Browns aim for share of first place

11.10.2007

The Browns have come a long way in eight weeks.

Sunday, they'll find out just how far they've come.

First place in the AFC North Division is at stake in Heinz Field when the Browns face the Steelers, a team they've lost to 14 of the last 15 times and eight times in a row.

A 34-7 opening-day loss to the Steelers was just about rock-bottom for the Browns, but it's been used as a rallying point since. Behind new quarterback Derek Anderson an improved offensive line, the Browns have won five of seven since including three in a row and played themselves back into the race.

At 5-3, they can pull into a tie with the 6-2 Steelers with a win Sunday. The Browns' lone win at Heinz Field -- and their last against the Steelers -- came in Oct. 2003.

"It's going to take probably our best game of the year," Browns coach Romeo Crennel said. "But our guys are excited. We're going to go down there and play a good game."

The Steelers have been as dominant as ever under new head coach Mike Tomlin. They have the league's top-ranked defense, the AFC's leading rusher in Willie Parker and a red-hot quarterback in Ben Roethlisbeger, who has 20 touchdown passes on the year and threw five in the first half of a dominant 38-7 win over the Ravens last Monday night.

For the Steelers' recent dominance of the Browns to end Sunday, the Browns will need another outstanding performance by an offense that's scoring more than 30 points per game during the current win streak and the best performance yet by a defense that's struggled and given up too many big plays.

But Anderson, who's taken every snap since the second quarter of the season opener, has the Browns offense making plenty of big plays of their own. Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow are having Pro Bowl-type seasons, Jamal Lewis has sparked an effective running game and Joe Jurevicius has made several clutch catches to keep the chains moving.

Much of the Browns' offensive success can be attributed to outstanding play by the offensive line, as Anderson has been sacked just seven times in seven starts and Lewis and Lawrence Vickers have been effective in short-yardage situations. But the line faces its biggest test this week, not only against the Steelers' blitz schemes but because of injury.

Seth McKinney left last week's game with a shoulder injury and is out for the season. Eric Steinbach experienced back problems in Wednesday's practice and didn't practice Thursday or Friday.

Lennie Friedman has been the primary backup at both guard spots and center. Ryan Tucker played some guard in the preseason and worked at right guard this week but hasn't played guard in a regular season game in 10 years. Before placing McKinney on injured-reserve Saturday, the Browns had started the same five offensive linemen for all eight games this season.

No matter which personnel the Browns choose, the Browns will have their hands full against a Steeler blitz that has 25 sacks on the season. James Harrison leads the team with 6.5 sacks after he had 3.5, an interception and a fumble recovery last week.

The Steelers defense should be even better this week with end Aaron Smith set to return from injury. Harrison and Clark Haggans are the primary outside rushers, Casey Hampton is a top-flight nose tackle and safety Troy Polamalu makes plays all over.

The Browns feel like they have matchup advantages with Edwards on the perimeter and with Winslow all over the field, but they must protect Anderson to give him a chance to exploit them.

"Obviously, the Steelers have been playing well," Anderson said. "But you just have to go in there with confidence and continue to do the same things that you've been doing. If you go out there intimidated, you're in for a long day."

Parker torched the Browns for a club record 223 yards in Heinz Field last December. Even though Roethlisberger has been hot, Parker is still the guy that makes the Steelers go. And the Browns know he's capable of busting a long touchdown run at any time if they miss tackles or have assignment breakdowns.

Roethlisberger makes plays on the run and is also effective off of play-action fakes to Parker. He is most comfortable finding Hines Ward in one-on-one coverage and trying to get Santonio Holmes deep, something that opens the middle of the field for tight end Heath Miller.

The Browns have struggled to generate a consistent pass rush and have only 7 sacks on the season. They need to stop the run to have a chance -- Parker has run for more than 100 on them in four of the last five games -- but will also be on alert for the deep ball after Holmes beat them down the middle for a 40-yard touchdown in the first game.

The Browns might have to play their second straight game without their leading tackler, D'Qwell Jackson. Outside linebacker Antwan Peek is also battling a sore knee; Jackson is doubtful, while Peek and Steinbach are questionable.

The Browns are trying to win four in a row for the first time since 1994. A loss would drop them to two games behind the Steelers and give the Steelers a leg up in any potential tiebreakers.