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Roethlisberger powers Steelers past Browns

Sep 15, 2008 - 4:44 AM By Todd Krepop PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- The Pittsburgh Steelers served notice that they don't plan on giving up their reign of the AFC North and recorded a 10-6 triumph over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday night.

Ben Roethlisberger went 12-for-19 for 186 yards with a touchdown and Willie Parker ran for 105 yards on 28 carries as the Steelers (2-0) extended their winning streak to 10 games over their bitter rival in less than ideal playing conditions.

Coming off a 10-6 season, Cleveland was seen as a trendy pick to unseat the Steelers as AFC North champions. However after two games, the Browns find themselves two games behind Pittsburgh.

"Everybody picked Cleveland," said Steelers receiver Hines Ward, who had an 11-yard touchdown in the second quarter.. "We're the division champs from last year. We have the nucleus of our (2007) Super Bowl team. We don't care if we get all the publicity. We're 2-0 and Cleveland and Cincinnati are 0-2."

Roethlisberger missed some practice time during the week with a sore right shoulder.

"There is no question (Roethlisberger) is tough," Ward said. "He plays hurt. He gutted it out."

Parker's 13-yard run on 4th-and-one from the Browns' 40-yard line earlier in the drive put the Steelers in a position to get the first points of the game.

"That was some hard yards on the field and I just had to get them," Parker said.

Roethlisberger's 48-yard completion to Santonio Holmes in the third quarter set up Jeff Reed's 48-yard field goal to give the Steelers a 10-0 lead.

Roethlisberger seemed unfazed by the wind that was gusting up to 50 miles-per-hour at points during the game.

"I'm from Ohio, so I have played in windy conditions," he said. "I told the receivers before the game, 'I'm just going to put it close to you guys and you guys have to make plays for me,' and they did that."

Derek Anderson went 18-for-32 for 166 yards, but threw two interceptions - including a costly one to end the first half.

Despite Anderson's struggles, Cleveland was in position to tie the game late in the fourth quarter.



Trailing 10-3, Cleveland put together a 14-play, 60-yard drive from its own 20, but faced with a 4th-and-7 from the Steelers' 20-yard line. With 3:21 left in the game, Browns head coach Romeo Crennel elected to kick the field goal and hope his defense would get the ball back.

"I thought about going for it," Crennel said. "But with the time that was left on the clock, I felt that (kicking the field goal) was the best chance to win. If we stop them we win the game."

The Browns did get the ball, but not until Roethlisberger completed a 19-yard pass and Parker ran for 33 yards leaving Anderson and Cleveland only 26 seconds to go 74 yards to win the game.

"The last drive puts a dagger into the team," Parker said. "For them to know that we are going to run the ball and they can't stop it. That says a lot about our team."

Phil Dawson also added a field goal of 31 yards in the third quarter to cut the Pittsburgh advantage to 10-3.



The Browns (0-2) were poised to answer the Steelers' score in the second quarter with a drive of their own, but Troy Polamalu stepped in front of Anderson's pass from the Pittsburgh 11-yard line as time expired in the first half to keep Cleveland off the scoreboard.

"That was the most critical play," Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said. "To get out of that position and not give up any points - that is what makes Troy who he is."

"I tried to throw it behind (Polamalu)," Anderson said. "I should have just thrown the ball at his feet and let us kick the field goal."

In two games this season, Cleveland's high-powered offense has been held to only 16 points.

"We have played two (darn) good teams," Anderson said. "There is nothing wrong with us. It is the same team we had last year. We just have to start making plays."