Peter Diana, Post-Gazette Willie Parker celebrates after scoring against the Bengals yesterday at Heinz Field. Click photo for larger image.

It's a rare day when the Steelers lose a lead in the fourth quarter and also lose a game when one of their backs tops 100 yards rushing.

They managed to do both yesterday when Cincinnati came from behind by scoring two fourth-quarter touchdowns for a 28-20 victory.

Willie Parker ran 31 times for 133 yards and two touchdowns, his eighth 100-yard game and second in three games this season. It also was the first time he has scored twice in a game.

The past 32 times one of their runners topped 100 rushing yards, the Steelers did not lose (31-0-1). Coach Bill Cowher has been among the best at protecting leads. He's 101-1-1 when his team gets on top more than 10 points in any game. Their biggest lead was seven yesterday, and they could not hold that nor a three-point fourth-quarter advantage.

The Steelers slipped to 99-22-1 under Cowher when they score first.

"The better team didn't walk off the field [a winner] today," Parker said.

That's similar to what the Bengals were saying in January when the Steelers beat them in the playoffs after Carson Palmer was lost in the first quarter with a knee injury.

"It's a big win," Bengals halfback Rudi Johnson said. "Super Bowl champions, so say no more. They won the Super Bowl, they've run this division for a long time, so for us to come in and put our foot down, it says a lot."

Warm foot, cold team

Jeff Reed never went beyond one game to start a season before he made his first field goal. He entered yesterday with no field goals and just one try in the first two games. When his first field goal of the day, a 48-yard try, was blocked by defensive tackle John Thornton in the second quarter, he had to wonder if he'd go three games without one.

But Reed made his next two, from 37 and 36 yards in the second half, and is 2 of 4 for the season.

T.J. Houshmandzadeh comes up with the ball for a touchdown after tipping it away from Deshea Townsend in the fourth quarter. Click photo for larger image.

"It was nice, man," Reed said. "The comfort level now is just like I've been doing this for five years. Going 0-1 in the first game and slipping on that one, and then nothing in the second game except one kickoff ... I'm happy with my performance, but we didn't win."

Thornton became an interesting footnote in Cincinnati, where he has been involved in all three Bengals blocks -- for and against -- since 2000. The last time the Bengals had one blocked, he did it when he played for the Titans in 2000. The previous time before yesterday when the Bengals blocked one, he did it against Seattle in 2003.

Slow start

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger set the NFL rookie record with a 98.1 passer rating. He was third in the NFL last season with a 98.3 passer rating.

After two games this season, his rating is 34.3. He's 35 of 71 for 349 yards, no touchdowns and five interceptions. His ratings in his past three games are 30.7, 38.7 and 22.6, the latter in the Super Bowl. Those are three of his five lowest ratings as he enters his third NFL season. He also has lost two in a row for the second time in his young career, dropping his overall record to 27-6.

"I feel like today was a big step for me," said Roethlisberger, who missed the opener after he had his appendix removed. "I felt like we were really clicking on offense with the receivers."

He did, however, throw three interceptions, one a pass intended for Heath Miller in the end zone on the first play of the second quarter that was intercepted by Madieu Williams.

"I knew Heath was coming across and I knew he wasn't there yet. I saw the linebacker and [Miller] went behind the linebacker. I expected him to come out the other side and he was coming out. I just didn't see [Williams] coming from the other direction."

There was a plausible explanation for his second interception, which came on a long pass to Cedrick Wilson.

"I had great protection. The line gave me a ton of time. I saw their safety coming up to cover Hines and I saw Ced going deep. When I stepped to throw it, I stepped on Marvel's [Smith] foot and couldn't get any power. I had Cedrick wide open. Unfortunately, I couldn't get it there. That's the way it goes sometimes."

The awkward step caused Roethlisberger to fall. "I got up to make sure Marvel was all right. I was worried about him."

Coach's call

One of the reasons the Steelers drafted tight end Heath Miller as their No. 1 pick two years ago was because of his ability to get open and his great hands.

But when the Steelers were trying to overcome two late, costly turnovers against the Bengals, Miller rarely made it onto the field. The reason is that when the Steelers are in their two-minute offense, as they were in their final two drives, Miller isn't included in that offensive package. The Steelers use four wide receivers and running back Verron Haynes in those situations.

"In that formation, we just use those four wideouts," said Miller, who caught three passes for 34 yards yesterday. "What we use depends on down and distance. We run the plays the coaches call."

Miller's final catch of the day came early in the third quarter, when he hauled in a 13-yard catch on a second-and-9 play from the Bengals' 49. After that, he was silent the rest of the game.

Coming into the Bengals game, Miller led Steelers receivers with 112 yards, including an 87-yard touchdown in the opening victory Sept. 7 against Miami. He now has seven catches for 146 yards, which still leads the team in yards receiving.

Lineup changes

The Bengals started Kevin Kaesviharn for the injured Jackson at strong safety, Eric Ghiaciuc for the injured Rich Braham at center and Chris Henry for T.J. Houshmandzadeh at wide receiver.

Quick hits

The visitor won for the seventh time in the past eight games between the Bengals and Steelers. ... RB Najeh Davenport was active for the second game in a row, and for the second consecutive time, he did not play. ... The Bengals have won nine of their past 11 on the road and their past six regular-season games against division opponents. ... Coach Bill Cowher said his team escaped the game with no significant injuries. ... Hines Ward caught a pass in his 122nd consecutive game but the four-time Pro Bowler had only two for 17 yards and after three games has only 9 for 99 yards.

Inactives

Steelers: Brian St. Pierre (third QB), WR Willie Reid, RB Duce Staley, LB Rian Wallace, C Marvin Philip, G Chris Kemoeatu, OT Willie Colon, TE Tim Euhus.

Bengals: Doug Johnson (third QB), WR Reggie McNeal, S Dexter Jackson, LB A.J. Nicholson, C Rich Braham, WR Antonio Chatman, WR Tab Perry, DE Frostee Rucker