Thursday night's visit by the hapless Cincinnati Bengals to Heinz Field revealed the game's cold heart.

The Bengals arrived planning to start rookie Anthony Collins at left tackle and first-year pro Nate Livings at left guard, two players whose combined NFL experience totaled six snaps. And they ultimately did so after having put Chad Ocho Cinco on a plane back to Cincinnati as punishment for conduct unbecoming.

The depleted state of the Bengals' No. 32 offense coincided nicely with the Steelers' scheduled pregame celebration honoring defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau's 50 years in the NFL.

That included a video tribute of LeBeau highlights, featuring several of his 62 career interceptions, a speech from the man of the hour, and hugs from defensive players, some of whom refer to their revered mentor and friend as "Coach LeBeau."

At that moment, a shutout for a defense ranked No. 1 in rushing, passing and total defense, a ceremonial zero for Coach LeBeau, seemed as attainable as it would have been appropriate.

Alas, the Bengals, who employed LeBeau for 18 of those 50 NFL seasons, including a two-plus season stint as their coach, weren't in a cooperative mood.

They scored the second time they got the ball, crafting an 11-play, 62-yard drive that culminated in a touchdown pass from Ryan Fitzpatrick to Glenn Holt, two players whose combined ages (25 and 24) fail to match LeBeau's half-century of NFL residence.

Wonder if they knew the reputation and stature of the man whose night they were trying to ruin?

At least LeBeau's defense managed its share of first-half moments.

There was James Farrior's third-and-1 stuffing of Chris Perry with just over eight minutes left in the second quarter. The stop preceded a drive that resulted in a 37-yard field goal that established a 10-7 Steelers lead.

There was a sack by LaMarr Woodley of Fitzpatrick with 1:13 left in the half, amazingly the Steelers' first of the night but their league-leading 37th all the same.

There was the Bengals' three-and-out inside the two-minute warning that Woodley's sack put the wraps on, which seemingly set the table for at least another field goal for the Steelers before the break.

And there was the absolute refusal to yield more than five harmless yards after Limas Sweed's irresponsibility on a punt return gave the ball back to the Bengals at the Steelers' 39.

Still, by halftime, this was a game that had become more about developing stories than it was one storied career.

By then, Heath Miller had reminded the Steelers what they'd been missing during his two-game absence.

By then, Ben Roethlisberger and Santonio Holmes, after a shaky start, had begun to once again resemble a quarterback-receiver tandem that had actually played together before.

And, by then, the Steelers' offense had miraculously found the end zone.

They did so again late in the third quarter, even running the ball in this time.

Given recent events, such a development was worth celebrating, although not the one the Steelers would have preferred.