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Willie Parker rushed for 53 of his game-high 93 yards in the first quarter Sunday at Paul Brown Stadium. But a fast start by Parker wasn't the reason why backup Rashard Mendenhall played only on special teams in the Steelers' 23-20 loss to the Bengals. Coach Mike Tomlin said Mendenhall didn't have a good week of practice. "Rashard wasn't on the detail (last) week," Tomlin said, "so I chose not to play him on offense."

Mandel's Take: Perhaps Mendenhall thought he could take it easy in practice after his one long run in last week's game, but Coach Tomlin wasn't having it. As a result, Willie Parker carried the ball 25 times for 93 yards and Mendenhall played exclusively on special teams. Parker's 3.7 yards per carry weren't particularly impressive and the Steelers loss to Cincinnati--a team they've traditionally owned--cannot sit well with the defending champs, who now have the same record as the Detroit Lions. Injuries, mental lapses, and poor decision-making have contributed to the poor start, and if the Steelers don't straighten themselves out in time for next week's Sunday game against the Chargers, they'll find the hole too big to dig out from.

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