Today in 2003 - Cincinnati Bengals vs Pittsburgh Steelers

Today in 2003, the Cincinnati Bengals went to Heinz Field to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers in a Week 13 matchup.

The Bengals got things started in the first quarter on a big play.  Jon Kitna threw a 51 yard touchdown pass to Kelley Washington and led at the end of the quarter 7-0.

The Steelers scored in the second quarter on a 23 yard Jeff Reed field goal.  Cincy answered when Kitna threw a 4 yard touchdown pass to Chad Ochocinco (then Johnson).  At halftime, the Bengals led 14-3.

Pittsburgh provided the only scoring in the third quarter, when Jerome Bettis ran for a 1 yard touchdown.  The Bengals led 14-10.

In the fourth quarter, Reed closed the gap with a 39 yard field goal.  Shayne Graham responded for the Bengals with a 44 yard field goal and the score was 17-13.  Pittsburgh took its first lead with a 16 yard pass from Tommy Maddox to Hines Ward. 

But Cincinnati would not be denied.  The Bengals took the lead for good on an 18 yard pass from Kitna to Matt Schobel.  The Cincinnati Bengals beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 24-20.

For the Steelers, Tommy Maddox passed 28-42 for 313 yards, with a touchdown and an interception.  Hines Ward had 13 receptions for 149 yards and a touchdown.  Plaxico Burress had 8 receptions for 112 yards.  Jerome Bettis had 20 rushes for 62 yards and a touchdown.  He also had a catch for 5 yards.  Troy Polamalu recorded a sack.

For the Bengals, Jon Kitna passed 18-32 for 271 yards and 3 touchdowns.  He also had 3 runs for 18 yards.  Chad Ochocinco had 6 receptions for 117 yards and a touchdown.  Peter Warrick had 5 receptions for 54 yards.  Duane Clemons and John Thornton each had 2 sacks.  Oliver Gibson, Kevin Hardy, Brian Simmons, and Justin Smith each had half a sack.  Artrell Hawkins had an interception.

The Steelers fell to 4-8 with the loss.  They finished the season at 6-10, third in the AFC North.  The Bengals went to 7-5.  They finished the season at 8-8, second in the AFC North.

Trivia

• This was Bill Cowher’s 12^th season coaching the Steelers.  He coached the team from 1992-2006.
  
• This was Marvin Lewis’ first season as head coach of the Bengals.  He is in his 9^th season as head coach today.
  
• Cincy’s defensive coordinator is now Minnesota Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier.
  
• Frazier was a defensive back for the Chicago Bears from 1981-85.
  
• Cowher played linebacker for the Cleveland Browns in 1980 and 1982, and the Philadelphia Eagles from 1983-84.
  
• Steelers’ offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey was the head coach of the Buffalo Bills from 2004-05.
  
• Mularkey played tight end for the Minnesota Vikings from 1983-88 and Pittsburgh from 1989-91.
  
• The Steelers tight ends coach is current Arizona Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt.
  
• Whisenhunt played tight end for the Atlanta Falcons from 1985-88, Washington Redskins in 1990, and New York Jets from 1991-92.

Here are some historical scores on this day for teams facing each other this week, on November 23,

1952 – Los Angeles Rams 34 – San Francisco 21

1969 – Green Bay 20 – New York Giants 10

1997 – New England 20 – Indianapolis 17

1997 – Miami 34 – Oakland 16

2003 – New England 38 – Indianapolis 34

2003 – Houston 17 – Atlanta 13

Game stats can be found on Pro-Football-Reference.com at Cincinnati Bengals vs Pittsburgh  Steelers - November 30, 2003.