Von Oelhoffen spent the first six years of his pro football life toiling in NFL Siberia for the old Bungles. Cincinnati's record during the von Oelhoffen years: 32-56, two head coaches, no winning seasons, toothless.

"I know the mentality they had, I don't know if they have it anymore," said von Oelhoffen, who has been a rock in the Steelers' defense this season at right end.

The mentality of losing was embedded. The Bengals started losing in 1991 and did not stop until this season. They haven't had a winning or playoff season since 1990 and they come to Heinz Field with a 6-5 record and riding a three-game winning streak.

Lewis, rightfully, has been hailed for a job well done, but part of that task began long ago during his interview process. He demanded the Bengals make changes if he were to take the job. President Mike Brown agreed. Some were subtle, some not so subtle, like Lewis having a big say in personnel decisions and the hiring of extra scouts and the improvement in their weight room and their off-season conditioning program.

Other Bengals coaches did not get that kind of help. Von Oelhoffen, drafted in the sixth round from Boise State in 1994, played under coaches Dave Shula and Bruce Coslet, and his last defensive coordinator there, Dick LeBeau, became the team's next head coach. The cycle of losing continued until Lewis arrived and was given more say-so in how things would be done.

"Coslet was a great coach, his hands were tied," von Oelhoffen said after practice yesterday. "Dick LeBeau, excellent coach, his hands were tied. It's Marvin's team now and Marvin's an excellent coach.

"I don't know if the other coaches would have done better if they had more power. But I suspect that Marvin went in there with the intention that 'When I'm the head coach we're going to run it my way. I'm going to put together my time and let's go and play football.' And that's what he did."

And now, look at this? The former Bungles are tied for the AFC North Division lead with the Baltimore Ravens."It's a weird situation," von Oelhoffen, 32, said. "I never thought we'd be playing them [in first place]. I knew they were good, but I didn't think they were going to come on this fast.

"If we had to play a team right now, I would say I'd rather play the Bengals because we match up well with them, not that we're better than them or tougher than them, but we match up well with the Bengals."

Von Oelhoffen has matched up well with a lot of people this season, which might be his finest since he signed as an unrestricted free agent with the Steelers in 2000. He has been an under-appreciated asset for the most part during his tenure here. He played nose tackle his first season, a sacrifice for a 6-foot-4 man in a 3-4 defense, then moved to right end when they drafted Casey Hampton in the first round in 2001.

With five games left, von Oelhoffen has a career-high five sacks, just one behind linebacker Jason Gildon for the team lead. His 14 quarterback pressures are second on the team to end Aaron Smith's 17. Coach Bill Cowher thought von Oelhoffen played his best game Sunday in Cleveland when he had four solo tackles, a sack, two pressures and a fumble recovery.

"It was," von Oelhoffen started to agree. "In the first half. In the second half I had a few mistakes. I just want to be consistent, I'm not worried about going to the Pro Bowl."

He has playing better because he's injury-free, for one thing, said Tim Lewis, Steelers defensive coordinator.

"He's done a fantastic job in the run game, the pass game," Lewis said. "He's putting pressure on people, which is what your looking for from a three-four defensive linemen, to move the pocket and let the outside linebackers make the sacks. Well, he's done a fantastic job staying after the quarterback."

So well that he has helped raise the entire work of the defensive line, which Cowher anointed the best he has had.

"Those three guys are using up blockers, they are penetrating," Cowher said. "You just don't play a 3-4 defense and just judge it by it's linebackers. You better judge it by its guys up front. Those guys are playing as hard and as consistent as any group we have had since we have been here. To have Kendrick Clancy come in, he has been solid, and Rodney Bailey. Those five guys are unselfish, they are dependable and they are consistent. They are warriors. I would not trade them for anybody."