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Bengals 13, Steelers 10

 
Published Dec. 24, 2012

PITTSBURGH — A.J. Green doesn't really care about the Bengals' woeful past. The wide receiver wasn't part of it and hasn't taken time to study it.

The Bengals were bad. End of story. And now they're good. Beginning of story.

Andy Dalton hit Green for a 21-yard pass in the final minutes to set up Josh Brown's 43-yard field goal with 4 seconds left Sunday to lift the Bengals to a 13-10 win over the Steelers. Cincinnati clinched a second straight playoff berth and eliminated Pittsburgh.

The only other time the Bengals made the playoffs in consecutive seasons came in 1981-82, six years before Green was born.

"A lot of people talked about we hadn't been (to the playoffs) in back-to-back seasons in 30 years," Green said. "I don't worry about that stuff. I've been here two years and we made the playoffs all two years."

Brown missed a 56-yard field goal in the fourth quarter, but got a second chance when former Florida safety Reggie Nelson picked off Ben Roethlisberger and returned it to the Pittsburgh 46 with 14 seconds left. Dalton then found Green down the right sideline to set up Brown, the former Seahawk and Ram.

Cornerback Leon Hall returned Roethlisberger's first pick 17 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter.

"We should be (in the playoffs) if it wasn't for me," Roethlisberger said after his second game-deciding interception in eight days.