Cleveland Browns vs Pittsburgh Steelers (Sunday night Football)

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

yahoo.com

11/9/05

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=750 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width=560>Cleveland (3-5) at Pittsburgh (6-2)

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD height=7><SPACER width="1" height="1" type="block"></TD></TR><TR><TD class=yspsctnhdln>Cleveland (3-5) at Pittsburgh (6-2)</TD></TR><TR><TD height=7><SPACER width="1" height="1" type="block"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>Preview - Box Score - Recap

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE class=ysptblclbg3 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=2 height=5><SPACER width="1" height="1" type="block"></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD> Game Info: 8:30 pm EST Sun Nov 13, 2005
TV: ESP </TD><TD noWrap align=right>Add to Calendar
Buy Tickets </TD></TR><TR><TD class=ysptblbdr2 colSpan=2 height=1><SPACER width="1" height="1" type="block"></TD></TR><TR class=yspwhitebg><TD colSpan=2 height=15><SPACER width="1" height="1" type="block"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>If the Pittsburgh Steelers are going to extend their winning streak to four games and force a tie atop the AFC North, they will have to do it without Ben Roethlisberger.


The Steelers look to win their second game with quarterback Charlie Batch at the helm when they host the Cleveland Browns.

Batch made his first start in four years last Sunday and it showed. He went 9-of-16 for just 65 yards and was intercepted once, but still led the Steelers to a 20-10 victory over the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field.

Roethlisberger had arthroscopic knee surgery last week to remove damaged cartilage from his right knee and will sit out a second straight week as he recovers. Pittsburgh coach Bill Cowher said he would be out 10 to 14 days, hoping Roethlisberger returns for the Nov. 20 game at Baltimore.
Meanwhile, Cowher hopes Batch and Pittsburgh's offense show improvement against Cleveland.

``Hopefully, we'll be more efficient throwing the ball (this week),'' Cowher said. ``I'm not going to sit here and scrutinize the play of Charlie Batch. I think offensively as a group we need to do a much more efficient job of throwing the ball.


``We can't get through games throwing for 65 yards and thinking we can win week in and week out.''

Still, it's likely Cowher will favor running the ball over passing it. Pittsburgh rushed for 154 yards last week, including 76 and a touchdown from Duce Staley in his first real action in nearly 11 months.

Staley, who had been sidelined most of the season to recover from knee surgery, got 15 carries in that game and should expect at least a similar workload this week.
Steelers leading rushers Willie Parker and Jerome Bettis are listed as questionable. Bettis' knee injury kept him out against Green Bay and Parker injured his ankle Sunday.

``We have been a very resourceful football team,'' Cowher said. ``Our depth has been challenged a little bit. People have been tested but have stepped in to do the job.''

With the Cincinnati Bengals (7-2) on a bye, the Steelers have a chance to tie them for first place in the AFC North with a win over Cleveland.

The Browns, meanwhile, hope to build off last Sunday's 20-14 victory over the visiting Tennessee Titans. Cleveland had lost three in a row.

Just days after apologizing to the Browns organization and fans following his arrest on a drunken driving charge, running back Reuben Droughns redeemed himself by rushing for a season-best 116 yards and adding four receptions for 73 yards against the Titans.

``For me, this is like my cathedral,'' said Droughns, who has run for 315 yards over the last three games. ``But I wasn't using what happened to me as motivation. I just poured my heart and soul into it.''

Pittsburgh has not allowed a 100-yard rusher in 20 games, the longest active streak in the NFL, but could be missing one of its top run defenders.

Linebacker James Farrior, the stalwart of the Steelers defense, is listed as doubtful after spraining the medial collateral ligament in his left knee last Sunday. Farrior ranks among the league leaders in tackles this season with 68.

Despite its 3-5 record, Cleveland knows a win over an elite team like Pittsburgh could spark a strong second half of the season and possibly a run at the playoffs. ``We still believe we can make a little run and get some wins in the next few games,'' Droughns said. ``We can't give up right now, and I don't believe this team is ready to give up.''
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

[JXC]

As a Bengals fan...i'll root for Cleveland...but Cleveland is the worst 3 win team in the NFL. They are horrible. They don't have a shot against the Steelers...even if Maddox was QB...(Okay...MAYBE if Maddox was QB) LOL!!! Maddox is so bad.

[scarletngrey11]

Actually the Browns should be given more credit. They have had a good if not great defense this year, last sunday was the first sunday in something like 4 weeks where they gave up more than one touchdown. It all depends on how the offense plays, Cleveland will load the box and slow down the Steeler rushing attack, especially with all the injuries at RB. They will make Charlie Batch beat them through the air, and im not so sure he can do that.

Im thinking something like 14-10, could go either way...

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Why is it that everytime I post something about Cleveland, a Cincy fan has to come and bash the Browns?

What is the reason for this?

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

scout.com

11/10/05

<TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=0 width="98%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=3>Berea Report: The Rivalry Continues

</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff>


</TD><TD noWrap width=3></TD><TD vAlign=top>By Fred Greetham

Date: Nov 9, 2005

Fred Greetham reports from Berea, where over two dozen new Browns are getting a quick education on the Browns-Steelers rivalry. Also, updates on injured Browns, including Cosey Coleman, and a timely honor for a player who was on thin ice one week ago. Here's the latest Browns news, first and free from Bernie's Insiders!
</TD></TR><TR><TD colSpan=3>
Berea – The Browns and Steelers have been going at it for over 50 years and the team’s will do battle this week on a primetime ESPN game Sunday Night. This will be the 105th regular season meeting of the two teams, with the Browns holding a 55-49 advantage over the Steelers.

However, there hasn’t been much of a rivalry --in terms of the Browns being competitive-- since the team returned in 1999. In fact, the Steelers have won nine of the 12 meetings between the teams since the return.
In fact, the last time the Browns won was on Oct. 5, 2003 when the Browns won 33-13 at Pittsburgh when William Green rushed for 115 yards—also on prime time.

“I know it’s a rivalry, but it’s the next game that we have to play,” Romeo Crennel said. “They are a very good football team. That’s the thing that we have to understand. We’re playing a very good football team in their place. If we don’t play our best game, it’ll be tough.”

With the advent of free agency and the turnover of players, especially with 28 players who weren’t here last year, some wonder if the players know about the rivalry.

“There are some new faces but probably not everyone understands the rivalry,” Crennel said. “But, they know it’s a big game. If they don’t, they will understand it by the end of the week.

“It’s Pittsburgh and Cleveland,” Crennel said. “Other than the fact it is a big rivalry, I don’t think any team can underestimate the other guy in a rivalry situation.”

For the players who’ve been here, they said it won’t take long for the new players to understand the intensity of the game.

“I think everyone knows the Browns/Steelers rivalry,” Alvin McKinley said.

“You don’t have to be around here too long to figure it out.”

Ryan Tucker is in his fourth season with the Browns.

“I’m from Cleveland, now,” Tucker said. “I know how important this game is for the fans, as well as for the team.”

Ben Taylor, who hails from southeastern Ohio in Steelers’ country, knows how important this game is for the fans of the Cleveland. “There are a lot of Steeler fans from back where I grew up,” Taylor said. “They always say they’re rooting for me, but still want the Steelers to win.”

Orpheus Roye played for the Steelers his first four seasons and still gets up to play the Steelers.

“I always look forward to playing Pittsburgh,” Roye said. “There’s a little extra energy and adrenaline flowing. I want to have a good game and play well.”

The Steelers know the sense of history, as well, starting with coach Bill Cowher, who started his playing career and coaching career in Cleveland.
“The history is tied together with the proximity of the two cities and the history of the teams over the years,” Cowher said.

This week’s starting quarterback for the Steelers, Charlie Batch grew up in the Pittsburgh area.

“I think the guys have a sense of (the rivalry),” Batch said. “For me, growing up in Pittsburgh, this is nothing new to me because it’s city to city. It’s a rivalry game for the fans in both cities.”

Quick Hits
Richardson Player of Week: What a difference a week makes as P Kyle Richardson went from as close to the NFL unemployment line as a player could get to being named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week.

“The player of the week is by performance and he went out and performed,” Crennel said. “Particularly, with the wind conditions, he did a great job.”

After shanking three punts in the previous two weeks, Richardson was able to pin the Titans inside the 20-yard line three times despite the unpleasant kicking conditions. He had five punts for 203 yards (40.6 avg.), including a long punt of 54 yards. He also made a key tackle in the second quarter on Titans’ PR Lamont Thompson to end a 31-yard return.
“It’s quite an honor,” Richardson said. “It’s the first time I’ve received the award. I’m very happy for it.”

Richardson is the second Browns player to be honored this year with the other being QB Trent Dilfer, who was AFC Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 21.

Both players have had their rough spots this season.

“The Player of the Week goes to a player who performs,” Crennel said. “Both of those guys have been around long enough to know how to work out of some problems.

“Hopefully, they can be Players of the Week the next week and continue to show more consistency.”

Injury Update: OL Cosey Coleman is doubtful with a sprained knee, as is RB William Green (ankle).

“We’ll take a look at (Coleman) later in the week,” Crennel said. “It will come down to a game time decision unless they tell me otherwise. Green is making improvement, but is doubtful, right now.”

Crennel also said CB Daylon McCutcheon (ankle) will not practice today, but anticipates he’ll play.

Crennel said Mike Pucillo will start if Coleman can’t go.

“Pucillo did a decent job stepping in last week,” he said. “He played his butt off.”

Crennel said RB Lee Suggs will practice this week.

“Lee will try to practice this week and we’ll see if he can hang onto the ball with his thumb.”

Browns Host HS Coaches: The Browns invited the four coaches of the participants of this Saturday’s Division I Regional Semifinals that will be held at Cleveland Browns Stadium.

“It’s a big weekend for high school football and we’re glad to be a part of it,” Crennel said as he introduced the coaches.

St. Edward will play Brush at 1 p.m. and followed by a 5 p.m. kickoff with Glenville taking on Solon.

“It’s going to be exciting to play in the playoffs,” Brush coach Jason Hall said.

It’s the first time in school history that Brush has made it to the playoffs.
St. Edwards coach John Gibbons has been on the field before, albeit the old stadium.

“I had a chance to play in the old stadium,” Gibbons said. “I was a season ticket holder and remember running around on the field when the Browns beat the Colts, 27-0 in 1964.”

Glenville is one of the top teams, not only in Ohio, but in the nation.
“For the kids, I think it will be huge,” Ted Ginn, Sr. said. “We’re thankful the city and the community is behind our kids.”

“We have a ton of Browns fans in our locker room,” Solon coach Jim McQuaide said. “To have a chance to play a nationally ranked team like Glenville on their field, will really be fun.”

Tickets are available at each school until Friday for $10 (adults) and $6 (students). On game day, tickets will be $12 at Cleveland Browns Stadium.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

[IronBuckI]

Originally Posted by bucknuts44820

Why is it that everytime I post something about Cleveland, a Cincy fan has to come and bash the Browns?

What is the reason for this?

Dicks with an inferiority complex.