Steelers Playoff Update.

From the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review:

Polamalu looking for redemption
The last meeting between the Steelers and the Bengals almost turned on a play Steelers strong safety Troy Polamalu almost made.

Big Ben counting down to start of playoffs

Johnson takes the fifth

Bengals WR disrespecting the towel

Matchup: Polamalu vs. Palmer


Steelers Notebook:

+ Only 10 Bengals players have played in the postseason, which is 31 fewer than a Steelers team that visits Cincinnati for a first-round playoff game at 4:30 p.m. Sunday. The Bengals' playoff vets have combined for a total of 36 postseason games, compared to 178 for the Steelers. Of the Bengals' 10 playoff players, only five are current starters, including cornerback Tory James (11 postseason games), defensive lineman John Thornton (7), guard Bobbie Williams (4), tight end Reggie Kelly (2) and cornerback Deltha O'Neal (1).

+ Some players get nervous at the thought of playing in their first playoff game. Steelers WR Hines Ward got a little more than that in 2001.

"I almost threw up," he said. "Seriously, I was so nervous thinking about not dropping the ball and don't do this and don't do that. Luckily for us, we went out there and beat (Baltimore) pretty badly."

Asked why it had such an adverse effect, Ward said, "I never experienced it. The last time I was in the playoffs was during high school. The magnitude of the NFL you get more nervous. All these cameras and stuff sometimes you think about it. Now that we kind of had some playoff experience it is fine. I remember not making the playoffs and watching and thinking next year I want to be there and in the playoffs."

+ Since losing to the Bengals 38-31 at Heinz Field, the Steelers have won four in a row. They enter Sunday's game as a 3-point favorite - and LB Joey Porter is feeling confident.

"I like our chances," he said.

+ Bengals QB Carson Palmer, the league's second-leading passer who scorched the Steelers for 227 yards and three touchdowns in the Week 12 win, spoke as if the Steelers are the team to beat in the AFC.

"They're everybody's pick for the Super Bowl and everybody's saying they're the scariest team in the playoffs, and they definitely are. They hit a little bump in the road midway through the season and got things going lately."

+ LT Marvel Smith missed the Steelers' 38-31 loss to the Bengals in Week 12 with sprains in both ankles. The game represented the third consecutive loss for the Steelers and dropped their record to 7-5.

"That was a tough game to sit there and watch," Smith said, "but that's in the past."

Smith returned three games later in a victory at Cleveland, upping his record to 9-2 this season when he plays an entire game. The Steelers are 24-3 with Smith in the starting lineup the past two years.

"It's always good to have your offensive line out there, your starters," QB Ben Roethlisberger said. "Having Marvel at left tackle, it's your blind side and it's good to have someone out there like that, and I know I can count on him when it's time to pass block and picking up blitzes."

+ With the Bengals and Steelers splitting their regular-season series, Ward used a boxing reference for their playoff game.

"It is kind of like Muhammad Ali and (Joe) Frazier - we get a third chance to get our title back."

+ Bengals coach Marvin Lewis was asked if he was surprised his team is the underdog in this game, despite playing at home and despite winning the AFC North over the Steelers.

"No," he said.

Why?

"I have been the underdog my whole life."

+ The Steelers and Bengals enter this weekend's game healthy. Seven Bengals are on the injury list, but all are probable. Six Steelers are listed, with two questionable, including LB Andre Frazier (hamstring) and DE Travis Kirschke (back). Kirschke is the lone Steelers player to miss yesterday's practice.

Bengals notebook: Will Bengals fans keep tickets?