PITTSBURGH -- The Cincinnati Bengals can't win close games in the fourth quarter, so quarterback Jeff Blake made sure it was over by the third.


Blake worked over Pittsburgh's patchwork secondary like a longtime pro rather than a second year starter, throwing three touchdown passes as the Bengals dominated the Steelers 27-9 Thursday night.


Cincinnati (3-4) hadn't beaten Pittsburgh (3-4) in eight games and had never before won an AFC Central road game in head coach David Shula's three-plus seasons.


The Steelers' fourth loss in five games signals a low point in Bill Cowher's reign as coach.


The Bengals had lost three games this year in the fourth quarter by a combined nine points, but Blake still confidently told a TV crew he would throw five touchdowns and no interceptions.


He might have, too, if the Bengals hadn't opened a 24-6 lead in the third quarter, allowing him to keep the ball on the ground after that.


By then, Blake had hit each of his three productive wide receivers -- Darnay Scott, Tony McGee and Carl Pickens -- for touchdowns against a Steelers secondary that clearly misses the injured Rod Woodson.


All three scores came against Alvoid Mays, who replaced Woodson when the all-star cornerback badly injured his right knee just eight plays into the season.


n


The San Francisco 49ers, without All-Pro quarterback Steve Young, face a rare must-win situation against the Rams, former NFC West Division doormats.


If the Niners (4-2) and Elvis Grbac, making his first career start in place of Young, who has a bruised throwing shoulder, lose to St. Louis (5-1), they will fall two games behind the Rams.


The game will mark the last Rams appearance in Busch Stadium. They are scheduled to open their new stadium on Nov. 12 against Carolina, their next home game.


(For schedule, see Scorecard.)