Ric Francis, Associated Press In 2002, Steelers safety Troy Polamalu (43) and Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer were teammates, roommates and practice opponents on the Southern California team. Click photo for larger image.

Troy Polamalu said Cincinnati quarterback Carson Palmer was just being kind because they were former housemates at Southern California.

But Palmer called Polamalu "the best defensive player in the league," and Palmer should know: He seems to run into him every time the Steelers (11-5) and Bengals (11-5) play each other. They get together again tomorrow -- the NFL's No. 2-rated passer and the two-time Pro Bowl safety -- in a 4:30 p.m. wild-card playoff game at Paul Brown Stadium.

"You have to count on him making a couple plays here and there, and we're going to do our best job to keep him out of the flow of the game because he's a phenomenal player," Palmer said.

"I think he's just saying that because I'm his friend," Polamalu said. "We have to keep our eye on him."

Polamalu and Palmer shared a house with six other players at Southern California and have remained friends since their playing days in college. Each was a No. 1 draft choice in 2003 -- Palmer was the top overall pick, Polamalu 16th -- and each didn't become a starter until their second season.

But it didn't take long for Polamalu and Palmer to become among the best at their respective position in the NFL.

"I was oblivious to the situation when I was coming out of college, knowing they were in the same division," Polamalu said. "But after I got here, I did realize we were going to have a lot of battles in front of us and I was excited about that.

"Unfortunately, he's my friend, and in order for someone to succeed, somebody has to fail, which is the bad thing about our friendship."

Polamalu and Palmer have done more than just exchange hugs on the football field.

Two years ago, Polamalu intercepted a Palmer pass in a game at Heinz Field and returned it 26 yards for a touchdown -- lowering his helmet and running over his friend near the goal line in the process.

This year, in the Steelers' 27-13 victory in Cincinnati, Polamalu was providing an escort for safety Chris Hope after an interception and knocked Palmer backward with a punishing block.

In the return game at Heinz Field, it was Polamalu who nearly intercepted a first-down pass by Palmer with 2:52 remaining that would have been returned for a touchdown. The pass glanced off Polamalu's hands near the Bengals' 25.

"I guess those were just lucky -- the right spot at the right time," Polamalu said. "But it's weird that it never ever happened with any other quarterback."

Chad and his shadow

Cornerback Ike Taylor probably will be assigned to shadow Chad Johnson, the AFC's leader in catches (97) and receiving yards (1,432), just as he did the first two games against the Bengals.

Johnson was held to nine catches for 148 yards and no touchdowns in those games, which included a meaningless 47-yarder in the final minutes of the first meeting at Paul Brown Stadium.

In his first year as a starter, Taylor finished second in the NFL with 25 pass breakups -- nine in the past three games -- and was fifth on the team with 95 tackles.

But he was disappointed he had only one interception.

Taylor said he and coach Bill Cowher counted nine dropped passes by the fourth-year cornerback this season.

"I should have had nine picks," Taylor said. "That's the next level -- from the breakups to the interceptions."

Injury updates

Special-teams co-captain Sean Morey (calf/probable) returned to practice and expects to play against the Bengals.

Also, backup defensive end Travis Kirschke (back) practiced for the second day in a row and was upgraded from questionable to probable.

Special teams update

Since Bengals returner Tab Perry hurt them with kick returns of 46 and 94 yards in the last meeting, the Steelers have allowed an average of 17.2 yards on 23 kick returns the past four games

Also, the special teams contributed directly to the Steelers' first three touchdowns in the victory Sunday against the Detroit Lions, including an 81-yard punt return by Antwaan Randle El.

Randle El is the only player in the NFL with more than one punt return for a touchdown this season.

"It's great that we have an impact on the game and help our team win games, but that's the goal going into every game, especially in the playoffs, where the teams are so evenly matched and field position will impact the game," Morey said.

"We have to pin their offense deep and give them a long field, so our defense can work."