In search of success: Browns looking to put bite back into Steelers rivalry

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Saturday night games in Municipal Stadium. Jim Brown threatening to run for not just 100 yards but for 150 whenever he played the Steelers. Turkey Joe Jones spiking Terry Bradshaw headfirst. Jack Lambert hitting Brian Sipe so late so often he got called into NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle's office -- then complained that "quarterbacks should wear skirts."
Those were the competitive old days of the Browns-Steelers rivalry that is so important to both franchises they agreed to switch conferences in 1970 to maintain it. The not-so-old days have been not-so-good ones for the Browns, who have been unable to generate much friction since the twice-a-year Browns-Steelers meetings resumed in 1999.
The Steelers have won nine of 10 and 10 of 13 from the Browns, and can tie the idle Cincinnati Bengals (7-2) for first place in the AFC North by beating the Browns (3-5) again Sunday night. Cleveland won in Pittsburgh in 1999 and 2003, but those are the Browns' only victories there since 1989.
Steelers hurting
The Steelers (6-2) have won the last three weeks, but go into this game with backups all over the field. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and defensive leader James Farrior won't play, and running backs Willie Parker and Jerome Bettis might not, either. But then the Steelers haven't always needed to be at their best to beat the Browns of late.
Romeo Crennel, the new Browns coach, knows one of his challenges is to restore the competitiveness in the series. There wasn't much of a buzz in either city going into this game, at least compared to most Browns-Steelers games in the past.
"The Browns teams [have] not been as good since the team came back, and I think that might impact it a little bit," Crennel said. "But a lot of the fans I talk to still feel like it's a rivalry and they would like to see us win a game down there."
Browns linebacker Ben Taylor experienced the rivalry at a young age in the Ohio River community of Bellaire, Ohio, where grade schoolers favoring one team playfully swiped the jackets of those rooting for the other.
Ended losing slump
The Browns had lost three in a row and four of five before beating Tennessee 20-14 last weekend as Reuben Droughns ran for 116 yards and Trent Dilfer passed for 272 yards and one touchdown. Dilfer had a much better day than Steelers backup QB Charlie Batch, who had only 65 yards passing in Green Bay in his first start in four years, yet the Steelers won 20-10.
Roethlisberger won't play again Sunday after undergoing right knee surgery Nov. 3 to removed damaged cartilage. The Steelers wanted him to have the surgery now so he would be ready for the stretch drive, including key games Nov. 28 against Indianapolis and Dec. 4 against Cincinnati, and the playoffs.
"If we go to Pittsburgh thinking we are going to play the backups then we are in for a rude awakening," Crennel said. "We better go there feeling they are the best in the division. They are going to run the football and whoever runs it will gain yards. We better find a way to stop all their runners."
Staley picks up offense
Duce Staley hadn't carried all season until gaining 76 yards against Green Bay, helping make up for the lack of production by Batch. Coach Bill Cowher said the Steelers need upgraded play from Batch against a defense that has allowed more than one touchdown only once in six games. The Browns also held the unbeaten Colts to only 13 points in losing 13-9.
"They're not giving up many big plays -- they're not giving up many touchdowns," said Hines Ward, who needs two catches to match John Stallworth's team career record of 537. "It's just about us getting better. We didn't play particularly well last week. This might be one of those games where the offense needs to kick it in and score some points to take the pressure off the defense a little bit."
Especially since that defense will be without Farrior, an All-Pro linebacker and team MVP a season ago. For the second week in a row, the Steelers will replace a key regular with one who hasn't played much in years, with inside linebacker Clint Kriewaldt making only his second start in seven seasons.
The Browns also have a problem with turnover -- the kind that occurs on the field. They have 12 turnovers in their last five games. Dilfer opened up the offense more than usual against the Titans, thanks partly to Droughns' ability to break off some runs, but will be challenged by a defense that got a pivotal 77-yard fumble return touchdown from safety Troy Polamalu in Green Bay.