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Steelers defense comes to life against Bengals

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Pittsburgh Sports Examiner
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The Steelers defense put up a nice effort against the Bengals.

CINCINNATI, Oh. - The Steelers are back in first place after a 24-17 win over the Bengals on Sunday, but it took a strong effort from its defense to assure that.

And with the heart of its schedule now past ( The Steelers play just two teams with winning records) and a bye week to get healthy, a post-season run is once again the sight.

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"We're doing enough things offensively and defensively to win, but I still don't think we're playing to our full potential," Roethlisberger said. "As long as we're still winning games, that's all that matters because hopefully when we do hit it full stride and are playing really well, who knows where it will go?"

While Roethlisberger did what he had to do, and put 24 points on the board, The key to Pittsburgh's win against the Bengals was the play of its defense, which in the past week had come under great scrutiny.
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Ranked near the top of the league heading into the Ravens game last week, a 92 yard winning drive by Joe Flacco had the questions flying again; has this unit seen its better days?
 
" We needed this game, we were down 0-2 in our division, obviously we needed to play better if we wanted to make the playoffs," defensive tackle Brett Keisel said. "We just kept fighting and found a way to win. I'm proud of the way we played."
 
Willie Gay was the difference maker. After giving up the winning score in the Ravens game a week ago, he was stellar against the Bengals and had two huge plays in the fourth quarter.
 
His first, he jumped in front of Andre Caldwell, and tipped Bengal quarterback Andy Daltons pass early in the fourth quarter. Lawrence Timmons came up with it to thwart the Bengals drive.
 
His second big play of the game, secured the win for the Steelers.
 
With 2:44 left in the game, Gay stepped in front of wide receiver Jerome Simpson and this time picked off Dalton himself.
 
"The guy made a great play and jumped the route," Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton said of Gay. "My eyes were on the flat defender and when I let go of it he jumped it. He made a great play.

"They take chances. They bite on things and try to jump routes. On that play they did and it worked for them."

Asked about his play, Gay instead credited the defense and coordinator Dick LeBeau.

"We played some good defense, that’s the bottom line," said Gay. "I just played Dick LeBeau defense, everybody across the board did and we came out with a ‘W’."

The Steelers started fast, as Ben Roethlisberger hit Jerricho Cotchery from 16-yards out to make it 7-0 and on the next series Rashard Mendenhal, who had 44 yards rushing, scored from two yards out to make it 14-0. Mendenhall also scored another touchdown, while Shaun Suisham added the Steelers other points with his 39 yard field goal.

STEELER STATS

PassingCP/ATYDSTDINTBen Roethlisberger21/3324511

RushingATTYDSTDLGRashard Mendenhall164429Mike Wallace231016Isaac Redman725011Mewelde Moore2705Ben Roethlisberger3-200

ReceivingRECYDSTDLGAntonio Brown586021Mike Wallace654013Heath Miller331018Jerricho Cotchery229116Rashard Mendenhall126026Weslye Saunders111011Hines Ward110010David Johnson1606Isaac Redman1-80-8

Willie Gay was a game changer against the Bengals on Sunday.
Willie Gay was a game changer against the Bengals on Sunday.
Photo credit: 
Noel Latham (copyright 2011)

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, Pittsburgh Sports Examiner

An award-winning writer, Matt grew up in Western PA and has covered the Pittsburgh sports scene for over 15 years, including a Steelers beat the past nine years.

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