Steelers, Browns in a real title race

Just when it appeared the Pittsburgh Steelers would cruise to the AFC North Division title, a race is on.
It might not be a marathon.
On Nov. 3, the Steelers defeated the Browns in Cleveland Browns Stadium to open up a game-and-a-half lead over the Browns and a two-game edge over the Baltimore Ravens.
Unbeaten in the division and with two wins against Cleveland, the Steelers, in reality, had a two-and-a-half game advantage over the Browns because they control the head-to-head tie-breaker.
Two weekends later, the Browns have climbed back into the playoff picture because the Steelers are stumbling.
First, Pittsburgh's defense blew a 17-point fourth-quarter lead against the Atlanta Falcons and was fortunate to escape with a 34-34 tie.
Last Sunday, the Steelers lost 31-23 in Tennessee after falling behind by 24 points in the fourth quarter. Even worse in the minds of many Black-and-Gold fans was the loss of quarterback Tommy Maddox after he suffered a spinal cord concussion and cerebral concussion on an unspectacular hit by Titans linebacker Keith Bulluck.
Browns half-game back
The Browns' victory in Cincinnati after their open week has them just a half-game behind Pittsburgh in the standings. Unless the Browns play to a tie in their final six games, the Steelers' tie-breaker edge has been wiped out.
The natives are restless in Pittsburgh, but there are reasons why they can relax even though Kordell Stewart, the once-and-future offensive field general, is the starting quarterback again.
After last year's Pro Bowl season, Stewart quarterbacked the Steelers in season-opening losses to New England and Oakland. Maddox rescued Stewart from a third defeat when he rallied the Steelers to an overtime win over the Browns at Heinz Field.
Stewart's shakiness has the faithful unnerved. As one fan who wears Black-and-Gold gear in the newsroom put it, "The worst-case scenario for Steelers fans is Kordell leading the team [in the postseason]. We were finally getting rid of this guy. He's like a bad horror movie: 'Kordell Lives Part IV.' "
Cowher praises Stewart
Tuesday, Steelers coach Bill Cowher praised Stewart's behavior over the past seven weeks.
"He's handled [his benching] like a true professional," Cowher said. "He's been very supportive of Tommy."
Cowher cited three fundamental problems that need corrected immediately: hitting the makeable field goals, reducing offensive turnovers and getting the defense off the field after third-down plays.
"Those have been strengths for our team in the past," said Cowher, referring to last year's 13-3 squad.
Despite their recent struggles and the quarterback change, the Steelers still have a friend in the remaining schedule. Four of their six games are at Heinz Field against teams with losing records: the Bengals (1-9), the Houston Texans (2-8), the Carolina Panthers (3-7) and the Ravens (4-6).
If the Steelers don't win those games, they don't deserve a playoff berth.
Tough schedule remain
The Browns have a major problem -- games against the playoff-caliber Falcons (6-3-1), New Orleans Saints (7-3) and Indianapolis Colts (6-4).
If the Steelers win their four easy home games, the Browns must defeat two of those three to win the division.
XTom Williams is a sports writer for The Vindicator. Write to him at williams@vindy.com.