| |
RECAP
|
BOX SCORE
CLEVELAND (AP) -- For Cleveland Browns fans, losing like this to
the dawg gone Pittsburgh Steelers was almost as bad as losing their
team in the first place.
Almost.
| |  | | Kordell Stewart heads toward the end zone on his first-quarter touchdown run. He later added a TD pass. |
Cleveland's emotional return to the NFL following a nearly
four-year absence was trashed Sunday night by Pittsburgh, which
embarrassed the expansion Browns 43-0.
The Steelers held Cleveland to its fewest net yards in a game
since 1950, the original Browns' first year in the NFL.
"We got our butts kicked. That sums it up," Browns defensive tackle Jerry Ball said.
The night began nicely for the Browns and their fans, who had been counting down the days until their team's comeback. There was a spectacular pregame show, featuring Cleveland native comedian Drew Carey, eye-popping fireworks and a jet flyover above the city's new stadium.
It was all Steelers after that.
Kordell Stewart rushed for one TD and threw for another as Pittsburgh, Cleveland's hated division rival, dominated the Browns from the opening kickoff until the final gun.
Richard Huntley scored three TDs, Jerome Bettis rushed for 80
yards in one half and the Steelers outgained the Browns 460-40 in
total yards despite playing most of the second half with reserves.
"It's kind of hard to assess them or to judge them right now
because they kind of ran into a bus," Bettis, a.k.a. "The Bus,"
said.
Mike Tomczak, the Steelers' second-string quarterback, went 8-for-8 passing with two TD passes.
The Steelers did more than just beat the Browns. They humiliated them, turning a promising night into a pummeling.
Pittsburgh had 32 first downs to Cleveland's two. The Steelers had the ball for 47 minutes, 49 seconds to the Browns 12:11, and ran 88 offensive plays to Cleveland's 28.
|
GAME NOTES |
|
The Browns' previous low for net yardage was 59 on Dec. 3,
1950 against Philadelphia; the club's worst previous shutout loss was
42-0 to Buffalo in 1990.
NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue
praised Browns fans for their determination in getting their team
back. "They were so persistent, so determined, so strong. We have
the resurrection of a franchise for the first time in pro sports
history. The fans can take credit for that."
Despite the loss, the Browns still lead the series 52-42.
|
"You don't mind losing to a team when you flat-out get beat," Browns rookie wideout Kevin Johnson said. "This was worse."
This wasn't the way Cleveland hoped to usher in a new era of pro football after waiting more than 1,300 days between games. The Browns, who had less than a year to get ready for their opener,
thought a solid performance on national TV against the Steelers on opening Sunday would help them build momentum in their inaugural season.
Instead, it showed Browns coach Chris Palmer just how far his
team has to go.
It was the worst shutout loss in Cleveland history and the worst season-opening loss. The Browns gained just 9 rushing yards on nine carries. The 43-point margin was the second worst loss in Browns
history, surpassed only by a 51-3 defeat to Minnesota in 1969.
"We wanted to run the ball, and we came out in the second half
wanting to run the ball," Palmer said. "And on the play we run
and (linebacker Levon) Kirkland is two yards in the backfield."
Browns starting quarterback Ty Detmer was unable to get anything going on offense, and rookie QB Tim Couch, Cleveland's No. 1 draft
pick, made his pro debut with 10:38 remaining. Detmer was 6-of-13
for 52 yards and one interception.
Couch was as bad as the rest of the Browns, throwing an
interception on his first attempt. Once the pickoff was made,
thousands of fans headed for the exits as a historic night that
began with such promise ended dreadfully. Couch missed on all three of his pass attempts.
"This is kind of a tough day to come in down 36-0," Couch said.
"I tried to make something happen when there was nothing there. I
forced the first one and after that point it was downhill."
Bettis looked fresh and completely recovered from knee surgery
in the first half as he bowled over some tacklers and ran around
others. He finished with 89 yards on 16 carries and spent most of
the second half standing on the sideline in a baseball cap laughing
along with his teammates as the rout unfolded.
Stewart was equally impressive, showing poise under pressure by tucking the ball under his arm when forced out of the pocket and picking up 33 yards on six rushes. He finished 15-of-23 for 173 yards.
"It was fun tonight," he said. "I don't want to say I didn't expect it, but it was nice."
Pittsburgh took the opening kickoff and drove to the Cleveland 20, but Stewart was stopped on a sneak on fourth down, and the new Browns celebrated their first big play.
It was the last time they could cheer all night.
Detmer was picked off by Chris Oldham, who had taunted the Browns' Dawg Pound during player introductions, and four plays
later the Steelers went up 7-0 on Stewart's 1-yard TD run.
Kris Brown kicked two field goals and Huntley scored on a 5-yard
run as the Steelers opened a 20-0 lead at halftime.
Pittsburgh didn't let up in the second half despite playing its second and third units.
Huntley's 3-yard run was the only score in the third quarter and Tomczak followed a field goal by Brown with a 21-yard scoring toss to Huntley and a 1-yarder to Hines Ward.
"Everyone of us when we were acquired, it was beat into us,
'You've got to beat the Steelers,"' Browns fullback Marc Edwards said. "All I can say is that I'm sorry the Cleveland fans had to
go through that joke out there."
| |
ALSO SEE
NFL Scoreboard
Pittsburgh Clubhouse
Cleveland Clubhouse
Browns fans woof it up for team's debut
Week 1 wrap-ups
Week 1 infirmary report
Week 1 stats leaders
TJ's Take: Jags on the prowl
Week 1 PrimeTime Players
|
