BROWNS OFFENSE VS. STEELERS DEFENSE
The Browns were able to move the ball through the air effectively against the Titans last week. Trent Dilfer (1,717 yards, 8 TD, 9 INT) threw for 272 yards with a touchdown and an interception. The big strike was a 58-yard TD pass to Dennis Northcutt (18 receptions, 225 yards, 1 TD). Antonio Bryant, who leads the Browns with 33 catches and 481 yards, ended with three catches for 79 yards, while running back Reuben Droughns (21 receptions, 184 yards) hauled in four balls for 73 yards. Cleveland has the 18th-best passing offense with 202.1 yards per game.
The Steelers have struggled at stopping teams' passing attacks at times this season, but it usually doesn't lead to touchdowns. After all, Pittsburgh is surrendering just 15.5 points per game, the fifth-best average in the league. This was the case last season in Green Bay, as Brett Favre threw for 214 yards, but finished with no touchdowns and one interception. Favre also fumbled the ball on a sack and safety Troy Polamalu recovered the ball and returned it 77 yards for a touchdown. Polamalu (49 tackles, 3 sacks, 1 INT) made six stops in the win. Fellow safety Chris Hope (53 tackles, 3 INT) chipped in with five tackles. Pittsburgh is 21st in the league with 210.8 passing yards allowed per game.
Cleveland has struggled running the ball this season, but was able to produce a 100-yard rusher last week. Droughns (646 yards) rushed for a season-high 116 yards on 20 carries, marking the second time he eclipsed the century mark this year. Northcutt added 31 yards on a reverse, while Jason Wright played in his first game of the year and ended with 19 yards and a TD on eight attempts. The Browns average 101.8 yards on the ground per game, placing them 21st in the NFL this year.
Cowher's team has always been excellent at stopping the run and this year has been no different. The Steelers are fourth in the NFL, surrendering just 84.6 yards per game. The Packers were playing without running back Ahman Green, who is out for the year with a torn thigh tendon, and they posted just 65 yards on the ground. Larry Foote (54 tackles) posted a team-high 11 tackles, while fellow inside linebacker James Farrior added six stops. Farrior is listed as doubtful this week with a strained MCL.
STEELERS OFFENSE VS. BROWNS DEFENSE
One of the reasons, Pittsburgh can win without Roethlisberger is because it is so good at running the ball. That's how the Steelers picked up the win last week, pounding out 154 rushing yards against Green Bay. Duce Staley played in his first game of the season and, after an injury to Willie Parker, was forced into a much bigger role. Staley, who was out since training camp with a knee injury, ran for 76 yards and a TD on 15 carries. Parker (615 yards, 3 TD) and had just 13 yards on five carries before injuring his ankle. Pittsburgh was already without Jerome Bettis (136 yards, 1 TD), who was sidelined with a knee ailment. Both Parker and Bettis are listed as questionable this week. The Steelers are fifth in the NFL with 134.1 rushing yards per game.
The Browns are ranked 28th in the league at stopping the run this season (129.4 ypg) and that could be a problem when playing against Pittsburgh's relentless rushing attack. Crennel's club did a solid job against the Titans last week, holding them to 98 yards on the ground. Chris Brown rushed for 95 of those yards and had a 15-yard TD scamper. Defensive end Orpheus Roye (52 tackles, 1 sack) anchored the three-man line and finished with seven tackles. Middle linebacker Ben Taylor (50 tackles) posted a team-high eight stops and outside linebacker Chaun Thompson (42 tackles, 2 sacks) added seven tackles.
Steelers backup QB Charlie Batch made his first start in four years last week and wasn't called on to do a great deal. Even with Roethlisberger under center, Cowher would still rather run the ball. Batch saw his first action of the season last week and threw for 65 yards and one interception while completing 9-of-16 passes. Dan Kreider (3 receptions, 20 yards) led the way with two receptions for 13 yards. Leading receiver Hines Ward (30 receptions, 424 yards, 5 TD) had just one catch for 12 yards. The Steelers are 27th in passing offense this season, throwing for just 164.4 yards per game.
Cleveland did a nice job of defending the pass last week against Tennessee. Titans QB Steve McNair completed just 18-of-41 passes for 235 yards with one touchdown and an interception. Daylon McCutcheon (51 tackles, 2 INT) led the secondary with four tackles, while Brodney Pool (16 tackles, 1 INT) came up with the interception. Linebacker Andra Davis (83 tackles, 2 sacks) sacked McNair once in the win. Cleveland has just 11 sacks this year and is only ahead of Denver in that category. Overall, the Browns are 19th in passing defense, allowing 210.2 yards per game.
Browns will be a competitive dog tonight.....
BET ID=34904157
Straight Wager 11/13/05 19:47 ET
200.00/181.82 Result: Pending
Browns(Cleveland)
Steelers(Pittsburgh) 11/13/05 (20:40 ET)
Browns(Cleveland) +7.5
The Browns were able to move the ball through the air effectively against the Titans last week. Trent Dilfer (1,717 yards, 8 TD, 9 INT) threw for 272 yards with a touchdown and an interception. The big strike was a 58-yard TD pass to Dennis Northcutt (18 receptions, 225 yards, 1 TD). Antonio Bryant, who leads the Browns with 33 catches and 481 yards, ended with three catches for 79 yards, while running back Reuben Droughns (21 receptions, 184 yards) hauled in four balls for 73 yards. Cleveland has the 18th-best passing offense with 202.1 yards per game.
The Steelers have struggled at stopping teams' passing attacks at times this season, but it usually doesn't lead to touchdowns. After all, Pittsburgh is surrendering just 15.5 points per game, the fifth-best average in the league. This was the case last season in Green Bay, as Brett Favre threw for 214 yards, but finished with no touchdowns and one interception. Favre also fumbled the ball on a sack and safety Troy Polamalu recovered the ball and returned it 77 yards for a touchdown. Polamalu (49 tackles, 3 sacks, 1 INT) made six stops in the win. Fellow safety Chris Hope (53 tackles, 3 INT) chipped in with five tackles. Pittsburgh is 21st in the league with 210.8 passing yards allowed per game.
Cleveland has struggled running the ball this season, but was able to produce a 100-yard rusher last week. Droughns (646 yards) rushed for a season-high 116 yards on 20 carries, marking the second time he eclipsed the century mark this year. Northcutt added 31 yards on a reverse, while Jason Wright played in his first game of the year and ended with 19 yards and a TD on eight attempts. The Browns average 101.8 yards on the ground per game, placing them 21st in the NFL this year.
Cowher's team has always been excellent at stopping the run and this year has been no different. The Steelers are fourth in the NFL, surrendering just 84.6 yards per game. The Packers were playing without running back Ahman Green, who is out for the year with a torn thigh tendon, and they posted just 65 yards on the ground. Larry Foote (54 tackles) posted a team-high 11 tackles, while fellow inside linebacker James Farrior added six stops. Farrior is listed as doubtful this week with a strained MCL.
STEELERS OFFENSE VS. BROWNS DEFENSE
One of the reasons, Pittsburgh can win without Roethlisberger is because it is so good at running the ball. That's how the Steelers picked up the win last week, pounding out 154 rushing yards against Green Bay. Duce Staley played in his first game of the season and, after an injury to Willie Parker, was forced into a much bigger role. Staley, who was out since training camp with a knee injury, ran for 76 yards and a TD on 15 carries. Parker (615 yards, 3 TD) and had just 13 yards on five carries before injuring his ankle. Pittsburgh was already without Jerome Bettis (136 yards, 1 TD), who was sidelined with a knee ailment. Both Parker and Bettis are listed as questionable this week. The Steelers are fifth in the NFL with 134.1 rushing yards per game.
The Browns are ranked 28th in the league at stopping the run this season (129.4 ypg) and that could be a problem when playing against Pittsburgh's relentless rushing attack. Crennel's club did a solid job against the Titans last week, holding them to 98 yards on the ground. Chris Brown rushed for 95 of those yards and had a 15-yard TD scamper. Defensive end Orpheus Roye (52 tackles, 1 sack) anchored the three-man line and finished with seven tackles. Middle linebacker Ben Taylor (50 tackles) posted a team-high eight stops and outside linebacker Chaun Thompson (42 tackles, 2 sacks) added seven tackles.
Steelers backup QB Charlie Batch made his first start in four years last week and wasn't called on to do a great deal. Even with Roethlisberger under center, Cowher would still rather run the ball. Batch saw his first action of the season last week and threw for 65 yards and one interception while completing 9-of-16 passes. Dan Kreider (3 receptions, 20 yards) led the way with two receptions for 13 yards. Leading receiver Hines Ward (30 receptions, 424 yards, 5 TD) had just one catch for 12 yards. The Steelers are 27th in passing offense this season, throwing for just 164.4 yards per game.
Cleveland did a nice job of defending the pass last week against Tennessee. Titans QB Steve McNair completed just 18-of-41 passes for 235 yards with one touchdown and an interception. Daylon McCutcheon (51 tackles, 2 INT) led the secondary with four tackles, while Brodney Pool (16 tackles, 1 INT) came up with the interception. Linebacker Andra Davis (83 tackles, 2 sacks) sacked McNair once in the win. Cleveland has just 11 sacks this year and is only ahead of Denver in that category. Overall, the Browns are 19th in passing defense, allowing 210.2 yards per game.
Browns will be a competitive dog tonight.....
BET ID=34904157
Straight Wager 11/13/05 19:47 ET
200.00/181.82 Result: Pending
Browns(Cleveland)
Steelers(Pittsburgh) 11/13/05 (20:40 ET)
Browns(Cleveland) +7.5
