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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
CLEVELAND (AP) -- Once the final agonizing second ticked off, Tim
Couch hugged Chris Palmer, Al Lerner inhaled, the Dawg Pound barked
like it was the old days and Cleveland rocked.
After nearly five years, several heart-stopping seconds and a
chaotic finish, the Browns had finally won a home game.
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TOM DONAHOE'S BREAKDOWN |
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This was a game that Cleveland dominated early on, but then Pittsburgh got its running game going.
Jerome Bettis turned in an impressive performance for the Steelers. Pittsburgh drove the ball at the end of the game and was in position to kick a field goal to possibly put the game into overtime, but ran out of time.
Quarterback Tim Couch had a strong game for the Browns as he continues to progress, throwing for over 300 yards. For the third straight week, he was impressive in his ability to get the ball to different receivers.
This is the first game the Browns have won at home since they came back into play last year as an expansion team. It was a demoralizing loss for the Steelers.
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"Oh, my goodness," linebacker Wali Rainer said. "We did it."
Phil Dawson kicked a 19-yard field goal with 2:45 left and
Pittsburgh couldn't get off a last-second attempt, giving the
Browns their first home win since 1995, 23-20 over the arch-rival
Steelers.
"When it was over I started breathing again," said owner
Lerner, who bought the Browns for $530 million but had never
experienced driving home after a win. "Before that I couldn't."
The expansion Browns (2-1) were shut out 43-0 in their home
opener by the Steelers last season and went 0-8 in the new
Cleveland Browns Stadium in 1999 en route to a 2-14 year. The
streak went to nine after they dropped their home opener against
Jacksonville two weeks ago.
And for a while, it looked like after leading 14-0, the Browns
might lose this one, too.
"I just thought, 'Not this again,' " receiver Kevin Johnson
said. "We lost a couple close games at the buzzer last year. It's
about time we start getting some of those breaks."
|  | | Marc Edwards celebrated a first-quarter touchdown Sunday as the Browns beat the Steelers for their first win at Cleveland Browns Stadium. |
Pittsburgh had a first-and-goal at the Browns' 9 with 35 seconds
left, but after two running plays, rookie defensive end Courtney
Brown sacked Kent Graham with eight seconds left. Brown finished
with three sacks.
The Steelers (0-2), who had to burn some early timeouts, tried
to line up to try a game-tying field goal, but the clock ran out
and the Browns and their fans celebrated Cleveland's first home win
since Dec. 17, 1995, the final game at Cleveland Stadium.
"That clock doesn't tick fast enough," quarterback Tim Couch
said. "It seemed like an eternity."
Couch finished 23-of-31 for 316 yards and two TDs, and Brown had
his first three career sacks -- the final one clinching the win.
"I was on the sideline getting ready for overtime," Browns
running back Errict Rhett said. "Never in a million years did I
think the game would end like that."
Jerome Bettis rushed for 123 yards and one TD for Pittsburgh.
Dawson's 28-yard field goal with 10:49 remaining tied it at 20,
and the Browns found themselves backed up to their own goal line
after the Steelers downed a punt at the 4.
But on second down at the 8, Couch hit Kevin Johnson on a slant
pattern over the middle for 79 yards, and five running plays later,
Dawson's kick put the Browns up by 3.
The Steelers converted a fourth-and--6 play on their final
drive, with Graham completing a 29-yard pass to Bobby Shaw. Chris
Ma'afala, who replaced Richard Huntley in the second half, ran the
ball 20 yards and Pittsburgh called its final timeout.
Ma'afala picked up 2 yards, and Graham spiked the ball at the 6
with 14 seconds left. On third down, Graham couldn't find an open
receiver, but instead of throwing it away, he was tackled by Brown.
"I should have thrown it away," Graham said. "I was trying to
give my receivers another chance by scrambling. I just got caught.
I take the blame."
Bettis' 10-yard TD run with 5:47 left in the third quarter gave
the Steelers their lead first lead at 20-17.
Bettis rumbled for 43 yards on the 80-yard scoring drive,
dragging some defenders and plowing through others. Pittsburgh had
taken control of the game and had a chance to add more points after
Cleveland wideout Darrin Chiaverini fumbled.
But on second down at the Cleveland 20, the Steelers tried a
halfback option with Bettis. The bruising runner won't be
challenging Graham for the starting QB job anytime soon as his
badly underthrown pass was intercepted at the 5 by Corey Fuller.
"It was a bad throw," Bettis said. "I'm not supposed to throw
it if I feel it's going to get intercepted. I threw it anyway. We
were supposed to get at least three points. I'm very disappointed
in myself."
Game notes
The NFL's nastiest rivalry added a new chapter when
Pittsburgh's Joey Porter drilled punter Chris Gardocki in the first
half. "It's an unfortunate situation that in the middle of a
football game, they had to pick on the punter," Gardocki said. ...
The Browns honored their 14 Hall of Famers at halftime. Nine of the
11 living players were present, including Jim Brown, Otto Graham
and Paul Warfield. ... Huntley left with a hamstring injury in the
first half and didn't return.
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ALSO SEE
NFL Scoreboard
Pittsburgh Clubhouse
Cleveland Clubhouse
Week 3 wrap-ups
Week 3 infirmary report
TJ's Take on Week 3
Week 3 stats leaders
Prime Time Players
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Bill Cowher knows that the Steelers made bad decisions on the field against the Browns.
wav: 198 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Kent Graham's mental error cost the Steelers a chance to tie the game.
wav: 130 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
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