Steelers Bash the Browns
Monday November 14, 2005
It's a rivalry that stretches back 55 years to 1950, the oldest rivalry in the AFC. Two blue collar teams from blue collar cities, separated only by a few hundred miles of turnpike. The Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns played their 107th game together on Sunday, with the Steelers coming out on top 34-21 at Heinz Field.
The biggest highlight of the game was when Hines Ward caught his 543rd pass for the Steelers, moving past Hall of Famer John Stallworth as the Steelers' all-time receptions leader. Running a close second was the amazing play of back-up quarterback Charlie Batch, who completed 13 of 19 passes for 150 yards before sitting out the second half with a broken pinkie on his throwing hand.
It was the Steelers' second quarterback injury in three weeks, but they didn't let that stop them. Tommy Maddox came in as quarterback for the second half and ran an efficient running game to gain the Steelers another 17 points to the Browns 14. His confidence is obviously shaken from the abuse he and his family have received since his last time up at quarterback, and his passing game suffered. So it was back to basics for the Steelers - a plan that worked. Hopefully Maddox can shake his slump and regain his self-confidence. With Roethlisberger and Batch injured, the Steelers need him and he's got the skills to deliver. If something happens, however, there's always Antwaan Randle El. The former college quarterback turned Steelers wide receiver threw the biggest pass of Sunday's game, a 51-yard touchdown pass to Hines Ward on a reverse.
Another great performers in the Steelers-Browns game was Steelers strong safety Troy Polamalu, the cover boy on this week's issue of Sports Illustrated. He was all over the field making big stops. And he's such a nice guy too! When asked if he's thrilled to be on Sports Illustrated's cover, Polamalu said, "No, I have a lot of pictures of me at home."
Steve Courson, a former Steelers guard who died when a tree he cut down on his Fayette County property fell on him, was remembered on the Heinz Field scoreboard before the game last night. Fans gave a warm ovation in his memory. He will be buried on Tuesday in his hometown of Gettysburg.
The biggest highlight of the game was when Hines Ward caught his 543rd pass for the Steelers, moving past Hall of Famer John Stallworth as the Steelers' all-time receptions leader. Running a close second was the amazing play of back-up quarterback Charlie Batch, who completed 13 of 19 passes for 150 yards before sitting out the second half with a broken pinkie on his throwing hand.
It was the Steelers' second quarterback injury in three weeks, but they didn't let that stop them. Tommy Maddox came in as quarterback for the second half and ran an efficient running game to gain the Steelers another 17 points to the Browns 14. His confidence is obviously shaken from the abuse he and his family have received since his last time up at quarterback, and his passing game suffered. So it was back to basics for the Steelers - a plan that worked. Hopefully Maddox can shake his slump and regain his self-confidence. With Roethlisberger and Batch injured, the Steelers need him and he's got the skills to deliver. If something happens, however, there's always Antwaan Randle El. The former college quarterback turned Steelers wide receiver threw the biggest pass of Sunday's game, a 51-yard touchdown pass to Hines Ward on a reverse.
Another great performers in the Steelers-Browns game was Steelers strong safety Troy Polamalu, the cover boy on this week's issue of Sports Illustrated. He was all over the field making big stops. And he's such a nice guy too! When asked if he's thrilled to be on Sports Illustrated's cover, Polamalu said, "No, I have a lot of pictures of me at home."
Steve Courson, a former Steelers guard who died when a tree he cut down on his Fayette County property fell on him, was remembered on the Heinz Field scoreboard before the game last night. Fans gave a warm ovation in his memory. He will be buried on Tuesday in his hometown of Gettysburg.
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