CINCINNATI -- Kimo von Oelhoffen said he was only trying to do his job.

	TOP: Tony Tribble, Associated Press BOTTOM: Michael Keating, Cincinnati Enquirer via AP Kimo von Oelhoeffen rolls into Cincinnati quarterback Carson Palmer above, who had to be taken off the field in a cart, below. Click photo for larger image.

"I was playing football and he was playing football, no more no less," von Oelhoffen said after his hit on Carson Palmer knocked the Bengals' quarterback out of the game and possibly out of action until early next season.

Palmer was carted off the field after von Oelhoffen's hit. He later was diagnosed with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. The Bengals said they hoped to have him back for training camp this year.

Some Bengals, including halfback Chris Perry, pointed fingers at von Oelhoffen after the play, which was a 66-yard completion to Chris Henry.

Von Oelhoffen said he was trying to "sack the quarterback, what else?"

"They had every right to be upset," von Oelhoffen said. "They just lost their best player. But I hope he gets better. He's a hell of a football player. There's going to be some wars here the next few years against this team."

Von Oelhoffen's teammates were quick to defend the hit, which came low because the defensive end was practically crawling toward Palmer. There was no penalty on the play.

"Guys were jawing," linebacker Joey Porter said. "I was having personal battles with their coaching staff. They made it seem as if that play was intentional. That was a clean play between the whistle.

"They were just so mad. They felt that once Palmer got hurt, they were done. They were like, 'Oh, cheap shot,' cursing and going crazy. It's a play that happened between whistles.

"We had four or five guys go down and get put out of the game today. We didn't sit up there and cry and harp about it. It happened, it's football."

Coach Bill Cowher said "nothing was done intentionally." He said it was an accident and part of the game.

Can you spare a coach?

The Steelers will grant permission to the Detroit Lions and possibly the Green Bay Packers to interview offensive line coach Russ Grimm this week.

Lions president Matt Millen likely would travel to Pittsburgh to interview Grimm Thursday night or Friday.

The Packers also have asked to talk to him.

The Steelers have received no official request by any other team to interview offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt, although the Packers and possibly the New Orleans Saints may request an interview.

Jumping the gun

The playoff-hardened Steelers looked like the novice postseason participants early in the game. They had more false start penalties in the first quarter than they did first downs. On their second drive, Hines Ward and Antwaan Randle El were called for consecutive false starts, the team's second and third of the quarter. Willie Parker's 15-yard run was canceled by Randle El's penalty.

Aid and comfort

The Steelers lent a big hand to help the Bengals score on their third score to go ahead, 17-7, in the second quarter.

	Matt Freed, Post-Gazette Bengals center Rich Braham and Steelers safety Troy Polamalu are separated by officials during a second quarter scuffle. Polamalu was assessed a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for jamming the football in Braham's face. Click photo for larger image.

First, cornerback Ike Taylor let a deep pass for Chad Johnson hit his hands and fall into the end zone, another potential interception dropped that has become a Steelers trademark this season. Then, after a third-down incompletion, safety Troy Polamalu gave the Bengals new life by shoving a football into the face of Bengals center Rich Braham after the play.

"That was just plain stupid," Polamalu said.

The Steelers did it again when a third-down pass came up short, except linebacker James Farrior was caught for illegal contact, giving Cincinnati a first down at the 11. Finally, on third down again, Jon Kitna completed a pass to a wide open T.J. Houshmandzadeh for a 7-yard touchdown and a 17-7 lead in the second quarter.

Polamalu also questioned his state of mind when he intercepted Kitna late in the fourth quarter with the Steelers ahead by 14 and threw a lateral pass in Bengals territory to teammate Chris Hope.

"Another foolish play," Polamalu said. "I didn't play very smart."

Road rematch

The Steelers now head for Indianapolis, where they will play at 1 p.m. Sunday for another rematch in these playoffs.

"Right now, we just enjoy playing," Cowher said. "We're just going to go to the next game where they send us and we're going to try to find a way to win this next game."

The Colts beat the visiting Steelers, 26-7, on Nov. 28 in the RCA Dome, a game in which quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's right thumb was injured. Indianapolis struck early when Peyton Manning threw an 80-yard touchdown pass to Marvin Harrison, who beat cornerback Ike Taylor badly on the play in the first three minutes of the game.

Indianapolis led, 10-7, after one quarter, 16-7, at halftime, and turned a gamble by coach Bill Cowher into a 23-7 lead. Cowher ordered an onside kick at halftime that failed.

The Colts took over and moved in for the game's final touchdown.

Indianapolis earned the AFC's No. 1 seed and plays the lowest surviving seed. The Steelers were the first No. 6 seed to go 11-5.

If the Steelers win Sunday, they would play at Denver or New England Jan. 22 in the AFC championship game.

Off the bench

Bengals backup quarterback Jon Kitna, who was called on to replace Carson Palmer on the third play of the game, experienced a run of emotions as the action unfolded in front of him. On the second play of the game, Palmer threw for 66 yards but was injured.

	Matt Freed, Post-Gazette Bengals backup Jon Kitna tries to scramble away from Steelers linebacker Joey Porter in the third quarter. Click photo for larger image.

"On that particular play, it was incredible," Kitna said. "I'm excited that the play happened. It was a big play. We got 66 yards. ... As I'm excited, I see someone laying on the ground and I start looking for Carson. He's not among the guys standing up. So I have to run for my helmet and start warming up.

"I'm excited about going into the game but I'm upset about Carson. You never know in this game. You never know in life. You have to be ready to adjust at any time."

Kitna led the Bengals to scores on three consecutive possessions but never again. He completed six of his first seven passes. For the game, he completed 24 of 40 for 197 yards. He was intercepted twice.

Kitna did not play in the Bengals' first 13 games, played sparingly in the next two and got most of the playing time in the team's final game.

Special touch

Among the keys to yesterday's playoff victory was improvement by the Steelers' special teams in restricting the Bengals' starting field position much better than they did in a 38-31 loss Dec. 4 at Heinz Field.

In that game, the Bengals' average starting field position was their 43. Yesterday the average was their 27. Tab Perry, who returned a kick to the Steelers' 3 on Dec. 4 to set up the difference-making score, didn't have a return longer than 32 yards yesterday.

Quick hits

The victory ran the Steelers' record to 8-0 since 1994 in their first playoff game. The bad news for them: They are 1-7 in games after winning their first.

It was the Steelers' first playoff victory on the road since 1989, when they won in Houston in the first round. Since then, they had lost five in a row away from home, including one in the Super Bowl in the 1995 season.

Bill Cowher was successful on the only coach's replay challenge of the day, in the third quarter. A catch by Cincinnati's Chad Johnson along the sideline was overturned when replay showed he never had control of the ball.

Cedrick Wilson's previous longest reception came Dec. 24 at Cleveland when he caught a 46-yarder. He caught a 54-yard pass from Ben Roethlisberger yesterday.

The Bengals went 9 for 16 on third down a week after the Detroit Lions went 10 for 17 against the Steelers' defense. Not the prescription for an extended postseason, but the Steelers seemed to improve things late in the game yesterday. "I guess we did a good job on the back end because [Jon] Kitna was running around with the ball a lot," said linebacker James Farrior, who had one of the Steelers' two interceptions. "We mixed it up a lot."

Injury report

	Peter Diana, Post-Gazette Linebacker James Harrison on the bench after sustaining a high ankle sprain in the first half at Cincinnati. Click photo for larger image.

The Steelers lost linebacker James Harrison and wide receiver Quincy Morgan, each to high ankle sprains, injuries that should keep them out of the next playoff game.

When linebacker Clark Haggans' ankle was injured early in the third quarter, rookie Andre Frazier replaced him on the left outside for a handful of plays before Haggans returned to finish the game.

Inactives

Steelers: QB Tommy Maddox (No. 3), RB Duce Staley, CB Willie Williams, LB Rian Wallace, G Chris Kemoeatu, OT Trai Essex, WR Nate Washington, DE Shaun Nua.

Bengals: QB Craig Krenzel (No. 3), CB Greg Brooks, FB Nick Luchey, LB Nate Webster, DE Jonathan Fanene, WR Kelley Washington, DT Mathias Askew, DE Duane Clemons.