The Steelers need to protect Ben Roethlisberger better when he drops back to pass or the season will end with a thud.  He has been sacked 32 times this season but he has also been hit a lot.  He has played in 11 games for the Steelers this season and he has completed 191 of 310 passes (61.6%) for 2,233 yards with 11 TD passes and 11 interceptions.  Big Ben has also carried the ball 19 times for 43 yards (2.3 ypc) with 2 TD runs this season.  The Steelers will need to watch Roethlisberger closely as they need him if they are going to win in the playoffs. 

The Bengals scored first in the game last night and that seemed to fire up the Steelers.  Ben Roethlisberger had his best game in quite a while completing 17 of 30 passes for 243 yards with 1 TD pass.  He also carried the ball 3 times for 13 yards (4.3 ypc) with a TD run.  Willie Parker got dinged up again as he finished the night with only 37 yards rushing on 14 carries (2.6 ypc).  Mewelde Moore replaced Parker and he played well again.  Moore carried the ball 15 times for 56 yards (3.7 ypc) and he also caught 4 passes for 41 yards (10.3 avg).  Santonio Holmes led the way in the passing game for the Steelers with 5 catches for 84 yards (16.8 avg) before he got jacked up by safety Chris Crocker of the Bengals which ended his night.  TE Heath Miller also had a solid game catching 4 passes for 44 yards (11.0 avg) with a TD grab.  The Steelers finished up with 121 yards on 37 carries (3.3 ypc) and they also completed 17 of 30 passes for 243 yards.  The Steelers had possession of the football for 35:20 last night which made it really easy on the defense.

Linebacker James Farrior (11 tackles) and safety Troy Polamalu (6 tackles, interception) led the way for the Steelers’ defense last night.  The Bengals finished up with 43 yards rushing on 20 carries (2.2 ypc) last night and they completed 20 of 37 passes for 165 yards.  The Steelers improved to 8-3 on the season with this win.

The Steelers have released running back Najeh Davenport.  Davenport played in 4 games for the Steelers this season and he carried the ball 2 times for 5 yards (2.5 ypc).  He also returned 10 kickoffs for 217 yards (21.7 avg).  Look for Davenport to have little trouble hooking on with another team soon with teams like the Broncos needing help pronto due to injuries.

The Steelers could be without tailback Willie Parker as it has been rumored that he has a torn labrum that will require surgery at the end of the year.  He is out indefinately.  Parker has played in 4 games for the Steelers this season and he has carried the ball 87 times for 333 yards (3.8 ypc) with 4 TD runs.  Mewelde Moore will continue as the Steelers’ feature back until Parker is ready to return to action.  Moore has played in 8 games for the Steelers this season and he has carried the ball 69 times for 320 yards (4.6 ypc) with 3 TD runs.  He has also caught 16 passes for 123 yards (7.7 avg) with 1 TD grab.  Moore has done a good job for the Steelers and look for that to continue until Willie Parker is ready to return to action.

The Steelers might be without starting TE Heath Miller for a while as he has a bum ankle.  Miller has played in 8 games for the Steelers this season and he has caught 21 passes for 240 yards (11.4 avg) with 1 TD grab.  Miller is a very underrated player who should be one of the best TEs in the NFL, but, the Steelers just don’t throw the ball enough to him.  Matt Spaeth will take over as the starter until Miller is ready to return to action.  He has played in 8 games this season and he has caught  3 passes for 18 yards (6.0 avg).  Spaeth is a good blocker but he’s not much of a receiver so the Steelers’ passing game could suffer some until Miller is ready to return.