Trying to fathom Steelers' victory

CLEVELAND -- Nothing defines ugly quite like a game between the two worst teams in the NFL's weakest division.
Sunday's showdown between the 4-7 Browns and Steelers was far from pretty, loaded with moments of ineptitude that won't be spotlighted on this week's "Inside the NFL."
On the strength of five turnovers, the Steelers managed to pull the third-place Browns down to the cellar of the AFC North with an improbable 13-6 victory.
How improbable?
U In the third quarter with the Steelers ahead 10-6, the Browns outgained them 137-9 in total yards, but produced no points even though the Steelers' offense took just six snaps in those 15 minutes.
U Steelers quarterback Tommy Maddox completed 9-of-24 passes for a whopping 73 yards (but that included a 1-yard toss to tight end Mark Bruener for the game's only touchdown).
U In the first quarter, the Steelers ran nine plays for a combined 2 yards.
U The Browns had two first-half scoring drives, settling for Phil Dawson field goals of 27 and 31 yards that capped their first and third possessions.
U Playoff participants last January, the Browns fell to 2-4 at Cleveland Browns Stadium after the Steelers shut them out in the second half thanks to a goal-line stand, two interceptions, a fumble and a punt.
Pained
The greatest pain was generated by the giveaways.
"This league is all about turnovers," Browns coach Butch Davis said. "You turn the ball over that many times, it's a miracle we were as close as we were. We had a heroic defensive performance."
Despite being limited to 168 net yards of offense, the Steelers won for only the second time since Sept. 21 to keep their faint division title (i.e. playoff) hopes alive.
Give the credit to the Steelers' defenders, who spent most of the first 20 minutes of the second half on the field, yet pitched a shutout despite playing Monday night in San Francisco and flying home on a redeye.
Cornerback Chad Scott and free safety Brent Alexander intercepted Browns quarterback Kelly Holcomb. Just as costly was Browns running back James Jackson's fumble early in the fourth quarter after strong safety Mike Logan hit him and nose tackle Kendrick Clancy recovered at the Pittsburgh 26.
"I don't think we forced any of them," said Alexander of the takeaways. "We were just playing hard, aggressive football, attacking the ball."
Linebacker James Farrior said, "We did a helluva job with everybody just flying to the ball. That's how you get turnovers, when everybody's hustling and somebody makes a big hit."
Applying pressure
Holcomb, who picked apart the Steelers' secondary in their January playoff game at Heinz Field, completed 24-of-44 passes for 234 yards, but struggled in the red zone.
"We knew we couldn't let him stand back there and not get any pressure on him," Farrior said. "We did a good job of making him move around in the pocket."
The tide turned in Pittsburgh's favor after Jackson's fumble, as tailback Jerome Bettis returned to the spotlight, carrying the ball nine times in the Steelers' final two possessions.
Bettis, who began the season behind Amos Zereoue on the depth chart, finished with 93 yards on 24 carries. Pittsburgh's win knocked the Browns to two games behind the 6-5 Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals. The Browns' division record fell to 1-3, a problem if a tiebreaker is needed. The Steelers, however, are 3-1 in the division.
XTom Williams is a sportswriter for The Vindicator. Write him at williams@vindy.com.