CHAPTER 9:

Sunday was Browns' game day. As per the ritual, Ed and Dave fetched Pete and myself from our hotel, en route to picking up Mike and Sheri in Carnegie before making our way to Heinz Field.

There’s something special about the way football fans in the USA tailgate before a game. In the United Kingdom, it would be all down to the pub to take onboard a few pints before going to the match.

In the USA, it’s drive down to the stadium and get out the barbecue, together with the table and chairs to enjoy the company of your friends with a few beers before the short walk to the stadium.

Banter is exchanged whenever a Brownie passes through the parking lot, but it’s generally a friendly affair. The Steelers' fans are not contemplating defeat.

With eight consecutive Steelers’ victories against the Browns, this divisional match-up has taken on a less competitive look in recent years. The last memorable game produced by this fixture was the 2002 playoff thriller when the Steelers, rallying from a thirteen-point deficit in the fourth quarter, fought back to edge it 36-33.

Having won the season opener in Cleveland, the Steelers were heavy favourites to take the victory at Heinz Field. Any unbiased football fan knew that this Browns’ team, with Derek Anderson now at the helm, were not the same team that had been flattened in week one.

Cleveland were chasing Pittsburgh for first place in the AFC North division and, at 5-2, were quite capable of challenging for the divisional title, if they could overcome the Steelers.

Before the National Anthem, there was a fly pass of three Apache helicopters, with the Steelers' logo underside the base of the craft. It was Veterans Day and it was a fitting mark of respect to those vets who wouldn't be at the game. Pete and I paid our personal respects by wearing the poppies that we had brought with us from the UK.

After the tribute, the game kicked off. The Steelers offense went three and out on their first possession as Santonio Holmes was snuffed out on a reverse play.

The Browns took the ball and started brightly, converting three third downs during a 16 play, 71 yards drive, that resulted in a Kellen Winslow touchdown catch giving them a 7-0 lead.

On the Steelers’ next drive, Willie Parker began to get into gear with a 31 yards run, but the offense couldn’t progress beyond the Browns’ 10 yard line, so had to settle for three points from Jeff Reed’s field goal.

On the subsequent kick-off, Cleveland’s Joshua Cripps made his first impact on the game, returning the kick 90 yards to give the Browns a first down on the Steelers’ three. The inevitable Cleveland touchdown was a 2 yards touchdown pass to Lawrence Vickers, which extended their lead to 14-3.

The Steelers’ offense was beginning to find its feet with their passing game through Najeh Davenport, complemented by Parker’s running. The Steelers’ drive got stuck on the Browns’ 17 and collected another three points from the boot of Jeff Reed.

When Pittsburgh finally managed to stop Cleveland’s offense putting points on the board, Ben Roethlisberger immediately passed the initiative back to the Browns. His pass, intended for Santonio Holmes, was intercepted by Brodney Pool and gave the Browns another opportunity to extend their lead from their opponents’ 18.

Four plays later, Cleveland led 21-6 after an outstanding catch from Brody Edwards, who deftly used his toes to get both feet inbounds. The catch was originally ruled incomplete by the officials on the field. After reviewing the play, the Browns’ challenge was accepted and gave Anderson his third touchdown pass of the day.

On the Steelers’ last possession of the first half, they continued to make plays and began to convert their third downs. Using short passes and Parker to keep the defense honest, Roethlisberger moved his team to the Cleveland 5. Once again the drive stalled when Roethlisberger took a sack, forcing the Steelers to kick another field goal, reducing the deficit to 9-21.

So, the ten point favourites Steelers go into the locker room 12 points behind. Umm… not quite what the fans expected!

Neither team could make any progress on the first two possessions of the second half and just as it appeared that time was running out for the Steelers, James Harrison again made his mark on a game.

Harrison’s forced fumble was recovered by Ike Taylor. At this point, I remarked to Ed that this was the ball game. If the Steelers went three and out on this drive, the Browns would leave Pittsburgh with a win.

Ben did not let me down. Using Willie Parker and Hines Ward, Roethlisberger led his team 38 yards in 4 plays, finishing with a 12 yard touchdown catch by Ward and making it a more manageable 16-21 deficit. A Steelers' win began to look more credible.

As the teams exchanged possessions, the score remained the same going into the final quarter. Something special was needed to provide the spark to ignite the Steelers into victory. With just twelve minutes remaining, Roethlisberger again showed his value to the team.

Beginning a drive at Pittsburgh’s 34, Roethlisberger used Parker and Ward again before finding Nate Washington with a catch that took the Steelers to Cleveland’s 30. After two incomplete passes, the drive and the game were destined to grind to a halt.

With third and ten, and an obvious pass play, Roethlisberger found all his receivers covered; so he began to run. Avoiding several tackles, Ben continued his run until being tackled just short of the goal line.

Using his experience to good effect, Ben appeared to put the ball beyond the plane of the goal as he was falling, and the officials signaled a touchdown. Cleveland’s red flag was thrown to have the play reviewed and several anxious minutes elapsed before the touchdown was confirmed – a good call, which my photo supports.

Having taken a one point lead with the touchdown, the Steelers wisely decided to go for the rare two point after conversion, rather than kick the certain extra point.

Going to the Steelers starting tight end, Heath Miller, Ben found him in the end zone with the pass that gave his team a 24-21 lead, and more importantly a field goal difference. The fans erupted into “Here we go Steelers, Here we go!”

The Steelers kicked off and the fans’ cheers turned to joy when the ball bounced over Cleveland's Josh Cripps before he cannily picked it up from the goal line and then avoided Andre Frazier’s tackle.

Cripps continued down field, defiantly skirting the sideline before bursting through the Steelers’ defense as the fans’ elation turned to groans. A stunned Heinz Field applauded the 24-28 lead to the Browns with a silence that is complete when the Steelers’ challenge to the touchdown was overruled.

Victory appeared to have been snatched from the Steelers’ grasp and the team were now staring at defeat through perplexed eyes.

With eleven minutes remaining, Ben once more displayed his leadership. Starting at their own 22 and aided by two Santonio Holmes’ receptions and a Heath Miller catch, Ben led the team 78 yards, finishing with a 2 yard touchdown pass to Miller.

The crowd were on their feet, frantically waving their Terrible Towels, as the Steelers went back into a 31-28 lead. With just three minutes remaining, the Steelers had put themselves in the perfect position to take the spoils.

The Browns, who had made their contribution to an outstanding football game, had two more possessions to take the game into overtime. They failed to get close enough to score a touchdown, eventually missing a 52yd field goal attempt.

The Steelers' triumphed with a 31-28 victory, having survived a close run thing. The Browns confirmed they have shaking off their Clowns’ label and the division race next season surely will be an interesting one.

I remember after the game wishing a Browns’ fan a safe journey home – and meaning it. He was walking with his girlfriend who was wearing a Steelers shirt. He took the gesture as it was meant. After all, football is just a game.

MORE GAME PHOTOS HERE>>>

POST GAME COMMENTS:

Steelers defensive end Aaron Smith commented, "I thought we needed one of these. I didn't want it to be like this, but maybe sometimes you need to see what your team is made of as far as when they are down, and what kind of character they have."

Coach Tomlin commented, “"I thought Ben did some nice things today."

And the best quote from any game this season came from the Browns’ coach Romeo Crennel, “We could have won the game, but we didn’t.”

The Steelers improved to 57-55 all-time against the Browns (including post season). Pittsburgh has won nine straight games against Cleveland and 15 of the past 16 contests in the series.

Pittsburgh swept the season series against the Browns for the fourth straight season. Pittsburgh are 7-1 all-time at Heinz Field against Cleveland.

Pittsburgh are now 48-24 versus the Browns (including playoffs) since the NFL merger in 1970.

Ben Roethlisberger was named AFC player of the week for the second time in his four-year career. He finished 23-of-34 for 278 yards passing with two touchdowns and one interception (99.9 passer rating).

Ben added 49 yards rushing on five attempts (9.8 avg.) with one rushing touchdown, the ninth of his career (including post season.)

It was Ben's thirteenth career fourth-quarter come-from-behind win.

CHAPTER 10>>>