With the upcoming 2025 season, Steelers.com is revisiting past games against their opponents. This time, they focus on a game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
On December 12, 2010, at Heinz Field (now Acrisure Stadium), the Pittsburgh Steelers secured a victory over the Cincinnati Bengals with a score of 23-7. Remarkably, the win was achieved without an offensive touchdown from the Steelers.
The game began with the Bengals taking an early lead at 7-0 due to penalties that favored them. However, safety Troy Polamalu changed the momentum by intercepting his former college roommate, Carson Palmer, and returning it for a touchdown to tie the game.
Linebacker LaMarr Woodley expressed his excitement after Polamalu’s play: “It definitely got me going,” he said. Despite earlier allowing a Bengals touchdown due to an offside penalty, Woodley later intercepted Palmer himself and returned it for another touchdown.
“Jumping offside and letting Cincinnati drive down the field and put seven on the board,” said Woodley. “That was definitely on me… I was able to go out there and make plays.”
Kicker Shaun Suisham contributed three field goals to keep adding points for Pittsburgh. The defense continued to shine as Polamalu thwarted another potential Bengals score by intercepting Palmer again in the end zone.
Coach Mike Tomlin praised Polamalu’s performance: “I am glad Troy is on my team… no one is playing as good as Troy Polamalu in football right now in my opinion.”
