BREAKING IT DOWN

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Santonio Holmes, Steelers receiver

The former Ohio State Buckeye was a thorn in the side of the Browns. He caught five passes for 94 yards, including a 48-yarder in the third quarter that led to a field goal and a 10-point Steelers lead. Browns cornerback Brandon McDonald was in position for the interception. He missed. But Holmes didn’t.
Holmes also added a 10-yard reverse for a first down.

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Derek Anderson, Browns quarterback

While Ben Roethlisberger improved to 8-0 against the Browns, Cleveland’s counterpart is 0-3 versus the Steelers and still looking for a good game in a big game.
Anderson was 18-for-32 for 166 yards, two interceptions and a 44.5 rating. The Browns offense has scored 16 points in two weeks — not exactly the high-powered strength of the team it’s supposed to be.

Play of the game

Anderson’s worst decision of the day was the game’s most critical.
On the Browns’ only good drive of the first half, they reached the 11-yard line with eight seconds left. Clock mismanagement left the Browns with no timeouts, so they should’ve had a simple plan: Take one shot at the end zone, and if it doesn’t work, kick the field goal.
Instead, Anderson tried to fit a ball into Syndric Steptoe near the goal line. Safety Troy Polamalu stepped in front for the interception and the half ended with Pittsburgh leading 10-0 and the Browns without precious momentum.

Stat of the game

113.0

The quarterback rating of Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger. He went 12-for-19 for 186 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions on a brutal night for passing.

Quote of the game

“It’s a new year. We don’t really care about the streak. All we care about is winning the division, and to win the division we know we have to beat Pittsburgh. They’re the bullies.”
— Cleveland tight end Kellen Winslow. The Browns have lost 10 straight to the Steelers.

MATCHUPS

Offense

On a windy, rainy night, the Steelers made all the big plays when they needed them.
Ben Roethlisberger had a touchdown and 113.0 rating and hit tight end Heath Miller for a first down on the clock-killing drive that all but ended the game.
Running back Willie Parker didn’t explode — 19 yards was his longest run — but he finished with 105 yards and a crucial first down in the final minutes.
Derek Anderson remains out of synch for the Browns and Braylon Edwards keeps dropping passes.
EDGE: Steelers

Defense

Troy Polamalu’s interception to end the first half gives Pittsburgh the edge.
The Browns hung tough — and gave up only 10 points — but they allowed two first downs on the final drive and had two costly penalties on the game’s lone touchdown drive. Browns fans looking for positives could point to an unexpected solid effort by the much-maligned defense.
EDGE: Steelers

Special teams

Joshua Cribbs didn’t provide the return spark the Browns hoped, then left the game after a big hit in the fourth quarter. Punter Dave Zastudil was a big bright spot, averaging 53 yards (52.8 net) with two punts inside the 20-yard line in nightmare conditions for kickers.
The Steelers had difficulty fielding kicks all day, but the Browns couldn’t capitalize when Jerome Harrison let a loose ball slip out of his grasp and out of bounds. He would’ve given the Browns the ball inside the Pittsburgh 10-yard line late in the third quarter.
EDGE: Browns

Coaching

Romeo Crennel will certainly be ripped for kicking a field goal with less than four minutes left in the fourth quarter, but I didn’t mind the decision. It shows trust in the defense and would’ve given the Browns the chance to win in regulation.
He should take the blame, however, for dropping to 0-7 against Pittsburgh and blowing the clock management at the end of the second quarter.
Mike Tomlin is 3-0 against the Browns.
EDGE: Steelers

— Scott Petrak 

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