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Browns look to regroup against rival Steelers

Sep 9, 2008 - 8:30 PM Pittsburgh (1-0) at Cleveland (0-1), 8:15pm, EDT

CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- Coming off a high-scoring season in which they barely missed the playoffs, the Cleveland Browns were seen as an attractive team, which is why they were tabbed for five prime-time television appearances.

The first of those come Sunday night when the Browns host their arch-rivals, the Pittsburgh Steelers, in an AFC North contest.

Cleveland entered the season with high expectations, but looked awful in its opener, suffering a 28-10 loss to the Dallas Cowboys that was not even as close as the score indicated.

The Browns believe that have improved a defense that ranked 30th in the NFL last season, but there was no evidence of that against the Cowboys. Dallas quarterback Tony Romo picked apart the Browns' secondary, passing for 320 yards as the Cowboys put together four long touchdown drives.

Perhaps more demoralizing for the Browns, was the play of quarterback Derek Anderson, who energized Cleveland's offense last season after Charlie Frye was traded to Seattle. However, Anderson sputtered against the Cowboys, passing for 114 yards.

The Browns may have a reason to be concerned, as Anderson also struggled down the stretch last year. He threw four interceptions in a 19-14 Week 16 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals that effectively ended Cleveland's playoff hopes.

"We are still a good football team," Cleveland running back Jamal Lewis said. "We have to prove it, and we can be better than we were today. We need to get out and practice together and get a rhythm. We are still a good team."

But things do not get any easier for the Browns, as the Steelers roll into Cleveland following a 38-17 conquest of the Houston Texans last week. The Browns are 0-6 against Pittsburgh under coach Romeo Crennel.

Ben Roethlisberger was nearly flawless directing the Steelers' run-oriented offense, completing 13-of-14 passes for 137 yards and two touchdowns.

Willie Parker, the NFL's fourth-leading rusher last season, ran for 138 yards and a career-high three touchdowns on 25 carries. Parker had only two touchdowns all of last season.

"I thought we controlled the line of scrimmage," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. "I thought both of our lines responded."

Pittsburgh and Cleveland each finished 10-6 last season, but the Steelers won the AFC North by virtue of a season sweep of the Browns. Pittsburgh opened the 2007 campaign with a 34-7 win at Cleveland.

The Browns did get some good news Monday, when Lewis checked out OK. There was some concern that Lewis, who rushed for 62 yards against the Cowboys, had re-injured his hamstring that caused him to miss the final two preseason games.