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Past catches up with Steelers, Bengals

5 min read
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CINCINNATI – The last time the Steelers faced the Bengals in Cincinnati in the postseason, Ben Roethlisberger was a bright-eyed 23-year-old two years removed from being the quarterback at Miami of Ohio.

Cincinnati starter A.J. McCarron? He was a 15-year-old kid still basking in the glory of meeting Roethlisberger two years earlier after the future Steelers quarterback led Miami past Louisville in the 2003 GMAC Bowl in McCarron’s hometown of Mobile, Ala.

McCarron said Roethlisberger gave him his wristbands during that meeting and he reminded the Steelers’ quarterback of that last month when Pittsburgh traveled to Cincinnati for a regular season game.

“He started dying laughing,” McCarron told reporters in Cincinnati this week. “He said he remembered. I don’t know if he did, but at least it made me feel good and like it was cool.”

Roethlisberger said he recalled the chance encounter.

“He did grab me after the game last time we played and told me the story,” said Roethlisberger. “I don’t remember all the details, but I definitely remember meeting him and that encounter. It’s just amazing how full circle things have come.”

When Roethlisberger and McCarron meet today, the only thing Roethlisberger will look to give the young quarterback is a season-ending loss as the Steelers (10-6) play the Bengals (12-4) in an AFC Wild Card game at Paul Brown Stadium.

McCarron will make his first playoff start against the Steelers because of what occurred Dec. 13, when the Steelers beat the Bengals, 33-20. Cincinnati starter Andy Dalton suffered a broken right thumb tackling Pittsburgh defensive end Stephon Tuitt following an interception on the Bengals’ opening possession.

McCarron, a second-year quarterback from Alabama, entered the game and threw for 280 yards and two touchdowns, but also had two costly interceptions.

Roethlisberger’s last playoff start in Cincinnati was a little more memorable. The then-second-year quarterback completed 14 of 19 passes for 208 yards and three touchdowns as the Steelers upset the Bengals, 31-17, in a game that sent the Steelers on a four-game postseason winning streak that ended with a Super Bowl title.

It’s a game that is better remembered, particularly in Cincinnati, for what happened on the Bengals’ opening drive. On Cincinnati’s second play from scrimmage, Bengals’ quarterback Carson Palmer completed a 66-yard pass to Chris Henry. But after he released the ball, Pittsburgh defensive end Kimo von Oelhoffen crashed into Palmer’s knee, tearing his ACL and putting him out for the remainder of the game.

“Obviously, the big news was Carson Palmer going out,” said Roethlisberger. “And then, just how everything changes, how much faster these playoff games are, how much more every little mistake means, every little play means. It’s a completely new season.”

The Steelers snuck into the playoffs on the last day of this regular season, beating Cleveland then needing Buffalo to knock off the New York Jets to claim the final spot in the AFC. But they’re not concerned about being the No. 6 seed. In fact, it’s the same spot they were in for that previous trip to Cincinnati for a playoff game.

The Steelers still have four players remaining from that team – Roethlisberger, tight end Heath Miller, linebacker James Harrison and long snapper Greg Warren.

Cincinnati has none. What the Bengals do have is a lot of experience at playoff failures. While the Steelers haven’t won a postseason game since 2010, the Bengals are 0-6 under head coach Marvin Lewis. Cincinnati hasn’t won a playoff game since the 1990 season.

“Players don’t go into that,” said Lewis, a McDonald native. “I think other people do. We don’t have enough time for that. There’s not been a situation like that.”

The two teams split their season series, with the Bengals winning, 16-10, in Pittsburgh and the Steelers returning the favor in a rematch in a feisty game.

Even with the stakes raised for this game, neither team expects that chippiness to carry over.

Both teams will be without key offensive starters. While Dalton will sit this one out for the Bengals, the Steelers will be without running back DeAngelo Williams.

Williams suffered a sprained foot early in last week’s win over Cleveland. Second-year back Fitzgerald Toussaint is expected to make his first career start for the Steelers. He did, however, get a handful of carries for Baltimore in the playoffs as a rookie last year.

“We’ve got to be able to run the football in certain circumstances and control the clock and keep things modest on third down,” said Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown. “It’s a perfect opportunity for Toussaint. I’m sure he’s hungry to prove his worth and prove himself.”

The same could be said of McCarron. He won back-to-back national championships at Alabama. But the Steelers are hopeful he isn’t too settled in in the pressure of starting his first playoff game.

“We’ve got to make him uncomfortable,” said Steelers defensive end Cameron Heyward. “If we can put pressure on him and force him to make mistakes, it really improves our chances to win.”

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