Roethlisberger sets record, with help

The rookie quarterback got help from the defense.
By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
CLEVELAND -- With his seventh straight victory, Ben Roethlisberger broke the NFL record for a rookie starting quarterback.
But Sunday's performance was the Steelers quarterback's least impressive since replacing Tommy Maddox.
Roethlisberger, a native of Findlay who played for Miami (Ohio), completed 10 of 16 passes for 134 yards. A first-quarter interception helped to hold down his passer rating to 63.2.
On the scoreboard, though, it didn't matter, thanks to the Steelers' defense, which limited the Browns to 228 total yards.
"The defense played great," Roethlisberger said. "We came into a hostile environment and prevailed."
Wide receiver Plaxico Burress caught five passes for 66 yards, including a 22-yard completion to the Browns' 1 that set up Jerome Bettis' second touchdown for a 14-3 lead.
The throwing game
Burress said it's not a problem that the Steelers didn't throw often.
"I still went out and had four, five catches, Hines [Ward] had a great day [three receptions, 42 yards] and [Antwaan Randle] El got his hands on the ball a few times," Burress said. "When we don't have to throw the football, that's scary.
"When the running game is that effective each Sunday, that says an awful lot about the offensive line, our running backs and the offensive coordinator [Ken Whisenhunt] who has faith in the guys up front," Burress said. "When we have to throw the ball, that's when we get real ugly.
"We can run the football, everybody in the league knows that, but we can also throw it," Burress said. "Right now, we're just putting it to the side but when we have to do it, everybody knows what we can do."
Bettis posted his second 100-yard game while replacing Duce Staley.
"We have become accustomed to adversity," Bettis said.
Reserves deliver
Coach Bill Cowher said the Steelers have been fortunate that their reserves have excelled when given the chance to play.
"This team has been very resilient and people keep stepping in," Cowher said. "Linebacker James Harrison finds out about 15 minutes before the game that he is going to start and plays a whale of a game."
Harrison led the Steelers with six tackles, including a sack. He became a starter after Joey Porter was ejected for fighting with Browns running back William Green before the game.
"Emotions were definitely high, but once we settled down and started playing football we knew who the better team was," said Steelers linebacker James Farrior, who made five tackles.
Polamalu sparkles
Second-year safety Troy Polamalu stopped two Browns' drives with interceptions.
"On Garcia's interception, I was actually beaten and the ball was under-thrown," said Polamalu of the second quarter pass intended for wide receiver Antonio Bryant.
Garcia was 7-for-16 for 110 yards before being replaced by Kelly Holcomb in the fourth quarter.
"We got to him today," Farrior said of Garcia. "He got out of the pocket a few times -- we need to work on that. Overall, I think we did a good job of putting pressure on him."