed in it and patiently took the 5-10 yards that the Steelers were giving.
Look out paper towel dispensers…Reed missed another one…..
I kept talking about Flacco and steeler fans kept giving me grief…….I love it!!!
Janitors, hide your towel dispensers.
Reed missed another FG!
“There you go Steelers, there you go!”
lol!
bungal fans win something then smack sixburgh
“steeler-hater says: September 28, 2009 2:30 AM
Us Steeler haters are lovin’ every minute of it”
In your case, no doubt. This is what you live for. (no other reason obviously)
I’m guessing you ran out of hand lotion about two hours after the game.
Feel better now?
That thundering boom you heard last night around 7pm was everyone jumping off the bandwagon.
Its hard not to notice that the Bungles and Felons fans think they just won the SB before Septembers is up. Its the same tendency the players of those franchises have to declare their own greatness before they accomplish anything.
I thought Coward left as head coach?
The Steelers were just out coached. Not to take anything away from the Bengals, but the Steelers are so predictable. Get a lead the fourth quarter and run the ball the first 2 downs and throw on 3rd and long.
Rothlisburger was picking them apart for 3 quarters and then get the lead and pull the Bill Coward act. They should fire the offensive coridanator
Great win for the Bengals (from a Steelers fan) – just like the Steelers were winning games last year. Seems like 2006 all over again.
Steelers had plenty of opportunities that should have made that last drive pointless.
-Score a TD on their first drive of the game, instead, stymied at the one.
-Field goal instead of touchdown after the long pass to Wallace.
-Dropping their guard and giving up three at the half.
-Santonio runs the correct route.
-Sweed makes the catch
-Don’t get caught sleeping on a fake punt.
-Most off all, blitz Palmer. His worst throws were when he was forced from the pocket. Where’s Harrison and Woodley?
By the way, crack on Cowher all you like, but I don’t believe he ever blew an 11 point lead in the 4th.
Gordon-Geico-Gekko says:
September 28, 2009 8:56 AM
“steeler-hater says: September 28, 2009 2:30 AM
Us Steeler haters are lovin’ every minute of it”
In your case, no doubt. This is what you live for. (no other reason obviously)
I’m guessing you ran out of hand lotion about two hours after the game.
Feel better now?
——————————————–
lol!
You Steeler homers sure are funny, especially after your team chokes.
I know what you guys were all doing 2 hours after the game. You were still crying big tears into your piss yellow towels because unless your sports teams do well, you got nothing else in your lives to look forward to.
Don’t worry, though. Even though the Pirates suck ass and the Steelers look as though they won’t repeat, you still have the Penguins to “homer it up” for.
lol!
Of course, God help you all if the Pens should suddenly go into the toilet, too…
Florio, Hard Knocks really softened you up…you almost had some kind words for the Bengals.
Look, if Limas makes the easy catch, this post would be 5 deep rather than 50 and it would be same old Bengals and Steelers.
But he didn’t.
The Bengals O-line won that game in the 2nd half, giving Palmer time and Benson holes.
Give credit where it’s due…
Steelers 1-2 and Bengals 2-1. SWEET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Limas Sweed: Please report to Mike Tomlin’s office…and bring your playbook. It’s offical. You suck!!!
Love the hard hitting defense the Bengals have. Just hope they dont lay and egg in Cleveland like they did back on 2007 after the Monday night win against the Ravens. Cant wait for the Ravens -Bengals game !
Nick says:
September 27, 2009 7:46 PM
Nothing new here. BAL is always the best in the AFC North when they’re healthy. That hasn’t been the case for 2 years, but hopefully will be this year.
The weakness for BAL will still be the secondary, but mostly because the new starting CBs aren’t near the caliber of the previous starting crew.
The Bengals are much better than most people thought. Without a fluke play in week 1 they would be 3-0 too.
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This guy wins Cracksmoker of the Week — where do we even begin with such misguided opinion like Nicky’s?
What major injuries did the Ravens have last year to players who mattered? Uh, NO, the Ravens are NEVER the best team except for once in a great while, the Steelers consistenly own the North because they are the class of the division.
The Bengals win on Sunday WAS a fluke, unless you consider Sweed dropping the ball in the end zone and Reed missing from like 3 feet away normal everyday occurrences. They could easily be 0-3 as they are 2-1.
Funny by the way how you give the Ravens the injury pass while ignoring the Steelers having the best safety in football out right now. Lay off the crackpipe dude.
The Ravens have played let’s see… Kansas City?
Cleveland? Wow. And let’s face facts, San Diego was an easy dropped pass in the end zone away from dropping the Ravens that day. The Ravens are overrated. As for their defense, check out the 400 yards passing Philip Rivers notched against them.
Cincy was dominated by the Steelers, don’t be fooled by the fluke outcome. That win was as bizarre and improbable as it gets.
Believe me, nothing’s changed in the North, including the guard.