NFL Browns ready to play spoiler

Cleveland could knock the Steelers out of playoff contention on Saturday.
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Although the Cleveland Browns can't make the NFL playoffs, motivation should be no problem Saturday against the rival Pittsburgh Steelers.
Cleveland could effectively put Pittsburgh (9-5) out of the playoffs, and the Steelers know how much the Browns (5-9) would enjoy that.
The Steelers returned to practice Tuesday after only one day off following their 18-3 victory Sunday at Minnesota. The theme was obvious: Beware of the Browns.
"I'm sure Cleveland is going to be looking to knock us out of the playoffs," wide receiver Hines Ward said. "It's a playoff run from here on out. We have to play on the road, and what better way to get that experience than to go out and approach each game like it is your last game?"
Linebacker James Farrior has seen a turnaround in the Steelers' attitude since they put their playoff chances at risk by losing to the Ravens, Colts and Bengals in succession.
Stopped two streaks
Since then, they've beaten two teams on long winning streaks, the Bears (10-4, eight in a row) and the Vikings (8-6, six in a row). Now, the Steelers have two losing teams remaining: the Browns and Detroit Lions (4-10).
"Without the margin of error, it seems to be bringing out the best in the team," Farrior said. "We have to win games and play mistake-free football. We take it as a challenge and we look forward to it."
Even if a trip to Cleveland has rarely been a worry-free visit to the Steelers.
The Browns are 1-2 with rookie Charlie Frye at quarterback, but they have been competitive in all three games, beating the Raiders 9-7 on the road Sunday after losing at AFC North champion Cincinnati 23-20 and to Jacksonville 20-14 at home.
Frye has seemed to earn his teammates' respect with his toughness, taking a hard hit to the ribs from linebacker Danny Clark on Sunday but coming right back to hit Antonio Bryant on a 33-yard completion.
"We can't have any letdown," Steelers coach Bill Cowher said. "[Reuben] Droughns has over 1,000 yards rushing. Frye has made some big plays running around. This is going to be a big challenge for us on the road. They'd like nothing more than to end our season."
Steelers hater
Especially Frye, a third-round draft pick from Akron who grew up in Willard, Ohio, as an avowed Steelers hater. He is 56-for-88 for 620 yards, three touchdowns and four interceptions. Most of his playing time has come since replacing Trent Dilfer three games ago.
"They've got a lot of football players who are trying to build something," Cowher said. "I don't think there's any question they're making strides in the right direction."
Enough to defeat the Steelers, who can finish 11-5 by beating the Browns and Lions? That might depend on a Pittsburgh offense that has produced only 38 points in its last three road games.
A week after controlling the clock and the tempo with their running game in bad weather in a 21-9 victory over the Bears, the Steelers managed only one touchdown while playing indoors Sunday in Minneapolis. They could find themselves in trouble if they play similarly against the Browns, who have allowed the fourth-fewest passing yards in the NFL but are sixth from the bottom against the run.
Settled for field goals
"We settled for three field goals in the four times down there," Cowher said of the drives inside the Minnesota 20. "It's something we can improve on and something we need to improve on."
Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger had problems throwing deep Sunday, partly because his hand was sweating inside the glove he's wearing to protect his injured right thumb. That shouldn't be a problem Saturday, when the game time temperature is expected to be in the high 30s.