AFC NORTH Browns get Tommy-gunned

Steelers quarterback Tommy Maddox tossed two touchdowns in Pittsburgh's 23-20 win.
By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
CLEVELAND -- The Cleveland Browns' inability to run with the football has given the Pittsburgh Steelers a golden opportunity to run away with the AFC North Division.
After falling behind 14-3, the Steelers defenders responded by throttling the Browns offense, particularly the running game.
Two Tim Couch interceptions, costly penalties and a meager 36-yard rushing attack helped generate a 23-20 Steelers victory Sunday at Cleveland Browns Stadium.
"They say if you can win the ugly ones, that's great," said Steelers quarterback Tommy Maddox, who improved to 4-1 as a starter by completing 23 of 42 passes for 239 yards and two touchdowns.
"To be able to come from behind and win in a tough place was special," said Maddox after the Steelers (5-3) extended their first-place lead over the Browns (4-5) to 1 1/2 games. "But you have to give [the Browns] credit -- they were playing very [emotionally] with their owner dying and this being a big game at home."
Browns coach Butch Davis expressed disappointment "in the way we lost our composure from the middle of the second quarter until the middle of the third quarter.
"We had too many penalties and we had a difficult time getting enough pressure and getting them out of third down," Davis said. "They turned the whole momentum on us."
The Browns were penalized 11 times for 85 yards.
"We're just not a good enough football team to overcome that many," Davis said.
Early Browns lead
Two big plays sparked the Browns to an early 14-3 lead.
Dennis Northcutt returned Josh Miller's first punt 87 yards for a 7-0 lead.
On the Browns' third possession, Browns quarterback Tim Couch torched the Steelers' secondary with a 67-yard bomb to wide receiver Quincy Morgan. That play set up a 1-yard touchdown pass to tight end Steve Heiden on fourth-and-goal that had the Browns rolling early in the second quarter.
The Steelers responded by scoring the next 20 points.
"I can't say enough about our football team to come back from a 14-3 deficit and keep grinding away," Steelers coach Bill Cowher said. "There was never any sense of panic.
"This team grew today," Cowher said. "That was a big game against a good football team in a very emotional setting. There is no doubt that this was their biggest game of the year and maybe the biggest one they have played in four years."
The Steelers won the rushing battle even though Jerome Bettis and Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala were inactive. Fourth-year back Amos Zereoue recorded his first 100-yard game in the NFL by gaining 111 yards on 29 carries.
"He's a little guy, but he's a tough guy," Steelers guard Alan Faneca said of the 5-8, 207-pound Zereoue. "He's got a lot of heart."
Cowher said, "Amos does well when given an opportunity. He is strong, has good balance and can catch the ball coming out of the backfield."
Taking the lead
A personal foul by cornerback Daylon McCutcheon helped put the Steelers back in the game. One play later, Maddox hit Hines Ward at the goal line in front of McCutcheon for a 20-yard score.
On the Steelers' next possession, Maddox marched them 75 yards on nine plays. Tight end Mark Bruener caught a 1-yard touchdown pass for Pittsburgh's 17-14 lead just past the two-minute warning.
Following a scoreless third quarter, the Steelers doubled their lead to 20-14 on Peterson's 28-yard field goal a minute into the fourth quarter.
Couch's next pass was thrown into triple coverage. Cornerback Dwayne Washington's interception set up Peterson's 41-yard field goal for a 23-14 lead.
With 4:32 to go, Couch hit Morgan for a 31-yard touchdown. Phil Dawson hooked his extra-point attempt to keep the Steelers ahead by three.
The Browns got the ball back at their 11 with 57 seconds to go, but lost 10 yards before the game ended.
Couch completed 15 of 24 passes for 181 yards.
Trick plays added to the Steelers' offensive success.
"We pretty much used everything today," Cowher said. "We've been holding a couple of these plays because we have been getting off to good starts. We used them all today."
williams@vindy.com