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Saturday, October 12, 2002

By Gerry Dulac, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

Steelers vs. Bengals, 1 p.m. tomorrow, Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati. TV: KDKA. Radio: WBGG-AM (970), WDVE-FM (102.5) and the Steelers Radio Network.

ILB James Farrior and Bengals FB Lorenzo Neal played together on the New York Jets, so Farrior needs no introduction to the man who clears the path for RB Corey Dillon. Farrior will get reacquainted with Neal, 5-foot-10, 245 pounds, tomorrow."He's got to be the best blocking fullback in the league," Farrior said. Not that he needed any convincing, but Farrior watched tape of the Bengals' loss in Indianapolis and watched Neal hammer Colts' MLB Rob Morris on at least six occasions. That's part of the reason Dillon was able to rush for 164 yards and score on a 67-yard run.. "He was killing him," Farrior said. "You got to be low and you have to have leverage against him. They like to run the lead, and they'll run to my side."

WR Plaxico Burress is happy to see Tommy Maddox at quarterback. Since Maddox took over for Kordell Stewart, Burress has seven catches for 102 yards and two touchdowns in five quarters. With Stewart, Burress had six catches for 62 yards in 11 quarters.

The Steelers have done a good job of harvesting victories in October under Bill Cowher. Since 1992, the Steelers are an NFL-best 29-10 in October. Their loss in New Orleans last week ended an 11-game winning streak in October. They had not lost in the month since a 24-21 defeat to the Buffalo Bills on Oct. 10, 1999.

The Bengals lost WR Darnay Scott, a noted Steelers killer, in free agency and replaced him with former Redskins receiver Michael Westbrook, who signed a three-year, $4.5 million contract. But, after five games, Westbrook has just four catches for 41 yards and has been demoted from the starting lineup. Westbrook, who played with Kordell Stewart at Colorado, got off to a slow start because he broke his wrist three days into training camp. But he is unhappy he's not being utilized more in a Bengals offense that, until last week, had produced just two touchdowns in four games.

Coach Bill Cowher talked last week about having the luxury of keeping a designated special teams player on the 53-man roster, as the New Orleans Saints do with Fred McAfee. But the Bengals keep three kickers on their roster -- K Neil Rackers, P Nick Harris and K/P Travis Dorsch, their No. 4 draft pick. Dorsch won the 2001 Ray Guy Award as the nation's best punter at Purdue, but he also holds the Big Ten record for points (355) and field goals (68). Dorsch, though, has been inactive for all five games this season.