Bengals Finish Steelers Early

The Cincinnati Bengals can’t win close games in the fourth quarter, so Jeff Blake made sure it was over by the third.

Blake worked over Pittsburgh’s patchwork secondary like a longtime pro rather than a second-year starter, throwing three touchdown passes as the Bengals dominated the Steelers 27-9 Thursday night.

Cincinnati (3-4) hadn’t beaten Pittsburgh (3-4) in eight games and had never won an AFC Central road game in David Shula’s three-plus seasons as coach.

The Steelers’ fourth loss in five games signals a low point in Bill Cowher’s four-year reign as coach. Cincinnati 27, Pittsburgh 9 Cincinnati 0 10 14 3 - 27

Pittsburgh 0 3 3 3 - 9

Second quarter

Cin-Scott 47 pass from Blake (Pelfrey kick), 5:54.

Pit-FG N.Johnson 25, 9:30.

Cin-FG Pelfrey 31, 14:43. Third quarter

Cin-McGee 12 pass from Blake (Pelfrey kick), 4:04.

Pit-FG N.Johnson 28, 7:11.

Cin-Pickens 41 pass from Blake (Pelfrey kick), 10:23. Fourth quarter

Pit-FG N.Johnson 38, :10.

Cin-FG Pelfrey 23, 7:16.

A-56,684.

Cin Pit First downs 18 24 Rushes-yards 29-93 22-121 Passing 275 347 Punt Returns 0-0 1-0 Kickoff Returns 3-61 6-122 Interceptions Ret. 1-0 0-0 Comp-Att-Int 18-22-0 30-52-1 Sacked-Yards Lost 0-0 1-12 Punts 3-45 1-46 Fumbles-Lost 1-0 1-0 Penalties-Yards 2-10 5-35 Time of Possession 27:47 32:13

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING - Cincinnati, Green 11-34, Blake 4-32, Bienemy 10-27, Cothran 2-7, Joseph 1-3, Scott 1-(minus 10). Pittsburgh, Pegram 11-60, O’Donnell 3-24, Mills 1-17, Morris 5-16, McAfee 2-4.

PASSING - Cincinnati, Blake 18-22-0-275. Pittsburgh, O’Donnell 30-52-1-359.

RECEIVING - Cincinnati, Pickens 8-108, Scott 3-73, McGee 3-29, Dunn 2-43, Green 2-22. Pittsburgh, Mills 6-91, Hastings 5-69, Thigpen 4-55, C.Johnson 4-34, McAfee 4-15, Pegram 3-39, Bruener 2-26, Hayes 1-21, Avery 1-9.

MISSED FIELD GOALS - Pittsburgh, N.Johnson 39, 36.