Brister Starts Up Steelers Against Lowly Bengals

Playing for the first time since he was benched two months ago, Bubby Brister did not play a great game Sunday.

But an outstanding performance was not required because the Pittsburgh Steelers were playing the Cincinnati Bengals.

Brister, starting only one week after refusing to play in the final minutes of a blowout loss, passed for two touchdowns as the Steelers overcame five turnovers to defeat the Bengals, 17-10, before only 35,420 at Three Rivers Stadium.

“I think right now that we needed a lift to finish the season strong,” said Brister, who connected with Adrian Cooper and Keith Cash on touchdown pass plays. “Hopefully I can show that I’m the starter going into training camp next year.”

Brister, who completed 15 of 28 passes for 184 yards with two interceptions, did not learn he would start until Saturday, when Coach Chuck Noll overruled offensive coordinator Joe Walton by benching O’Donnell. O’Donnell was 2-6 since replacing Brister on Oct. 14.

Brister, the Steelers’ starter for nearly four seasons, refused to finish up in the Steelers’ 31-6 loss to Houston on Dec. 8, saying afterward, “I’m no mop-up man.”

Brister, who was 3-3 before his benching, connected with Cooper on a 47-yard touchdown pass play on the Steelers’ third snap of the game. It was the first time in 11 weeks that Pittsburgh (6-9) scored on its initial possession.

“We were a different football team out there with Bubby,” said Cash, who scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 19-yard reception early in the fourth quarter. “Bubby’s a lot more fired up than Neil (O’Donnell). He’s wired the whole game. You could feel the difference.”

The Bengals (2-13) assured themselves of the worst season in the franchise’s 24 years.