Pittsburgh (9-5) at Cleveland (5-9)
Currently: - Game info: 1:00 pm EST Sat Dec 24, 2005
- TV: CBS
The Pittsburgh Steelers face an uphill battle to make the playoffs. A win over the archrival Cleveland Browns would move them closer to that goal.
Trying to rebound from a three-game losing streak that allowed Cincinnati to claim the AFC North title, the Steelers need to win their final two games and get some help to earn a wild-card berth.
Pittsburgh has beaten Chicago and Minnesota since the costly skid. The next task is to defeat the struggling Browns—a team the Steelers know has little left to do but focus on dealing its rival a critical defeat.
“I’m sure Cleveland is going to be looking to knock us out of the playoffs,” Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward said. “It’s a playoff run from here on out. We have to play on the road, and what better way to get that experience than to go out and approach each game like it is your last game?”
Pittsburgh has won 15 of its last 18 meetings with the Browns, including the last four in Cleveland. Those victories, however, were hardly easy for the Steelers, who won by scores of 15-12 (2001), 23-20 (2002), 13-6 (2003) and 24-10 (2004).
Consecutive defeats to Baltimore, Indianapolis and Cincinnati may end up costing Pitsburgh a trip to the postseason, but outstanding defensive efforts the last two weeks have kept the Steelers’ playoff hopes alive.
Pittsburgh had a safety, forced three turnovers and held the Vikings to 25 yards in the second half of an 18-3 victory Sunday.
Against the Bears the previous week, the Steelers allowed a field goal through three quarters before giving up a fourth-quarter touchdown in a 21-9 win.
“We’re playing like we should be playing,” Steelers coach Bill Cowher said Monday. “Not to take anything away from Minnesota or Chicago, but those offenses are two that we should be able to stand up to. We need to play this way and take a step forward.”
The play of linebackers Joey Porter and James Farrior has been a major reason for Cowher’s optimism. Farrior recorded 20 tackles the last two weeks and Porter, still recovering from knee surgery, had an interception and two sacks in the two wins.
“Joey is getting energized and getting his knees back,” Cowher said. “I don’t think he’s been 100 percent all year long. He’s never really gotten a chance to rest it. I think James is probably the same way. I think this is the first time he’s played without the knee brace in some time.”
It’s the Steelers’ passing game, however, that may need to step up this week.
The Browns have the NFL’s fourth-ranked passing defense at 177.2 yards per game, and the Steelers are 24th in the league with 181.9 passing yards per contest. Other than a 38-31 loss to the Bengals on Dec. 4, Pittsburgh has managed only 59 points in its last four games.
Three field goals were enough for the Browns to end a three-game losing streak last week, as they defeated Oakland 9-7. Rookie Charlie Frye went 21-of-31 for 198 yards with just one interception in his third start since taking over for Trent Dilfer.
“The young quarterback,” Browns coach Romeo Crennel said of Frye, “continues to show he can handle the tests we are throwing at him, and the opponents are throwing at him. After he got knocked down, he got back up and made plays.”
Frye is 56-for-88 for 620 yards, three touchdowns and four interceptions, and has led the Browns in some of their most competitive performances of the season. Cleveland lost his first two starts by a combined nine points, including a 23-20 defeat to Cincinnati on Dec. 11.
“Frye has made some big plays running around,” Cowher said. “This is going to be a big challenge for us on the road. They’d like nothing more to end our season.
“We have the next game, and that’s the only game to focus on. We know what’s at stake and the only thing we can control is how we play.”
The Steelers conclude the regular season at home against Detroit (4-10) next week.
Team Comparison
| Team | Records | Standings | PF | PA | Road/Home | AFC | NFC | DIV | Streak |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh | 11-5-0 | 2nd AFC North | 389 | 258 | 6-2-0 Road | 7-5-0 | 4-0-0 | 4-2-0 | Won 4 |
| Cleveland | 6-10-0 | 4th AFC North | 232 | 301 | 4-4-0 Home | 4-8-0 | 2-2-0 | 1-5-0 | Won 1 |
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