Stewart Does More While Passing Time

With each nifty throw-and-catch, Kordell Stewart and his receivers showed they’re not as bad as their critics insist.

The Cincinnati Bengals’ defense? Now that is bad.

Stewart matched his career high by throwing three touchdown passes--one fewer than he had all season--as the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Bengals, 48-28, Sunday.

Pittsburgh (6-6) emerged from a three-game losing streak and sustained its faint playoff hopes with a strong performance by Stewart.

The Steelers hadn’t scored so many points since a 49-31 victory in Cincinnati in 1995, when Stewart was a rookie growing into his “Slash” role as passer/receiver/runner.

On a damp afternoon, the maligned quarterback looked like a promising young passer all over again. It was only the third time he had thrown three touchdown passes in a game--he did it twice in 1997, his best season.

Stewart completed 11 of 20 passes for 182 yards in three quarters before Kent Graham finished the game. Stewart also had a one-yard touchdown plunge.

“I think Kordell is starting to play the way he used to play,” said Bengal defensive lineman Oliver Gibson, who played with the Steelers for Stewart’s first four seasons.

The Bengals (2-10) put little pressure on Stewart, leaving him time to find open receivers.

Last week, Stewart passed for a season-high 188 yards, but his receivers repeatedly dropped the ball in a 34-24 loss to Jacksonville. This time, the receivers were as sure-handed as they were wide open.

“Everybody’s been throwing a hex on them all the time. . .” Stewart said. “To come out and perform like that with all that’s been going on, that’s a gratifying feeling right now.”

He threw a 34-yard touchdown pass to Hines Ward on Pittsburgh’s first possession, a low-trajectory toss that was right on the mark. Stewart’s touchdown came on the Steelers’ next possession.

Mark Bruener was uncovered for an 11-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter, and Stewart threw an arching pass to Bobby Shaw down the left sideline early in the second half that produced a 45-yard touchdown and put Pittsburgh in control.

The Steeler defense then finished off the Bengals. Jason Gildon sacked Akili Smith and forced a fumble at the Bengal seven-yard line, and Jerome Bettis scored on the next play.

Four plays later, a snap flew over Smith’s head and Gildon dove on the ball. At Joey Porter’s urging, he got up and ran 22 yards for his second career touchdown, making it 45-21.

Pittsburgh’s defense, however, had problems stopping the run for a second game in a row. Fred Taylor ran for 234 yards last Sunday--the most ever against the Steelers--and Corey Dillon had 128 yards and two touchdowns Sunday as the Bengals made it a game until the turnovers.