Steelers 10, Bengals 7

Notes:

-- Gary Russell made another big play. His second effort on a fourth-and-1 carry gave the Steelers first-and-goal at the Cincinnati 8. Remember that on fourth-and-goal Sunday against San Diego, Mewelde Moore was dropped for a one-yard loss. After the game coach Mike Tomlin hinted that Russell had earned the chance to run the ball in short-yardage situations. It didn't take long for him to cash in on that chance.

-- How much of a momentum shift did Russell's first down provide? The Steelers scored two plays later when Ben Roethlisberger hit Heath Miller on a three-yard touchdown pass to tie the score. Miller is active for the first time since Week 9 against Washington and had his first catches since Week 8. He has been out with an ankle injury.

-- Miller tied Bennie Cunningham for third on the Steelers all-time list for touchdown catches by a tight end with 20.

-- James Farrior had the big third-down hit on Chris Perry to force a punt after the Steelers scored. It will be worth nothing whether this gives the Steelers' offense a lift, like when a pitcher retires down the side in order right after after his offense puts up a few runs for him. Farrior had a monster half with nine tackles.

-- Willie Parker had five yards on seven carries until gaining six yards on a first-down run from the Steelers' 9-yard-line. He has only 14 yards on 11 carries at the half. The Steelers have rushed for only 24 yards on 13 carries.

-- The Bengals don't appear to be going after Steelers receiver Hines Ward. Ward broke rookie linebacker Keith Rivers' jaw with a crushing block in the first meeting between the teams. Rivers is out for the season. There had been talk this week that the Bengals might retaliate. Ward has one reception for 37 yards and he wasn't hit on the play. He ducked out of bounds.

-- Rookie mistake by rookie wide receiver Limas Sweed, who had a punt go off of his leg in the final 1 1/2 minutes. The Bengals recovered at the Steelers 39 with 1:00 left in the half. Sweed was getting blocked when the ball brushed his leg. There were about five Bengals right there, and one of them knocked Sweed over so Rashad Jeanty could recover it. The play was upheld by a booth review. The Bengals couldn't capitalize, though. Willie Gay broke up Ryan Fitzpatrick's fourth-down pass intended for T.J. Houshmandzadeh with 28 seconds left.

-- John Dudley