The Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals began playing each other twice in the regular season after the 1970 merger. Pittsburgh moved into the AFC joining Cincinnati in the Central division along with the Cleveland Browns and the Houston Oilers.
The Steelers lead the series 70-39 overall and on the road 34-21. The Steelers racked up eleven straight wins from 2015 including the infamous playoff victory when Vontaze Burfict rung Antonio Brown’s bell. The Steelers’ longest losing streak was one of six games from 1988.
2002 was the eleventh season with Bill Cowher as the Steelers head coach and it began on Monday Night Football in Foxborough. The Steelers lost to the Patriots as they had the previous season in the AFC Championship game when the Belichick and Brady era began to bring success.
Kordell Stewart was the Steelers quarterback for both losses. After he led the team to a 0-2 record in 2002, Cowher replaced him in a game against the Browns when they were losing. His replacement, Tommy Maddox rallied the Steelers and SteelerNation to lead the team to their first win.
Maddox had made a strong case to be named the starter and Cowher confirmed it midweek before the team traveled to New Orleans. There was no dream start for Maddox. The Steelers went down 32-29, although it was the defense who were blamed for the loss.
Maddox had signed with the Steelers the previous year after one season in the XFL with the Los Angeles Xtreme. He earned the XFL MVP title after leading the Xtreme to the league’s title.
Maddox was drafted by the Broncos in 1992 and spent time with the Rams, Giants and Falcons.
Cincinnati were coached by former Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau. He joined the Bengals as their defensive coordinator in 1997 before promotion to head coach in 2001. LeBeau was an outstanding defensive coach but struggled with the offense.
Before hosting the Steelers, the Bengals had lost five games without being competitive. LeBeau changed his quarterback three times in an attempt to find a winning formula. It would be former Seattle veteran Jon Kitna to face the Steelers.
Baltimore sat on top of the North division with a 2-2 record.
The (1-3) Steelers at the (0-5) Bengals; October 13, 2002
For the Bengals, Jon Kitna began well. He guided his team to a field goal attempt from 46 yards, but it failed.
Tommy Maddox and the Steelers took possession on their 37. Two completed passes and four runs moved the ball to the Cincinnati one. Jerome Bettis burst through the Bengals defense for a 1-yard touchdown to put the Steelers 7-0 ahead after Todd Peterson kicked the extra point.
The teams exchanged interceptions before the game went into the second quarter. After Maddox began finding his receivers, the Steelers added a 34-yard field goal.
Pittsburgh’s defense dominated their opponents while the Steelers offense controlled the ball. A second interception by Lee Flowers gave the Steelers possession on their 46. The offense shrugged off a sack that cost them 10 yards before Amos Zereoue collected 15 yards up the middle and Maddox found Plaxico Burress with an 8-yard completion.
Maddox then placed the ball in the hands of Jerome Bettis and the offense executed the ‘39 boss’ play perfectly. Right guard Alan Faneca pulled from his right guard position to seal the defensive end. Tight end Mark Bruener and left tackle Wayne Gandy created an outside hole through which Bettis exploded. Blocks from Dan Kreider, Burress and Hines Ward cleared the route to end zone. The 41-yard touchdown run from Bettis saw the Steelers take a lead of 17 points.
While the Steelers were enjoying success, the Bengals woes continued. On their next series, a vicious hit by Joey Porter saw Kitna fumble which Casey Hampton recovered and returned 36 yards. Maddox made short work of the seven yards. Three plays later, he found Dan Kreider with a 4-yard touchdown pass. The Steelers took a 24-0 lead into the locker room at the half.
When the second half kickoff fell into the hands of Steelers rookie Antwaan Randle El, he took the opportunity to make an impact. After faking a reverse to fellow rookie Lee Mays, he burst down the left side with the Bengals special teams snapping at his heels. His 99-yard kickoff returned for a touchdown destroyed any thoughts Cincinnati had of a comeback.
Towards the end of third quarter, a Maddox interception gave the Bengals a short field of 9 yards. Corey Dillon finally put some points on the board for Cincinnati with his 2-yard touchdown run. Being 24 points behind, the Bengals attempted an onside kick, but Randle El recovered for the Steelers.
Kitna pushed hard on the Bengals next possession, but a little too hard and was picked off by Deshea Townsend. The Steelers capitalized on the turnover with Peterson’s 30-yard field goal to complete the scoring.
The Pittsburgh Steelers 34 at the Cincinnati Bengals 7
It was the tenth 100-yard game in 13 career games for Jerome Bettis against the Bengals.
Randle El’s 99-yard kickoff return was the second longest in Steelers history after Don McCall’s 101-yard touchdown kickoff return in 1969. “I’ve been close all season,” Randle El said. “I’ve been close on punt returns, everything. To finally get one feels really good.”
Randle El is ranked third on the Steelers list for most yards on punt returns with 1,650. His 99-yard kickoff return is still ranked second, and he is ranked joint first (with Antonio Brown) for touchdowns on punt returns with 2.
Plaxico Burress contributed 8 receptions for 149 yards and in week 10 against Atlanta would contribute a career high 253 yards with 2 touchdowns.
The Steelers would finish the season 10-5-1 and Tommy Maddox would lead them into the playoffs. Pittsburgh would squeeze pass the Browns 36-33 in the wildcard game before being edged out 34-31 in Tennessee in the divisional game.
Dick LeBeau was fired by the Bengals at the end of the season and rejoined the Steelers as their defensive coordinator in 2004.
Tommy Maddox would lead the Steelers to a 6-10 record the following year. In 2004 he was injured after they opened the season 1-1. Rookie Ben Roethlisberger replaced him and well, the rest really is Steelers History.
