Larger text
Smaller text
Print
E-mail
Steelers force five turnovers in victory over Browns
Turnovers kill Browns
Philip G. Pavely/Tribune-Review
The Bus is back
Chaz Palla/Tribune-Review
End of game
Chaz Palla/Tribune-Review
- Bettis reaches milestone in win
- Bell ringer inspires Steelers
- Hartings injures knee in victory
- Steelers spotlight
- Pass defense showing signs of life
- Steelers remain alive and dreaming thanks to Cleveland
Jerry DiPaola is the Tribune-Review high school sports editor. He can be reached via e-mail.
But they did bring it up from the bottom of Lake Erie -- covered in dirt and sludge, but still breathing.
Maybe the smell isn't as bad as it was before the game, but when you wipe away the mud and grime from this team and its precarious situation in the AFC North, you see little has changed.
The Steelers (4-7) won for the second time in three weeks. Still, for all the sweat, blood and twisted ligaments left behind, the Steelers remained two games behind the Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals, who won to improve to 6-5 and maintain two-game leads in the division with five to go.
At the moment, however, winning the division is less important to the Steelers than winning a game.
"It wasn't a case of looking at the scoreboard," coach Bill Cowher said. "It was just playing."
The Steelers played with heart, ferocity and opportunism, taking five turnovers from the Browns -- after totaling just one in the past four games -- and turning three of them into all 13 of their points. The other two -- interceptions by free safety Brent Alexander in the end zone and cornerback Chad Scott at the Pittsburgh 39-yard line -- stopped two serious Cleveland scoring threats in the second half.
The Steelers have life because they play the Bengals next Sunday at Heinz Field and the Ravens on Dec. 28 in Baltimore, and they are 10-1 in the division dating to the end of the 2001 season. But nothing has changed. They can afford no more defeats.
"Every game we go out there," Porter said, "we have to play with that swagger. We are like a cat with seven lives. We used all our lifelines and there is only one way we can play now.
"We have to go in there with the same attitude we had today -- be mad and angry, play mad and angry, make people be scared of us again.
"It doesn't matter about mistakes. Go out there and play 100 mph. We are going to hit some people and beat some people up and take them with us."
The Steelers allowed the Browns to advance as far as the Pittsburgh 1- and 6-yard lines in the third quarter, turning them away both times with no points.
First, the Browns (4-7) were stopped on three running plays from the 1, including a fourth-down reverse by wide receiver Dennis Northcutt that defensive coordinator Tim Lewis said didn't surprise him.
Hard, sure hits by linebackers Kendrell Bell and James Farrior and Scott stopped running back James Jackson and Northcutt for no gain on three consecutive runs.
On the Browns' next possession, Cleveland moved to the 6, but Alexander intercepted a third-down pass in the end zone and returned it to the 32. It was the Steelers' first interception since Oct. 12.
Finally, the defense came up with some big plays, including three sacks of quarterback Kelly Holcomb, and that was the difference between this game and previous efforts.
"I had a great idea," Cowher said, relating a message he sent to his team. "Hit hard. When we were running to the ball (in previous games), we weren't hitting people."
"We've been tackling somebody," Porter said, "but we ain't really been hitting anybody. Guys have been giving great effort, but it was kind of like we lost the nasty in our (defense). We are the Big Nasty D, but we weren't playing nasty."
The Steelers needed their defense Sunday because the offense was little more than running back Jerome Bettis, who played his best game of the season with 24 carries for 93 yards. The Browns, actually, outgained the Steelers, 303-168 in yardage.
Quarterback Tommy Maddox completed nine of 24 attempts for 73 yards and a 59.9 passer rating, and his 1-yard pass to tight end Mark Bruener in the second quarter was the game's only touchdown. Jeff Reed of the Steelers and Phil Dawson of the Browns each kicked two field goals.
It was a struggle for the Steelers, but it was a victory to cherish only because they are so rare this season.
"I know it's going to be like this," Porter said. "It's going to be a dog fight every week. We know that we put ourselves in that situation. We made it hard for ourselves.
"When are backs are against the wall, we can't do anything but come out swinging, like a boxer in the 12th round and a decision won't help. You have throw haymakers every punch."
