Season’s Beatings: Steelers Win

The Browns win the toss and defer, giving us the opportunity to put the game away early.

Everyone knew Hines only needed 23 yards to get to 1000 on the season, and he got a quick 7-yarder, setting up a Gary Russell surge for a first down on 3rd and short. Parker gets a few, then Ben goes back to Ward for 8 more, getting him within striking distance of the 1,000 plateau. Parker gets two totes for minimal yardage, the second one set back by a holding penalty. In typical, predictable, Steelers fashion, they throw an unsuccessful screen on 2nd and long, setting up 3rd and long. Ben hits Moore for 10, leaving him well short of the sticks and bringing in the Lob Wedge. Touchback.

Before the game even started, we knew what was coming when Cleveland had the ball. Jamal Lewis, Jamal Lewis, and Jamal Lewis. True to form, Cleveland comes out running the ball. With Harrison out of the game, the Browns game plan was to run everything away from Woodley so that they could focus on blocking him. In turn, Timmons lead the team in tackles. They forced a 3rd and long, but Gradkowski was able to convert with his longest completion of the day (12 yards). Gradkowski hits Edwards for 5 then Cribbs converts on a QB-keeper out of the Wild Dog formation. The Browns pick up another first down on the ground, pushing the ball into Steelers territory. However, the Steelers defense holds, forcing a long field goal, which Phil Dawson misses.

Ben goes right to the air and hits Hines down the sidelines for 24 yards to put Hines over 1000. Parker grinds out 5 yards on 2 carries then Miller Time converts the first down. Ben goes play-action on first down from the 20 and looks for Heath down the seam, but the ball is behind Heath and gets picked off.

As disgusting as the turnover was at that point in the game, we were lucky it came against the Browns. They do nothing on 2 plays and the quarter ends.

Second Quarter

Lewis takes a quick-hitter for 11 yards off tackle against the nickel defense on 3rd and 7, keeping hope alive temporarily. Cleveland gets themselves into another 3rd and 7 and try a similar run, but Smith and Timmons are there to shut it down. Punt.

The Steelers once again had a chance to put points on the board, and virtually put the game out of reach against this awful Browns offense. Heath makes up for a holding penalty with a big catch down the seam. Parker gets some big yards and the Steelers pick up a second first down on a pass interference call to move back into Cleveland territory. Ben scrambles out of pressure on 2nd down and hits Nasty Nate on Grant Avenue, but a Colonoscopy brings it back. The Steelers can’t recover from the penalty and are forced into another punt. The Lob Wedge pins the Browns at the 5.

After Lewis gets the Browns out of the shadow of the end zone, the Steelers defense steps it up and forces a punt.

With 5 and a half to go in the first half, the offense really needed a jumpstart. Parker goes for 3, then Ben hits Heeeeeath for a big 20-yarder. And just like that. Bam.

The Flash

is back.
Parker from 34 for his first touchdown since the Redskins game.
7-0

While that touchdown essentially put the game out of reach against a Browns offense that didn’t see the end zone since before Thanksgiving, the Steelers still needed to play. And play they did.

The Browns take a holding penalty and can’t recover. Punt.

The Steelers start with great field position, just shy of the 50 and Ben goes to work, hooking up with Holmes to get inside the 40. After the two-minute warning, Ben is pressured and forced out of the pocket and flings one to Heath as he gets pounded into the turf on what looked like a blow to the head. After what seems like an eternity, Ben is carted off the field with a concussion.

Byron comes in and has to convert a 3rd down on his first play. True to form, Byron hits the money man Heath Miller for the conversion. After an incompletion and a false start, Byron hits Carey Davis out of the backfield for 14 yards to bring up 3rd and short. The Bulldozer comes in and powers for 8 yards to get down to the 8. Byron spikes it to kill the clock, then is forced into another 3rd and long after an incompletion. Byron drops back, looks left, looks right, and sees the red sea part in front of him. The slowest quarterback in the league takes off…

…and goes untouched into the end zone for the score.
14-0
Game out of reach.

Jamal Lewis gets a token carry for Cleveland to end the half.

Halftime

B.E. Taylor rocks out some tunes. Word circulates that Ben has a “mild” concussion. Nervous times at the stadium.

Third Quarter

Cleveland sucks. We know it. 3-and-out. Punt.

The Willie Parker Show dominates the airwaves and picks up 20 yards on 4 carries before Byron goes to the air and hits Holmes on a slant to convert a 3rd and short. Parker gets two more totes, but the drive gets set back by a penalty on Limas Sweed. The Steelers can’t recover and punt.

Cleveland gets into another 3rd and long, but AFC Defensive Player of the Week Tyrone Carter is there to pull down the interception.

With the ball already in the red zone, the offense is primed to score. Arians busts out the motif offense, which leads to a field goal.

17-0

With 5 minutes to go in the 3rd, the Steelers start subbing in defensive players. Keyaron Fox gets his name on the score sheet with a tackle. The Browns get themselves into another 3rd and long, but Cribbs throws a pass out of the Wild Dog and completes it, looking better than Gradkowski did throwing the ball. The Browns can’t do anything after that though, and punt again.

The Steelers start backed up at their 12, but Byron is ready to lead the troops. Parker gets things going with a 5-yard run, then Hines pulls one in for 7 and the first down. Mewelde Moore comes in and gets 9 as the quarter expires.

Fourth Quarter

On 2nd and 1, you think they might go to the air, but Parker shows why you don’t have to against Cleveland, busting a 22-yarder on one of the worst run defenses in the league. Parker and Moore do nothing on 2 carries, but Byron saves the motif offense from another insult by hitting Nasty Nate to pick up the first down. Moore goes for 6 and 11 to get inside the 30. Parker goes for 4 more, then Byron hits Hines on a short pass which Hines turns upfield and powers towards the goal line, but gets pulled down just short.

The Browns can’t stop the Bulldozer from 3. TOUCHDOWN.
24-0

Renegade rocks out during the commercial break, meaning that the Browns are even more doomed than they were. Lewis carves out a big gain on first down, giving the Browns momentary relief. Cribbs tries a pass off of a handoff from Bruce, but Big Play Willie Gay is all over the coverage. On 2nd down, Gradkowski looks short for Lewis but guess who Tyrone Carter is all over it, pulling in the pick and

Taking it

TO THE HOUSE
31-0

Carter’s touchdown was the 3rd defensive touchdown this year on the drive when Renegade was played. Woodley’s fumble recovery against Baltimore, Deshea’s score against Dallas, and Carter’s in this game. The Renegade legend continues.

Gradkowski falls down on first down, giving the Steelers an easy sack. Cleveland can’t recover and punts.

With 6 minutes to go in the game, Dennis Dixon comes in for his first action of the season. He flings a quick one out to Hines for Hines’ 800th catch of his career. After that, it’s all on the running game. Russell and Davis get nice gains, but not enough for the first down, bringing out the Lob Wedge.

Cleveland looks like they’ll be content to kill the clock, running Jamal Lewis 3 times to run 2 minutes off the clock. However, with 4th and 4 at their own 27, they go for it. Lewis powers for 4 yards, picking up the first down. After the two minute warning, Gradkowski goes to pass, but Andre Frazier is all over the blitz, bringing him down for the sack. Three incompletions later, it’s a turnover on downs.

Dixon runs the victory formation. Game.

Players of the Game:
Offensive Game Ball: Willie Parker
Defensive Game Ball: Tyrone Carter

Honorable Mentions:
Lawrence Timmons
Hines Ward
Byron Leftwich
Heath Miller

Mr. Yuck Sticker of the Game
Ben going down with an injury. Hopefully he’ll be able to come back for the playoff game and have a fully functioning brain.

Final Thoughts

• Cleveland sucks.
• The Steelers won time of possession in all 4 quarters.
• 12-4. fantastic season.
• The Steelers were 3-1 in all 4 quarters of the season.
• For the first time since the Super Bowl year, we didn’t lose to a team we weren’t supposed to lose to (Oakland in 2006, NY Jets in 2007).
• All 4 of our losses were to playoff teams.
• Leftwich will be okay if we need him in the playoffs, but hopefully Ben can go.
• 11 straight wins over Cleveland.
• Bye Bye Romeo.
• Cowher already said no to the Browns job. No surprise there.
• Rest up this week boys, we’ll have a big game against Indy in two weeks.
• Preferably we play Miami, but chances are we play Indy.