Steelers-Browns Preview

SCOUTING REPORT

Won't be easy, but Steelers should once again beat the BrownsThis week's Sunday night game features the two teams perceived to be the class of the AFC North. Both squads opened their season against a foe from Texas, with Cleveland falling to Dallas and Pittsburgh abusing Houston in all facets of the game. Both clubs face remarkably difficult schedules this year, so it's doubtful that either will get a chance to run away with the division. Falling into a hole this early in the season can be disastrous, so there's more pressure on the Browns in this matchup. The Steelers have had their number since Cleveland rejoined the NFL, but the Browns have made big recent changes. In fact, they arguably have a roster full of talent that at least compares to that of their nearby rival. Both offenses have explosive potential but are likely to count on the run game in an effort to keep the opposing attack on the sideline.

· Full Scouting Report

Matchup
	W-L	PF	PA	HOME	ROAD	DIV	CONF
PIT	12-4	347	223	6-2	6-2	6-0	10-2
CLE	4-12	232	350	1-7	3-5	1-5	3-9
· Complete Standings

Individual Leaders

Pittsburgh Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Roethl... 68.9 2867 17 10 Batch 50.0 17 0 0

Cleveland Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Quinn 56.7 812 5 5 Anders... 42.9 681 2 9

Pittsburgh Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Menden... 134 689 5.1 4 Parker 67 218 3.3 0

Cleveland Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Lewis 132 460 3.5 0 Harris... 69 254 3.7 0

Pittsburgh Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Ward 63 798 12.7 5 Holmes 50 764 15.3 1

Cleveland Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Massaq... 25 473 18.9 1 Furrey 22 161 7.3 0

Full Player Stats: Pittsburgh | Cleveland

TEAM AVERAGES & NFL RANKS
TEAM OFFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Total Yards	PIT	312.0
	CLE	249.0
Yards Passing	PIT	206.3
	CLE	148.8
Yards Rushing	PIT	105.6
	CLE	100.3
TEAM DEFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Yards Allowed	PIT	237.2
	CLE	356.5
Pass Yds Allowed	PIT	156.9
	CLE	204.6
Rush Yds Allowed	PIT	80.3
	CLE	151.9

HEAD TO HEAD MATCHUPS (SINCE 2001)
Pittsburgh leads 16-1
Nov 11, 2007	PIT 31, @CLE 28
Sep 9, 2007	PIT 34, CLE 7
Dec 7, 2006	PIT 27, @CLE 7
Nov 19, 2006	PIT 24, CLE 20
Dec 24, 2005	PIT 41, CLE 0
Nov 13, 2005	PIT 34, @CLE 21
Nov 14, 2004	PIT 24, CLE 10
Oct 10, 2004	PIT 34, @CLE 23
Nov 23, 2003	PIT 13, CLE 6
Oct 5, 2003	PIT 13, @CLE 33
Jan 5, 2003	PIT 36, @CLE 33
Nov 3, 2002	PIT 23, CLE 20
Sep 29, 2002	PIT 16, @CLE 13
Jan 6, 2002	PIT 28, @CLE 7
Nov 11, 2001	PIT 15, CLE 12

The Cleveland Browns pulled even with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the standings last season. On the field, though, the AFC's oldest rivalry has been a one-sided affair of late.

Coming off a strong performance in their season opener, the visiting Steelers look for their 10th straight win over the Browns, who are eager to erase the memory of an ugly Week 1 loss.

Pittsburgh and Cleveland have met 110 times in the regular season since the start of the 1950 season, with each team winning 55 times. The rivalry's status as one of the NFL's most hostile has never been in question, nor has the one-sidedness of the series through lengthy stretches. The Browns won 31 of their 40 games against the Steelers during the '50s and '60s, the era in which Cleveland won four NFL championships.

The Steelers took 15 of 20 matchups in the '70s, when they won four Super Bowls. The teams split their next 32 games before the Browns franchise relocated to Baltimore after the 1995 season, but after Cleveland rejoined the NFL in 1999, the momentum swung back Pittsburgh's way.

The Steelers have won 15 of 18 meetings since the Browns returned, including nine straight by an average of 15.6 points.

"You could put this game in April and Browns-Steelers is important," Cleveland kicker Phil Dawson said. "This isn't just any week, it's Steelers Week."

The Browns finished 2007 with their best record since their return to the league, going 10-6 and tying the Steelers for first place in the AFC North. Another head-to-head sweep, however, gave Pittsburgh the division title and helped keep Cleveland out of the playoffs for the fifth season in a row.

The teams expected to once again battle for the division crown in 2008, but if one week is any indication, they appear to be headed in opposite directions. The Steelers routed Houston 38-17 on Sunday at Heinz Field, while the Browns' dismal play from a winless preseason appeared to carry over in a 28-10 home loss to Dallas.

Pittsburgh won 34-7 at Cleveland in the season opener for both teams last year, but Steelers coach Mike Tomlin noted that the Browns scored 51 points the next week in a victory over Cincinnati.

"We have evidence that they are capable of putting what happens behind them in Week 1 and getting better," he said. "They will come ready to play."

Willie Parker played his first game since breaking his leg in December and was the offensive star for Pittsburgh in the opener, rushing for 138 yards on 25 carries. He had three touchdowns after scoring only twice last season, when he was often being replaced by a bigger back near the goal line.

"This team knows I'll do anything to be the goal-line back," Parker said. "That's part of being a running back."

Parker has been a major problem for the Browns, running for at least 100 yards in each of his last three games against Cleveland. He rushed for a career-high 223 yards in a 27-7 win over the Browns on Dec. 7, 2006.

Ben Roethlisberger has the league's highest quarterback rating (147.0) after Week 1, as he went 13-of-14 for 137 yards and two touchdowns in three quarters against Houston.

Roethlisberger, an Ohio native, is 7-0 against Cleveland, throwing for 11 TDs and running for another. He had six passing TDs in the two wins over the Browns last season.

Assuming Roethlisberger, who's nursing a sore shoulder, suits up, he'll face a depleted Browns secondary. Sean Jones will be out at least a month with a knee injury, and fellow safety Brodney Pool missed the opener with a concussion. He's questionable against Pittsburgh.

Cleveland's defense gave up 487 yards in the loss to Dallas, but perhaps the more disappointing unit was the offense. After putting up 351.3 yards per game and averaging 25.1 points last season, the Browns were held to 205 yards. Pro Bowl receiver Braylon Edwards was limited to two catches for 14 yards.

Edwards, who had one catch for a touchdown in the Browns' 31-28 loss at Pittsburgh on Nov. 11, didn't seem concerned over the offensive struggles in Week 1.

"Last time I checked, we still have 15 games so we have a lot of time to get better," he said. "We'll be fine."

The Browns were without All-Pro kick returner Joshua Cribbs (ankle) against the Cowboys, but it appears Cribbs will suit up against the Steelers. Tomlin and his special teams have reason to be concerned -- Cribbs has taken back two kicks for touchdowns against Pittsburgh.

"There is only one Joshua Cribbs, and we are going to see him on Sunday," Tomlin said.

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