Bengals Finally Roar and Beat Steelers, 26-21

Coach Sam Wyche says the Cincinnati Bengals have a new attitude.

The Bengals’ defense, ranked last in the National Football League, forced six turnovers and scored a touchdown Sunday to lead the way to a 26-21 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

“Intensity is the only word,” Wyche said. “You either play with resolve or you don’t. They played with vigor. There was some popping of leather going on out there that you don’t hear every week.”

The Bengals (3-5) had given up more than 34 points per game and become the punchline for jokes around Cincinnati. One huge banner draped behind the Steelers’ bench Sunday proclaimed, “Help Wanted, NFL Defense, No Experience Necessary.”

“Today we flat-out stopped them,” said safety Robert Jackson, who returned an interception 57 yards for a touchdown.

“We’re sick and tired of people saying we’re the worst defense in the league.”

The Steelers (3-5) lost three of seven fumbles to self-destruct a second-half comeback.

The Bengals started with a flourish, intercepting three first-half passes by David Woodley--including Jackson’s return for a touchdown--to build a 17-7 halftime lead. Woodley stepped in when Mark Malone suffered a toe injury in the first quarter.

Jim Breech, who kicked four field goals, connected on kicks 39, 40 and 32 yards to make it 26-7 after three quarters.

The most costly Steeler mistake was Woodley’s fumbled snap from center on a fourth-and-goal from the Bengals’ one-yard line early in the fourth quarter.

Louis Lipps returned a punt 62 yards for a touchdown to revive the Steelers with 9:26 left and Walter Abercrombie’s one-yard run got the Steelers close.

Cincinnati quarterback Boomer Esiason completed 18 of 29 passes for 235 yards, including an 11-yard scoring pass to Rodney Holman.