PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers aren't talking like a team that expects to be one and done in the playoffs.

They've already won at Cincinnati this season, so winning there again Sunday wouldn't seem to be the significant obstacle most sixth-seeded teams face when they play at the No. 3-seeded team in the conference playoffs. No sixth-seeded team has reached the Super Bowl since the NFL's current playoff formula was adopted in 1990.

The Steelers also have won four in a row — a modest streak, for sure, compared to their 14-game run of a season ago, but still much better than Cincinnati's two consecutive losses.

They are relatively injury-free, too, with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger no longer complaining about his thumb injury and with their offensive line intact. They've got an emotional edge, too, as NFL No. 5 career rusher Jerome Bettis tries one last time to make it to the Super Bowl before retiring.

Bettis, in what almost certainly was his final game in Pittsburgh, matched his career high by scoring three short-range touchdowns in a sloppily played 35-21 victory over the Detroit Lions on Sunday that sent the Steelers to the playoffs for the 10th time since 1990.

Compare that to the Bengals (11-5), who will appear in the playoffs for, uh, the first time since then despite losing 37-3 to Kansas City on Sunday.

"It's disappointing for us," Bettis said of an 11-5 Steelers record that included consecutive losses to the Ravens, Colts and Bengals. "We know we're a better team than that. But everybody is 0-0 now. We did everything we had to do to get in. Now we're in, and let's see what happens."

The Steelers have played every team but one (Denver) in the AFC field, beating the Bengals 27-13 in Cincinnati but losing to Bengals (38-31), New England (23-20) and Jacksonville (23-17) at home and Indianapolis (26-7) on the road.

This is the first time since 1993 that the Steelers have qualified as a wild card. But they have a better record on the road (6-2) than at home (5-3), and their familiarity with the playoff field makes the challenge of beating three good teams on the road in as many weeks somewhat less daunting.

"If any team could do it, it's this team," safety Troy Polamalu said. "You'd rather play at home, but it didn't matter last year."

A January ago, the Steelers held home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs after going 15-1. But they beat the Jets 20-17 in overtime only because Doug Brien missed two potential game-winning field goal attempts in the closing minutes, then lost to New England 41-27 in the AFC championship game. They have lost four AFC title games at home since the 1994 season.

Because they've been at home for the playoffs so often since coach Bill Cowher was hired in 1992, they have played only three road playoff games under him. They lost all three, to the Chiefs (1993 season), Patriots (1996 season) and Titans (2002 season).

"But I don't think anybody is scared of anybody," linebacker James Farrior said.

The Steelers would have played New England in the postseason for the third time since the 2001 if the Patriots hadn't lost at home to Miami 28-26 Sunday. That loss, and Cincinnati's defeat in Kansas City, set up the first Steelers-Bengals playoff game since the teams began playing in the same division in 1970."It's obviously a big challenge," center Jeff Hartings said of attempting to win three road playoff games in three weeks. "Nobody's ever done it (as a sixth-seeded team). We're going to try to make history and be the first ones."The Lions only wish they were 0-0 and starting their season again. Instead, they finished 5-11 with six losses in seven games during a fifth consecutive losing season, one that promises major changes before the 2006 season begins.They've already changed coaches once, from Steve Mariucci to Dick Jauron, and may do so again before next fall. They've also must decide whether to bring back oft-erratic quarterback Joey Harrington, who threw three scoring passes Sunday in one of the best games of his career."I have to get the feeling I'm wanted, that's issue No. 1," said Harrington, who was criticized by some teammates this season. "I came here with a goal and a purpose to be part of a team that would be special to Detroit, one that people would look at and say, `I'm glad to be here.' That hasn't happened yet."<B>Notes:</B> Bettis also had three-TD games against Arizona in 1997 and Oakland last season. ... While Bettis got the goal-line carries, Willie Parker ran for 135 yards in his second 100-yard game in as many weeks. The former undrafted free agent finished the season with 1,202 yards and five 100-yard games. ... The Lions are 0-10 in Pittsburgh since 1955. ... Roethlisberger is 22-3 as a starter through two seasons. ... Bettis has 79 rushing touchdowns with Pittsburgh, 91 overall, and his 482 points with Pittsburgh are fourth in team history. ... Antwaan Randle El's 81-yard punt return touchdown early in the game was the fourth punt return score of his career and his second this season.