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Anderson, Cribbs win praise from foes happy to escape with victory
By George M. Thomas Beacon Journal sportswriter
Published on Monday, Nov 12, 2007
PITTSBURGH: One thing is sure: After their 31-28 victory over the Browns on Sunday at Heinz Field, the Pittsburgh Steelers realize this isn't the same team they pounded into submission in September.
''We haven't been in that situation before. It's the first game where we really had to come from behind,'' Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward said. ''We had all our guys in the huddle and healthy and I told the guys: 'This is what we wanted.'''
The Browns gave the Steelers almost more than they could handle in a thriller of a game in which they came within feet of a second overtime game in two weeks.
''They've got the same people. They're just playing better. Derek Anderson is doing a better job of getting the ball out and not sitting back there in the pocket,'' Steelers linebacker James Farrior said. ''His receivers are going up and making plays. I think that's probably the biggest difference.''
Another key: the skills of kick returner Joshua Cribbs, who produced a career game Sunday, causing Steelers coach Mike Tomlin to look more relieved than satisfied after the game. Tomlin's special teams surrendered 204 kickoff return yards to Cribbs, including runs of 90 and 100 yards.
''One thing for sure, we stink as a kickoff-return unit, not to take anything away from Joshua Cribbs,'' Tomlin said.
When the Browns' offensive and defensive units faltered, it was Cribbs, a speedy returner from Kent State University, who kept his team in the game. His most spectacular play: the 100-yard return, in which it looked as if he was hemmed in by the Steelers, only to run the tightrope on the sideline and break out of the pack with a herd of Browns players leading him to the end zone for a 28-24 lead.
''It was a little disturbing. We were all on the sideline pretty upset,'' Farrior said. ''We just wanted the opportunity to go out there and stop them on defense and they didn't really give us the chance. He made a good play, and they're going to make some good plays. It's just about how you're going to respond to it.''
The Steelers responded by marching down the field to take the lead on a Heath Miller 2-yard touchdown catch to go ahead 31-28.
If nothing else, this game might have breathed life into a rivalry that had begun to resemble a cadaver from a C.S.I. episode. Ward said he wasn't surprised by what the Browns brought to Sunday's game.
''In this division, when you play someone twice, you're not going to run through them twice,'' he said. ''Especially with it being Cleveland and Pittsburgh and the rivalry between the two cities. We knew they were going to be amped up.''
His teammate, cornerback Deshea Townsend, agreed.
''Most of the time when one team is winning and the other team doesn't have such a good record, it's tough to make it such a great rivalry game,'' he said. ''But this game really meant something. The winner of this game had first place in the division. It was a big game.''
George M. Thomas can be reached at sportswriterabj@sbcglobal.net. Read his blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/sportsblitz/
PITTSBURGH: One thing is sure: After their 31-28 victory over the Browns on Sunday at Heinz Field, the Pittsburgh Steelers realize this isn't the same team they pounded into submission in September.
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