Steelers respond to breaks

CINCINNATI -- In the NFL playoffs, teams that take advantage of breaks usually move on. (Remember how Tom Brady's winning streak began in January 2002 with the "tuck rule" play?)
No question, the ACL injury that Bengals Pro Bowl quarterback Carson Palmer suffered in the first five minutes of Sunday's wild-card playoff game at Paul Brown Stadium was a factor in the Steelers' 31-17 victory.
But was it the determining factor? Not exactly. Despite the loss of Palmer (one of the league's top five quarterbacks), the Bengals had chances to win.
Palmer's backup, Jon Kitna, played like a Pro Bowler during the first half of Pittsburgh's 35-17 victory, leading the Bengals to a 17-7 lead early in the second quarter.
But then the Steelers started playing like the team that went 15-1 last year and started off 7-2 this past fall.
The Steelers got back into the game with a six-play, 76-yard drive triggered by quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's underthrown toss to wide receiver Cedric Wilson that gained 54 yards.
Foiled field goalattempt helped
In the third quarter, the Bengals were threatening to restore their 10-point lead when the drive stalled at the 5. Kicker Shayne Graham never got the chance to boot a 22-yard field goal because the snap sailed past holder Kyle Larson.
While technically not a turnover, the result was the same and Roethlisberger and Co. pounced, thanks to a pass interference call against Bengals free safety Kevan Kaesviharn. Jerome Bettis scored from the 5 to put the Steelers ahead for keeps.
Offensive tackle Willie Anderson said Palmer's injury "isn't an excuse" for the Bengals dropping their third straight game. "We were still in the game. We had the lead. We had been in this situation before with Jon Kitna as the starter.
"We all had to raise our level of play," Anderson said. "We sit here and harp about how we aren't a one-man team so ..."
Once in the lead, the Steelers defense turned up the pressure, inducing two fourth-quarter interceptions that ended the Bengals' season.
Noted for their power running game, few believed the Steelers could win a pass-dominated shootout. But accuracy by their second-year quarterback has the Steelers (12-5) moving on to Indianapolis for a Sunday division-round date with the Colts (14-2), this year's best team.
Need to playmore consistently
Can the Steelers pull off another road victory? Maybe, but just about everyone agrees that they will have to play a lot more consistently to do it.
Wide receiver Hines Ward said the Steelers' playoff experience -- this is their fourth postseason trip in five years -- made a huge difference against the Bengals, especially in the second half.
"We've been in this position before," Ward said. "If you turn the ball over, you usually lose in the playoffs."
The Steelers had that lesson drilled into them a year ago when Roethlisberger struggled in a home playoff overtime win over the Jets (20-17) and the AFC Championship Game loss to the Patriots (41-27 in a game that wasn't that close).
What was impressive about the win at Paul Brown Stadium was how the Steelers gained yards without relying on the rush.
"We weren't able to run the ball like we wanted to but we found a way to pass the ball to move the chains to score when we needed to," Ward said.
Three TD passes,high rating
At first glance, Roethlisberger's numbers against the Bengals aren't eye-opening. He completed 14 of 20 passes for 208 yards. But three passes went for touchdowns and his passer rating was a remarkable 148.7.
"We live to fight another day," linebacker Joey Porter said. "We're happy to be where we are right now.
"We came down to a hostile environment and had a shaky start. Once we got the ball back for our offense, we felt they couldn't stop [us]. Once we got [stopping their offense] settled, we got it figured out.
Steelers safety Troy Polamalu was Palmer's roommate when they played for the University of Southern California.
"I felt horrible for him," Polamalu said. "And I was definitely thinking about it the whole game.
"I know Carson -- I know he'll battle back and be a much better player with adversity in his face. He's already overcome a lot harder things."
The Steelers' reward is a rematch with the Colts, a team that blew them out 26-7 on Nov. 28 in a Monday Night Football game in the RCA Dome.
"We're not going to be able to hear," said Bettis of Indy fans' capability of generating inside noise. "We understand that it's going to be deafening. That helps us having played there early this season."
Sunday's victory was the Steelers' fifth straight since they lost three in a row (Nov. 20 at Baltimore, in Indy and Dec. 4 at home to the Bengals).
Without the luxury of the bye the Colts had, are the Steelers worse off than last year when they only survived game because of two missed field goals in the final two minutes of regulation?
Playing betterthan last year
Safety Chris Hope isn't sure, saying his teammates are playing better now than they were at the end of last year's 15-1 season.
"We had that great run [14-straight victories] so in the last few games, stars didn't play a lot," Hope said of their December 2004 finish.
"We went to the playoffs kind of lackadaisical, off-rhythm," Hope said." As hard as it is to be number-six seed to get to the AFC Championship and Super Bowl, it kind of keeps you in the routine [not having time off]."
"Going into the playoffs [needing] a four-game winning streak [is not a] a situation you want," Hope said. "You didn't want to be in having to win every game [to qualify].
"At the same time, we've been playing playoff games the last four-five games. And the intensity we've been playing with, it didn't have to go up that much coming to Cincinnati -- it was already at that level."
Now comes the biggest test since the Steelers blew home-field advantage last Jan. 24. A stronger, consistent game is required for the season to continue.
And taking advantage of any break is a must.
XTom Williams is a sportswriter for The Vindicator. Write him at williams@vindy.com.