CINCINNATI — An inexperienced quarterback's biggest ally is a stingy defense. The Bengals know it.
AJ McCarron will make only his fourth career start on Saturday night when the AFC North champions host the Pittsburgh Steelers.
No quarterback with so little experience has won an NFL playoff game since the 1979 season, when Gifford Nielsen led the Houston Oilers over the Chargers.
The subtext to that one: Houston's defense picked off Dan Fouts five times to set up the win. The Bengals (12-4) would like to do something similar to ease the pressure on McCarron.
Cincinnati set a club record for fewest points allowed and led the AFC.