Peter Diana, Post-Gazette Lions punter Nick Harris looks for help as Antwaan Randle El blows by him to score on an 81-yard return. Click photo for larger image. More Steelers The Bus drives Steelers into the playoffs Steelers earn another meeting with the Bengals Lions' ugly season ends with a loss to the Steelers Steelers Notebook: Ward's loss is Bettis' gain Steelers Photo Journal: Game Sixteen More football AFC: Bengals get a thumping from the Chiefs AFC: Patriots get their kicks in defeat NFL Notebook: Vikings fire Tice; Capers appears to be next Stats and more in the Sports Forecaster NFL Watch.

The Steelers rang in the New Year, rang up the Detroit Lions and set a date for their rubber match with the Cincinnati Bengals -- the winner moves on in the playoffs.

The sixth and final AFC playoff seed went to the Steelers yesterday because of their 35-21 victory against the stubborn Lions (5-11) at Heinz Field, their fourth consecutive victory.

The Steelers open the playoffs at 4:30 p.m. Sunday in Cincinnati, the first postseason game between the teams.

The AFC North foes split their regular-season meetings and finished tied at 11-5. The Bengals earned the division title based on a better record within the division and enter their first postseason play in 15 years as the No. 3 seed in the conference.

The Steelers' rematch against the Bengals came about because the Patriots lost yesterday.

"We wanted this game," linebacker Larry Foote said. "When we lost to them here, the feeling wasn't good. We got our wish."

The Bengals beat the Steelers, 38-31, Dec. 4 at Heinz Field. Cincinnati lost to them at home Oct. 23, 27-13.

"Bring 'em on, I can't wait," said defensive end Brett Keisel, who recovered a fumble on a punt return that led to a Steelers touchdown yesterday. "I like playing against Cincinnati. I think we have something to prove."

They didn't play that way early yesterday against the Lions, who slipped to 18-point underdogs just before kickoff. The Steelers scored the first time they touched the ball on Antwaan Randle El's 81-yard punt return, but fell behind the Lions, 14-7, and led by just one touchdown with 5 1/2 minutes left in the third quarter.

"We weren't worried, but we were definitely concerned," Foote said. "The whole game, win and we're in, lose and we go home, so we were definitely concerned."

Their special teams play, the running of Willie Parker and the run-scoring of Jerome Bettis helped them prevail on a day in which their defense sagged and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger threw two interceptions. Parker ran 26 times for 135 yards, and Bettis scored on three short touchdown runs, tying his career high on what likely was his final game at Heinz Field.

Ricardo Colclough's 63-yard kickoff return shortened the field for Bettis' first touchdown, a 1-yard run that tied the score near the end of the first quarter. Keisel's recovery of an Eddie Drummond fumble caused by Chidi Iwuoma on a punt return in the second quarter led to Bettis' second score, a 5-yard run in the second quarter.

	Peter Diana, Post-Gazette Steelers receiver Sean Morey and Lions returner Eddy Drummond try to catch up to the bouncing ball after Drummond fumbled a second quarter punt. Steelers defensive end Brett Keisel eventually corralled the pigskin. Click photo for larger image.

"We didn't play well enough offensively and defensively, but I can't say enough about our special teams," coach Bill Cowher said.

The Steelers' defense, ranked third in the NFL, couldn't stop the Lions and quarterback Joey Harrington early on, who looked more like Joey Namath yesterday. Harrington, one of the lowest-rated passers in the league, threw three touchdown passes yesterday while completing 17 of 33 for 212 yards, no interceptions and just one sack.

His 11-yard toss to tight end Marcus Pollard tied the score after Randle El's second touchdown return of the season. Harrington put the Lions in front, 14-7, with a 1-yard scoring pass to fullback Cory Schlesinger two plays after a 63-yard pass to halfback Shawn Bryson.

By the half, the Lions had outgained the Steelers, 222-88, although the Steelers led, 21-14.

"We were not worried but more ticked off," said defensive end Kimo von Oelhoffen. "We are better than what we did early in the game. But we responded, I thought pretty good."

The second-half reversal began on the Steelers' opening drive when Hines Ward caught his only pass of the day for 40 yards that set up Bettis' third touchdown, a 4-yard run for a 28-14 lead.

Harrington threw his third touchdown pass, 15 yards to Roy Williams, but the Steelers responded on the next drive when rookie Heath Miller caught a 43-yard pass and Roethlisberger ended the day's scoring on a 7-yard scramble.

	Lake Fong, Post-Gazette Detroit Lions halfback Kevin Jones dodges a tackle by Steelers linebacker Clark Haggans in the first quarter. Jones gained 42 yards in the first half, but was held to 78 for the game. Click photo for larger image.

The Steelers buried the Lions in the second half, 243 yards to 86, and actually stopped Detroit a couple of times on third down. The Lions converted 10 of 17 third downs, revisiting an old bugaboo for the Steelers.

"Third downs!" Cowher moaned. "We had third-and-19 and they converted, third-and-13 and they converted ... the things that we had been doing well, we did not do today. We have to rectify that."

Three drops of possible interceptions did not help, either -- by Troy Polamalu, Foote and Ike Taylor. Those defenders tried to outdo the Steelers' receivers who could not hang onto the ball -- Ward dropped one in the end zone, and Cedrick Wilson and Quincy Morgan also dropped passes.

Another glanced off the hands of Randle El near the goal line before the half and was intercepted by safety Bracy Walker at the 3 to end a Steelers scoring threat.

They could make such mistakes and survive because they played the Lions. Sunday should be a different story against the revived Bengals.

"They're playing at a high level," Cowher said. "They're explosive. ... We certainly have to play better than the last time we played them, and better defensively than how we played today."