Roethlisberger Limps into Steelers Fans Hearts with Win over Browns
Coming into week 14, about the only accolade these two franchises had in common was that they both reside in the rough-and-tumble AFC North Division. Cleveland sat at a woeful 4-8, which was decidedly down from their perceived expectation of improvement. Despite having a solid defense (which was 4th in the NFL at its apex this season), young prodigy Colt McCoy has zero weapons around him. The receiving core is a who's who of 'whose are you', while bruising RB Peyton Hillis is apparently the next victim of the Madden curse. On the flipside, The Steelers only fault this year has been its inability to stay healthy, as they sat perched at 9-3, while their high-powered offense and head-hunting front seven looked to keep pace with the Ravens for first place in the division. Away we go...
Cleveland receives first, and comes out looking like a new team. Tim Tebow must have spread his divine intervention over the Browns early on, as Ben Watson and 'Steeler killer' Josh Cribbs come out with huge first down receptions. The young QB McCoy scrambles for a ruled TD, before it was overturned. Cleveland gets an early FG from the ancient (but resilient) Phil Dawson. Pittsburgh answered on its ensuing drive, as standout Mike Wallace again made his mark, this time with two 20+ yard plays (one receiving and one rushing), en route to a Big Ben TD strike to Jericho Cotchery. 7-3 Steelers to end the first. After holding the Browns on the next possession, Pittsburgh came out blazing again, this time with the oft-underrated Antonio Brown leading them to the red zone. This progress though, was halted by a Hines Ward fumble (yes, you read that right) at the Steeler 6 yard line.
Troy Polamalu made his presence felt on the connected Browns drive with an immediate INT, lauching the Steelers right back inside the Browns' 15. But again, Pittsburgh finds a way to let suggested inferior teams hang around, as they again fumble (Heath Miller this time...yes, you read that right too) inside the 10. The memories of playing down to their lesser competition dances in their heads again (Jacksonville and KC come to mind) as the cliché of a 'trap game' starts being bandied about. To add fuel to the inferno, Ben Roethlisberger and pro bowl center Maurkice Pouncey both go down to what look to be terrible injuries at the end of the first half. The score is 7-3, the Steeler play is undisciplined, and two of the most key players are carted off and shown limping heavily. Cue the violins.
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Despite Charlie Batch taking a few snaps to end the 2nd quarter, and Ben being shown on an endless loop (barely able to stand), Roethlisberger might as well have been wearing a cape as he came out, throwing in warm ups, and taking the field in the third. 'Homer' pride aside, Big Ben has proven himself to be as tough as they come, and very fitting as a leader in the 'Steel City'. But I digress. Rashard Mendenhall steps up the workload in the third (finished his solid day with 18 carries for 76 yards), but both teams are held scoreless in the third. The effects of the leg (which was later released as a 'high ankle sprain') for Ben proved to be a big factor, as he was unable to plant or step into throws. Pouncey did not return as we head to the 4th, with the Steelers hobbling to a 7-3 lead.
Mike Wallace was thought to have scored early in the 4th, on another TD call that was reversed. The Steelers then proceed to pound the ball up the middle on 4 consecutive plays from the Browns' 1 yard line, but the stout Cleveland defense shows tons of heart in stuffing the attack. Both defenses stand tall in trading the ball, as Big Ben's next drive results in a Mike Adams INT. McCoy's inexperienced offense begins another tough drive, taking the ball 36 yards before being intercepted by a recently clutch William Gay at the Steeler 4 yard line (after missing just one play on a huge Harrison hit that garnered a concussion. That collective Pitt sigh of relief is answered subsequently with a 79 yard catch-and-run by recent star Antonio Brown, to ice the game at 14-3. Brown was the #1 receiver this week, with 5 catches for 151, and that clinching score. Roethlisberger (on practically one leg), finished with 280 passing. Jason Worilds (filling in for injured star Lamarr Woodley) had two sacks.
The Browns now look to play spoiler and find some semblance of rhythm on offense, while the Steelers look to overcome James Harrison's suspension (due to the McCoy hit) as they take on a very steady 49'ers team.
By Jason Burke
Pro Football Fans Pittsburgh Steelers Correspondent