• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Steelers host Browns in playoff tuneup

Dec 23, 2008 - 4:37 PM Cleveland (4-11) at Pittsburgh (11-4), 1:00 pm EST

PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- While Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin is going back to the playoffs for the second time in as many seasons, Cleveland's Romeo Crennel could be headed to the unemployment line.

The AFC North champion Steelers host the Browns on Sunday in what may be the final game in Crennel's stormy four-year tenure in Cleveland.

Locked into the No. 2 seed following Sunday's 31-14 loss in Tennessee, the Steelers (11-4) will use the contest as a playoff tuneup. Pittsburgh has a first-round bye before hosting a game in the divisional round January 3-4.

Coming off a 10-6 season, the Browns (4-11) were expected to contend for a playoff spot this season. Instead, they are looking at a 12-loss campaign.

Cleveland owner Randy Lerner has vowed to make major offseason changes, and it's hard to imagine that he would choose to bring back Crennel, who has a 24-39 record. General manager Phil Savage's job also could be in jeopardy.

"This is my toughest season ever," Browns running back Jamal Lewis said. "Oh yeah, the worst season."

While the Steelers have little to play for, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will be looking to rebound from perhaps his worst game of the season. He committed four turnovers against the Titans with two interceptions and two fumbles.

Pittsburgh also could use Sunday's contest to work on its ground attack, which was held to 71 yards in Tennessee.

Another concern for the Steelers heading into the playoffs is the offensive line, which surrendered five sacks last week. For the season, Roethlisberger has been dropped 46 times, tied with New England's Matt Cassel for the most in the league.

Then, there are the Browns (4-11), who are setting a new standard for offensive futility.

Cleveland has not scored an offensive touchdown in five games after getting blanked by the Cincinnati Bengals, 14-0, last week. The Browns' only TD during that span was a late interception return two weeks ago against Philadelphia.

After failing to score a touchdown in its third straight home game, Cleveland has to visit Pittsburgh, which has dominated the rivalry since the Browns returned to the NFL in 1999.

Crennel is 0-7 against the Steelers, an indication of how far apart the longtime rivals are.

The Browns suffered a 10-6 home loss to Pittsburgh in a driving rainstorm in Week Two. Pittsburgh won its 10th straight game against Cleveland, the NFL's longest active winning streak against one opponent.

Cleveland's last offensive TD was a 72-yard run by Jerome Harrison in the fourth quarter of a 29-27 win at Buffalo on November 17.

The only bright spot for the Browns is Lewis, who ran for 76 yards against the Bengals to become the 24th player in NFL history to rush for 10,000 career yards.