Bell's hit dampens Browns' chances

The Steelers' defense kept Cleveland out of the endzone.
By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
CLEVELAND -- If the Cleveland Browns miss the NFL postseason by one game, the vision haunting their dreams will be of Steelers linebacker Kendrell Bell delivering a smashing hit on running back James Jackson.
In Sunday's loss to the Steelers, the Browns trailed 10-6 at halftime, then dominated the third quarter by running 13 plays (aided by two Steelers' penalties) to reach the Pittsburgh 1.
Bell's hit was part of a goal-line stand that kept Pittsburgh's tiny playoff hopes flickering.
Flying linebacker
On second-and-goal, Jackson took the ball, ran right and was knocked backwards by a flying hit by the Steelers' third-year linebacker.
Jackson's third-down attempt also was stuffed for no gain, so the Browns tried a reverse with wide receiver Dennis Northcutt being stopped just short of the goal line.
Safety Brent Alexander said the Steelers weren't surprised by the gadget play.
"When they put four receivers in on fourth-and-goal, we knew they weren't going to run goal routes," Alexander said.
Scott said his responsibility was man-to-man coverage on Northcutt.
"I just tracked him and was able to make the tackle before he got into the endzone," Scott said. "They definitely like to give him the ball when they run it because he's very elusive."
The Steelers went on to stop two Cleveland drives with interceptions, another with a fumble and one with a punt in posting a 13-6 victory at Cleveland Browns Stadium.
"The defense played terrific," wide receiver Hines Ward said. "They won the game. We really could not get anything going on the offense, but credit Cleveland's defense for that."
Rough start
That the Steelers were even in the game at halftime was amazing in that their first three series netted 2 yards on nine plays.
Trailing 6-0 in the second quarter, quarterback Tommy Maddox found success with the no-huddle offense as the Steelers crossed midfield.
Things shifted after Josh Miller's fourth punt was downed at the Cleveland 5. Five plays later, Browns quarterback Kelly Holcomb bounced a handoff off Jackson and linebacker James Farrior's recovery set up Maddox's 1-yard touchdown pass to tight end Mark Bruener.
Late in the half, Bell stripped Browns running back Jamel White at the Cleveland 36 to set up Jeff Reed's 23-yard field goal.
"It was fun watching the defense flying around making plays," Maddox said.
As a result, the Steelers and Browns are two games back of the first-place Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC North.
"Because of the way our division is, we're still looking at the playoffs," said Steelers coach Bill Cowher who repeated his November mantra. "We have no margin of error."
williams@vindy.com