NOTEBOOK From Cleveland Browns Stadium

Owner remembered: Browns owner Al Lerner, who died 12 days ago, was honored in a pregame ceremony that included a video tribute, a 21-gun salute and a F18 flyover. Sunday's game was the first home contest for the Browns since Lerner's death.
Return man: Cleveland's Dennis Northcutt recorded his second career punt return for a touchdown (87 yards) in the first quarter. It was Northcutt's second punt return for a score this season, the first time a Browns player has done that in the same season since Eric Metcalf in 1994. The 87-yard return was the third-longest in franchise history and marked the third return for a touchdown for the Browns this season (two punt returns/one kickoff return).
Time of possession: Despite the three-point margin, the Steelers had a time of possession advantage of 42:10 to 17:50. The Steelers ran 85 plays compared to the Browns 42.
Long reception: Browns wide receiver Quincy Morgan caught a 63-yard pass from Tim Couch in the second quarter, which set up a touchdown. The play was the second-longest of Morgan's career, behind a 78-yarder on Dec. 30, 2001 at Tennessee. Morgan finished with four catches for 98 yards.
Record, then broken: Cleveland quarterback Tim Couch set a personal best by throwing 122 consecutive passes (over his last three games) without an interception before being picked off by the Steelers' Brent Alexander on his first attempt of the third quarter. Couch's previous career high was 120 straight passes last season.
Sack man: Courtney Brown recorded his first two sacks of the season and had a game-high 10 tackles. He also broke up a pair of passes and forced a fumble.
Old friends: Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward described Browns linebacker (and former Steeler) Earl Holmes as "a character, but he is a competitor. He hit me a couple of times. He is going to go out and do his best and fight for his team. He is just doing a lot of trash talking with everybody."
Trick plays: Steelers wide receiver Antwaan Randle El took two direct snaps and Ward one. Randle El completed two passes for 26 yards, while Ward ran for 8 yards.
Lineups: Inactives for the game were (Browns) defensive backs Corey Fuller and Robert Griffith, linebacker Ben Taylor, offensive linemen Chad Beasley, Melvin Fowler and Joaquin Gonzalez and tight end Darnell Sanders. (Steelers) running backs Jerome Bettis and Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala, defensive tackle Chris Hoke, offensive tackle Mathia Nkwenti, tight ends Dan O'Leary and Jerame Tuman and defensive end Brett Keisel. The third quarterbacks were Josh Booty for Cleveland and Charlie Batch for the Steelers. For the Browns, Daylon McCutcheon moved from right cornerback to left cornerback for Fuller. Anthony Henry started for McCutcheon at right cornerback. For Pittsburgh, Chukky Okobi started in place of Jeff Hartings at center.
Injuries: Browns defensive end Kenard Lang left the game after the first series with a groin injury. Backup defensive left tackle Alvin McKinley limped off early in the second quarter. Rookie linebacker Kevin Bentley hyperextended his elbow on a second-quarter kickoff return. Earl Little injured his right knee.
-- Rob Todor, Tom Williams