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Roethlisberger Rallies Pittsburgh

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By ALAN ROBINSON, The Associated Press

Published: November 12, 2007

PITTSBURGH - The Cleveland Browns appear to be closing the gap between themselves and the rival Steelers.

They're not there yet, though, not with Ben Roethlisberger able to beat teams two different ways in the same week.

Roethlisberger scrambled 30 yards for a key touchdown during Pittsburgh's second-half comeback, then set up his own go-ahead 2-yard TD pass to Heath Miller with an important third-down run as the Steelers rallied from a 15-point deficit to beat Cleveland 31-28 Sunday.

Roethlisberger's big second half, with two TD passes and some important scrambles, overcame Cleveland quarterback Derek Anderson's huge first half and two long Joshua Cribbs kickoff returns.

Pittsburgh (7-2) beat Cleveland (5-4) for the ninth consecutive time. Barely. Phil Dawson could have tied it, but was short on a 52-yard field goal attempt with 6 seconds remaining.

Relying on Roethlisberger's ability to shrug off blitzes and gain yards on plays that appeared to have broken down, plus his two TD passes, the Steelers took a big step toward making the playoffs after going 8-8 last season. Only six days before, Roethlisberger's five touchdown passes led the Steelers to a 38-7 Monday night rout of Baltimore.

"All I ever hear is about Tom Brady and Peyton Manning, but this guy we have here is very special," defensive end Brett Keisel said. "He makes plays those guys don't make and that's what makes him so special. He can get out of the pocket, he can create, he's a beast and we're glad he wears black and gold."

Cleveland led 21-6 in the first half as Cribbs' 90-yard kickoff return led to one of Anderson's three touchdown passes. But with the Browns offense managing only a single first down and no points in the second half, Roethlisberger's TD scramble put the Steelers up for the first time at 24-21 early in the fourth quarter.

"I was ready to slide ... but Hines Ward was downfield blocking and when I get that close to the end zone, I'm trying to get it," Roethlisberger said.

Still, the Browns were in position to beat Pittsburgh for only the second time in their last 16 games after Cribbs' improbable 100-yard kickoff return touchdown with about 11 minutes remaining. Cribbs fumbled the ball near the goal line and was forced to take off down the Steelers sideline out of desperation.

7

14

0

7

-

28

Pittsburgh

3

6

7

15

-

31

First Quarter

Cle-Winslow 4 pass from Anderson (Dawson kick), 4:10.

Pit-FG Reed 28, 1:29.

Second Quarter

Cle-Vickers 2 pass from Anderson (Dawson kick), 14:56.

Pit-FG Reed 35, 9:02.

Cle-Edwards 16 pass from Anderson (Dawson kick), 5:24.

Pit-FG Reed 30, :04.

Third Quarter

Pit-Ward 12 pass from Roethlisberger (Reed kick), 6:14.

Fourth Quarter

Pit-Roethlisberger 30 run (Ward pass from Roethlisberger), 11:32.

Cle-Cribbs 100 kickoff return (Dawson kick), 11:14.

Pit-Miller 2 pass from Roethlisberger (Reed kick), 3:13.

A-64,781.

Pit

First downs

13

22

Total Net Yards

163

401

Rushes-yards

18-40

35-159

Passing

123

242

Punt Returns

4-19

3-25
Kickoff Returns
7-221

5-86

Interceptions Ret.

1-3

0-0

Comp-Att-Int

16-35-0

23-35-1

Sacked-Yards Lost

0-0

4-36

Punts

6-49.8

5-41.4

Fumbles-Lost

2-1

1-0

Penalties-Yards

7-40

5-30

Time of Possession

21:43

38:17

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING-Cle., J.Lewis 16-35, Anderson 2-5. Pittsburgh, Parker 25-105, Roethlisberger 5-49, Davenport 4-7, Holmes 1-(minus 2).

PASSING-Cle., Anderson 16-35-0-123. Pit., Roethlisberger 23-34-1-278, Parker 0-1-0-0.

RECEIVING-Cleveland, Jurevicius 5-44, Winslow 5-46, J.Lewis 3-8, Edwards 1-16, Vickers 1-2, J.Wright 1-7. Pittsburgh, Ward 7-80, Miller 5-71, Holmes 4-53, Washington 4-56, Parker 2-8, Davenport 1-10.

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