Steelers try to stay hot against Browns

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH

The Pittsburgh Steelers are playing so well, even coach Mike Tomlin is struggling coming up with a list of complaints.

Then again, his team’s 35-7 romp over Cincinnati on Sunday night is hard to nitpick.

The erratic running game produced 136 yards and two touchdowns. James Harrison collected three sacks as the defense held the Bengals to a season-low point total. And the special teams hit for the trifecta: blocking a field goal attempt, recovering a fumbled kickoff return and scoring a touchdown on Antonio Brown’s 60-yard punt return.

“I was pleased with the effort and energy in all three phases,” Tomlin said. “We had significant, splash plays, in all three phases.”

The kind the Steelers lacked for long stretches during the first three months of the season. They’ve managed to stay in the thick of the AFC North race anyway despite an inability to run the ball, produce turnovers or create big plays consistently.

Now that they’re starting to come, the Steelers (9-3) believe they’re right on schedule heading into Thursday night’s game against Cleveland (4-8).

“These are the games that count,” linebacker James Farrior said. “These are the games that are going to put you in place to make your run. We’re just trying to keep up in the division.”

The Steelers remain tied with Baltimore for the AFC North lead, but need to finish the season ahead of the Ravens to win the division and earn at least one home playoff game after Baltimore captured both head-to-head meetings.

Pittsburgh can ill-afford a misstep, particularly against the Browns. The Steelers have dominated the series in recent years, winning 14 of the last 15 meetings. A slip-up could cost them more than regional pride.

“We can’t afford to lose any game,” Farrior said.

The Steelers enter the final quarter of the season as healthy as they’ve been since opening day. Guard Ramon Foster is questionable after spraining his left ankle on Sunday while linebacker LaMarr Woodley tweaked his tender left hamstring and sat out the final three quarters.

“Obviously, [Woodley] felt something, and he was mature enough to not do any further damage to it,” Tomlin said. “We appreciate that. We will see if that provides an opportunity for us to put him in play this week.”

Woodley, who has promised to play each week since injuring the hamstring in an Oct. 30 win over New England, thinks he’ll be good to go.

“Once we started putting points on the board, (we decided) to let the guys go and take care of it,” Woodley said.