Steelers find way to boggle Bengals

Associated Press

CINCINNATI

The top two running backs were gone. So were two offensive linemen. All that the Steelers had left was Ben Roethlisberger, some backup runners and one of the NFL’s top defenses.

In Cincinnati, that’s plenty.

Roethlisberger threw for a touchdown, overcoming his end zone interception and costly fumble, and Pittsburgh’s defense clamped down on the Bengals’ Dalton-to-Green connection for a 24-17 victory Sunday.

Third-year running back Jonathan Dwyer made his first career start and ran for 122 yards, including a 32-yard gain that put it away in the final seconds. Shaun Suisham kicked field goals of 42, 47 and 42 yards.

For the Steelers (3-3), it was a significant win under tough conditions. Their first road win of the season moved them into second place into the AFC North behind Baltimore (5-2), which lost to Houston 43-13 earlier Sunday.

“It puts us right there in the hunt,” safety Ryan Clark said.

Cincinnati (3-4) wasted yet another chance to show it can keep up with the division’s best. The Bengals are 0-6 the last two seasons against Pittsburgh and Baltimore.

Andy Dalton’s slip-out-of-the-hand interception set up Roethlisberger’s 9-yard touchdown pass to Heath Miller and a tying 2-point conversion to the tight end with 24 seconds left in the half. Chris Rainey’s 11-yard touchdown run put the Steelers ahead early in the fourth quarter, and the injury fill-ins finished them off.

“I’m proud of those guys,” said Roethlisberger, who was 27 of 37 for 278 yards. “Always the thing we say is, ‘Next man up.’”