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ARTICLE
By
Teresa Varley The
temperatures at Heinz Field were bitter cold, with it dipping into the teens
before the final gun sounded, but the Steelers were on fire as they defeated the
Cleveland Browns, 27-7. The
win improves the Steelers record to 6-7, while the Browns fall to 4-9. It also
evens the series between the two teams at 55 wins each, including two
post-season wins by the Steelers. Running
back Willie Parker had the best game of his career, carrying the ball 32 times
for a Steelers record 223 yards, breaking a record set by Frency Fuqua when he
rushed for 218 yards in 1970 against Philadelphia. It is also the second
200-yard game of the season for Parker as he became the first Steelers running
back ever to have two 200-yard games. Ben
Roethlisberger completed 11 of 21 passes for 225 yards and a touchdown, before
being spelled by Charlie Batch late in the fourth quarter.
"Obviously it was a good night, and
I'm happy for Willie Parker," said head coach Bill Cowher. "He's such and
unselfish kid and I couldn't be happier for him. What a job the offensive line
did, and I thought Ben (Roethlisberger) did a great job too. That first
touchdown pass was thrown right into the teeth of the wind. It was a heck of a
throw." Rookie
wide receiver Santonio Holmes made his first NFL start and responded with four
catches for 81 yards. Fellow rookie Anthony Smith also had his first start and
intercepted Browns quarterback Derek Anderson, ending a potential scoring drive.
"Anthony Smith I thought was really
good," said Cowher. "He made some big hits. He made the big interception.
Santonio (Holmes) made some big catches today. The one on third down in the
third quarter was a big catch. Those two kids played well." The
Steelers defense shut the door on the Browns ground game, allowing just 18 yards
on 11 carries. Quarterback Derek Anderson, making his first start, completed 21
passes for 276 yards, with most of the yards coming late in the game.
The
Steelers had good field position to start the game when Sean Morey returned it
22 yards to their own 35-yard line. Parker had two short runs before
Roethlisberger hit Santonio Holmes for a 17-yard gain. Roethlisberger hit Morey
for a 12-yard gain, but he was called for pass interference, negating they play.
On third-and-20 Roethlisberger's pass to Nate Washington was incomplete, forcing
the punt. Anderson
came out established the passing game right away with a 16-yard completion to
Joe Jurevicius. He hit Braylon Edwards for four yards and came back to
Jurevicius for 18 yards. On first down Anderson went to Kellen Winslow for
two-yards and Reuben Droughns added five on the ground. On third-and-three
Terrelle Smith was stopped for one yard. The
Steelers got backed up deep in their own territory at the three-yard line, but
quickly worked their way out. Parker had a three-yard run and Roethlisberger
went to Dan Kreider for a six-yard completion. On third-and-one Parker broke off
left guard for a six-yard gain. Parker surpassed 1,000 yards for the season on
his next carry, an 11-yard scamper off right end. Roethlisberger had a 16-yard
completion to Holmes along the left sideline to the Browns 49-yard line.
Roethlisberger then went for broke, hitting Washington deep for a 49-yard
scoring strike to give the Steelers a 7-0 lead. The
defense stopped the Browns with a quick thee-and-out, but on the punt James
Harrison was called for running into the kicker, giving the Browns a first down
and new life. Anderson had a 15-yard completion to Droughns and a 13-yarder to
Steve Heiden. But on third down his pass to Edwards fell
incomplete. The
offense headed things up, moving the ball consistently downfield. Roethlisberger
started it with a 17-yard completion to Walter Young for his first NFL
reception. Three plays later he found Morey for 15 yards. Parker took it on the
ground for gains of eight and two yards, before Roethlisberger connected with
Washington for 18 yards to the Browns 21-yard line. Parker took it up the middle
for 12 yards and off right guard for four yards to the five-yard line. The
Steelers couldn't punch it in the end zone and called on Jeff Reed for a 23-yard
field goal to give them a 10-0 lead. After
stopping the Browns with three-and-out the Steelers had a perfect opportunity to
extend their lead. Parker went off right guard for a 20-yard gain, but fumbled
and it was recovered by Browns linebacker Kamerion Wimbley.
Just
as quick as the Steelers gave the ball away, they got it right back. Anderson
was hit by Aaron Smith and the ball came loose, but the officials ruled him down
by contact. The Steelers challenged the call and it was overturned, with Smith
getting the forced fumble and recovery and giving the Steelers another shot at
extending the lead. Parker
rattled off a 26-yard gain but on third down Holmes couldn't pull in a pass near
the goal line. Reed's 35-yard field goal attempt was blocked and the Steelers
came away empty on the drive. After
stopping the Browns for another three-and-out, the Steelers almost gave them the
ball right back. Najeh Davenport got the call at running back, but fumbled on
the first play. Holmes was there for the recovery, but the Steelers were in a
hole at second-and-18. Parker had a three-yard gain and on second-and-15
Davenport was stopped short for a 13-yard gain. The
Browns drove down the field before the end of the half, but Phil Dawson's
40-yard field goal attempt sailed wide left. The
second half started with a bang for the Steelers. Parker went up the middle for
a 16 yard gain, and then came right back with carries of seven, 10 and three
yards. Roethlisberger went to Holmes over the middle and he went airborne for an
acrobatic 23-yard reception. Parker had a four-yard carry and Roethlisberger
scrambled for three, giving the Steelers a third-and-three. Roethlisberger was
under pressure, but scrambled, avoiding the sack and then finding Jerame Tuman
for an 18-yard gain to the seven-yard line. Parker had two short runs and then
Roethlisberger capped the 91-yard drive when he went off left end for a two-yard
touchdown, extending the lead to 17-0. The
defense pulled off another big stop and the offense made it count with big
plays. Parker went up the middle for 39 yards, then Roethlisberger found
Davenport for 21 yards. Parker went off right tackle for 11 to the Browns
three-yard line. He then took it in to the end zone for the touchdown, giving
the Steelers a 24-0 lead. The
Browns offense drove into Steelers territory, but Anderson's pass for Edwards
was intercepted by Anthony Smith at the 10-yard line, stopping their drive. The Steelers were able to convert the
turnover into a 28-yard field goal to give them a 27-0 lead.
Anderson
was able to get the Browns moving in the fourth quarter, taking them on a
five-play, 63-yard drive that ended in a 45-yard touchdown pass to Edwards,
denying the Steelers of a shutout. INACTIVES: Steelers – S Ryan Clark, S Troy Polamalu, C Marvin Philip, OG Chris Kemoeatu, OT Willie Colon, WR Cedrick Wilson, WR Hines Ward, 3rd QB Brian St. Pierre; Browns – S Brian Russell, RB Jerome Harrison, C Rob Smith, LG Isaac Sowells, RG Fred Matua, WR Travis Wilson, DL Orpheus Roye; 3rd QB Charlie Frye.
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