Strong safety Troy Polamalu (5-foot-10 and 212 pounds) might be the Steelers most complete player defensively.

On Sept. 18 in Houston, Polamalu registered three sacks -- tying an NFL record for safeties. On Jan. 2 against Detroit, Polamalu ran down RB Paul Smith following a completion and forced a fumble. And there is Polamalu's signature play, an interception and 26-yard return for a touchdown of a Carson Palmer pass to seal a 28-17 victory over the Bengals on Oct. 3, 2004. Polamalu ran over the Bengals' QB on the way to the end zone.

Opposing offenses are making a habit of doing their best to account for Polamalu. And, it's been working. Polamalu has no sacks since the Houston game, no interceptions since Nov. 28 at Indianapolis (two on the season), one forced fumble (in the regular-season finale against the Lions) and no fumble recoveries.

He is influencing plays through his multitude of alignments and assignments more than he is making big plays. The Steelers' defense isn't complaining; Polamalu's impact transcends mere numbers.

Carson Palmer (6-foot-5, 230 pounds) made his first Pro Bowl this season, largely because the Bengals' second-year starting quarterback and third-year pro limited his turnovers.

Palmer reduced his interceptions in 2005 from 18 to 12, and improved his TD passes from 18 to a Bengals-record and NFL-best 32 as his passer rating improved from 77.3 to 101.1 (second in the NFL behind Peyton Manning's 104.1). The Steelers have witnessed Palmer's improvement first-hand. In 2004, Palmer threw a pair of interceptions that were returned for TDs while losing two games to the Steelers (Polamalu's and a 14-yarder by LB James Farrior on Nov. 21 in Cincinnati). This season, Palmer threw two interceptions in two games against the Steelers, neither was returned for a TD and the Bengals achieved a split in the series.

THE MATCHUP: The Steelers can use Polamalu to rush, cover or both, but Palmer has enough weapons surrounding him to avoid Polamalu. Palmer has the arm to go deep and the grasp of the Bengals' offense to go elsewhere if Polamalu is helping on WR Chad Johnson. Palmer can also run the no-huddle efficiently, which might limit the schemes the Steelers can play on defense. That might reduce Polamalu to a run-stuffer and blitzer, and Palmer's a tough quarterback to get to (19 sacks all season). EDGE: BENGALS