Kris Brown is hero this time with OT kick

After missing four field goal tries last week, he hit on five Sunday, including the game-winner for a 15-12 win.
By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
CLEVELAND -- One week after missing four field goal attempts in a three-point loss, Pittsburgh Steelers kicker Kris Brown came close to again eating a goat's diet, missing a 45-yard, game-winning try with 1 minute, 37 seconds to play against the Cleveland Browns.
But Brown won't be gnawing on tin cans this week after he found redemption in overtime Sunday. His fifth field goal of the game, in overtime, propelled Pittsburgh to a 15-12 victory at Cleveland Browns Stadium.
Brown's 32-yard kick, which was set up by seven carries by running back Jerome Bettis and another scramble by quarterback Kordell Stewart, kept the Steelers (6-2) alone atop the AFC Central standings.
"I gave Kris Brown the game ball," Pittsburgh coach Bill Cowher said. "I know how he would felt if he would have sat with that last miss."
Brown said he had "a little better feeling this week. It was exciting to get the opportunity, especially to forget about last week."
Second OT loss: The Browns (4-4) suffered their second overtime loss in eight days and missed an opportunity to force a three-way tie for first.
"Our guys spilled their guts all over this field," said coach Butch Davis. "This team doesn't play for moral victories. We have got to find a way to capitalize on the other team's mistakes."
Browns quarterback Tim Couch, who completed 18 of 30 passes for 160 yards, said, "This is really frustrating. Early in the season, we were pulling these close games out and finding a way to win."
In winning their fourth road game of the season, the Steelers overcame a nine-point first-half deficit by generating 428 yards to the Browns' 187. Cleveland's rushing attack was limited to 74 yards on 23 carries.
Meanwhile, Bettis enjoyed his most productive game of the season, rushing for 163 yards on 29 carries.
Key maneuver: The biggest attempt came on the first offensive play in overtime, as "The Bus" plowed through the Browns' defense for a 27-yard pickup.
"He pounded us and wore us down late in the game," said Cleveland linebacker Brant Boyer, in the lineup for the injured Wali Rainer.
"Their offensive line does a good job," Boyer said. "We couldn't stop him at the end. He is a heck of a player and when you miss some tackles, he gets his yards."
Bettis, who had 48 yards in overtime, said he told Brown after the Steelers won the coin toss that, "We're going to give you a chance to win this football game [so] be ready. He was ready.
"It was great to see Kris get the game-winning field goal with all he has been through this week."
Nailed for safety: Bettis' worst carry of the game came in the first quarter on second-and-10 from the Steelers 1. Browns lineman Orpheus Roye, a former Steeler, nailed Bettis in the end zone for a safety and the game's first points.
Dennis Northcutt returned Josh Miller's ensuing free kick 26 yards, setting up the game's only touchdown.
The big play was Couch's screen pass to running back Jamel White that picked up 26 yards.
Five plays later, Couch found tight end O.J. Santiago unguarded in the middle of the end zone for a 12-yard touchdown and 9-0 lead.
Before halftime, the Steelers closed to 9-6 on two Brown field goals of 31 and 27 yards.
Set up FG: On their first possession of the second half, Stewart's 40-yard scramble to the Browns' 22 set up a 37-yard field goal by Brown, tying the score.
The Browns responded their only decent drive after halftime, a 13-play march covering 53 yards and capped by Phil Dawson's 40-yard field goal that made it 12-9.
Pittsburgh came within inches of going ahead after running back Amos Zereoue took a screen pass at midfield and rambled 62 yards before stumbling at the Browns 2.
As Stewart scrambled to the 1, Browns lineman Tyrone Rogers stripped the ball and bounced it off Stewart's left arm.
Davis successfully challenged the side judge's call that the ball went out of bounds. Replays showed the ball first going into the end zone, creating a touchback.
Rogers said his intention was to knock the ball loose "because [Stewart] had momentum. I knew if I had hit him, he would have [landed] in the end zone, so I just tried to knock it out."
Brown's fourth field goal, a 37-yard connection, tied the game with 11:33 to play.
williams@vindy.com