While we make the effort to pass this nauseating weekend, I didn't want to go without saying that Cedric Benson gave another quality effort. Granted, quality effort means nothing in the NFL in losses. However, compared to his mates, effort was defined as playing patty-cake with ascending receivers on their way to scoring a touchdown (and dancing horribly).
In two starts this season, Benson has recorded 101 yards rushing on 27 attempts for 3.7 yards-per-rush. Clearly, Benson isn't helped when the Bengals conduct their second-half swan dive. The Bengals have allowed 49 points, in the second half of the past two games combined which limits Benson's opportunities.
| Steelers | Texans | |
| First Quarter | 2 - 9 | 5 - 27 |
| Second Quarter | 5 - 16 | 3 - 14 |
| Third Quarter | 4 - 14 | 3 - 5 |
| Fourth Quarter | 3 - 13 | 2 - 3 |
| 14 - 52 | 13 - 49 |
Benson has also lead all running backs with three receptions for 30 yards -- including the team's longest reception against the Texans, sharing that claim with Chad Johnson.
In the past two games, Benson has accumulated 131 yards total; Houshmandzadeh has 121 yards total and Chad Johnson has 96 during the same time-frame.
| Yards in the past two games. | Rec. | Rush | Total |
| C. Benson | 10-20 | 52-49 | 131 |
| Houshmandzadeh | 58-54 | 0-9 | 121 |
| C. Johnson | 52-44 | 0-0 | 96 |